A Non-governmental organisation, Coalition of Civil Society Organisation For Justice and Equity – CCSO-JE has stressed the need for the leadership of the National Assembly, in the spirit of justice, equity and fairness to urgently invoke the principle of Federal Character, in the appointment of Clerks to both chambers of the nation’s federal legislature.
The group, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said among the 18 management staff of the National Assembly appointed, in line with the six geo-political zones of the country, 3 are from the respective zones asides North Central which has 2 slots, an abnormality from the due process.
The CCSO-JE noted that presently, the North West has 4 slots which needs to be corrected by the Ahmad Lawan led-leadership of the National Assembly.
It also cautioned Lawan and the management staff not to go ahead with the planned elevation of Maina Shaibu Birma (no 8 in the rank) from Yobe state to the position of Clerk, Senate, a decision the civil society organisations believe will cause a succession crisis in the National Assembly.
The statement reads in part: “North Central is short changed with 2 slots while North West had 4 slots(now 3). So, North Central should have any available slot in line with the extant Public Service Rules and the principle of Federal Character as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria,1999 as amended and also in line with the National Assembly Service Commission Act,2014 as amended; and the Conditions of Service in the National Assembly, Seniority (date of appointment as Director, 1st date of appointment & date of retirement) based on Staff nominal list should be adopted in picking the most experienced Senior Director Legislative Senate from North Central Zone.
“In the principle of equity, fairness, justice & political expediency, North Central should be considered first in any appointments now. Else, the Senate President; Speaker; Chairman NASC; and the Commissioners at National Assembly Service Commission should explain the marginalization of the North Central.
“In the spirit of fairness, equity and justice, we seek that the Clerk to the National Assembly, who is the Chief Administrative Officer of the National Assembly, to recommend for approval by the NASC the most competent and experienced in legislative practice and procedures among the arrays of qualified Staff from the North Central such as Abel Ochigbo Daniel from Benue State, Deputy Clerk Administration in the House of Representatives; Comrade Fatai Jimoh from Kwara State and Director, Legislative Senate (Director of Statistics);Comrade Rawlings Agada, Director Administration (Director of Information); and Barr Cletus A. Ojabo, also Director Legislative Senate. Just like Abel and Agada, Ashieeka and Ojabo are all from Benue State.
“As a matter of fact the most qualified, competent experienced and senior candidate in legislative Chamber works from the above listed candidates from the North Central should be elevated as the Clerk of the Senate without unnecessary administrative tension and bottleneck being created in the legislative bureaucracy.
“It must be quickly pointed out that the President of Senate is rumoured to be working in tandem with the Chairman NASC and the DCNA, all from Yobe State, to smuggle in Maina Shaibu Birma (no 8 on the seniority list), also from Yobe as either the Clerk or Deputy Clerk Senate. This will not only be inimical to the legislative bureaucracy but will reduce the National Assembly into Yobe Assembly. That should be avoided in order to prevent establishment of a bad dangerous precedent against the extant Public Service Rules and the Federal Character of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which the Senate is expected to jealously guides, as championed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character & Government Affairs some few days ago.
“We have a firm belief in the leadership of the Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Ahmad Lawan(PhD),to right this wrong and ensure justice is served so that the marginalization of the North Central under his leadership within the top Management level in NASS will come to an end.
“We remain committed to equity, fairness and justice as well as our fair support to the National Assembly at all times,” the CCSO-JE submitted.