Sani Omolori, clerk of the national assembly, will remain in
office despite attaining the legal requirement for retirement.
Omolori, who started his civil service career on February 6,
1985, was due to retire last month but will stay for another five years after
an amendment of the conditions of service of the national assembly staff —
considered to be illegal in some quarters.
TheCable reports that the amendment, which was secretly
effected through a bill tagged the “Retirement age and conditions of service
bill”, increased the requirement of retirement for the staff to 65 years or 40
years of pensionable service, contrary to civil service rules.
Sources privy to the matter revealed that the bill was
secretly approved towards the end of the tenure of the previous assembly
despite rejection by many lawmakers, including those now in leadership position
at the two legislative chambers.
Although the amendment covers all staff of the national
assembly commission, Omolori and some top officials including Giwa Anonkhai,
clerk of the house of representatives and Olusanya Ajakaye, secretary of the
National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) are the main beneficiaries,
according to those aware of the issue.
Ajakaye, who was born on August 19, 1959, was due to retire
in August last year, while Anonkhai, born on November 25, 1960, is due to
retire in November.
SECRET PROCESS
Contrary to the tradition of the house, the new amendment
was approved without public hearing and other critical stages a bill passes
through before being passed. Its implementation also took effect without the
assent of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The whole thing was done quickly and referred to a joint
committee where they reconciled the differences,” one of those who worked
closely with the clerk’s office on the matter revealed.
LAWMAKERS BREACHING THE LAW
The civil service rules, which guide the conduct of civil service
in the country, stipulate 60 years of age or 35 years of pensionable service as
requirement for retirement, with the exception of judicial officials.
Section 8 (020810) of the rules states: “(i) The compulsory
retirement age for all grades in the Service shall be 60 years or 35 years of
pensionable service whichever is earlier.
“(ii) No officer shall be allowed to remain in service after
attaining the retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service
whichever is earlier.
“(iii) The provision of (i) and (ii) of this Rule is without
prejudice to prevailing requirements for Judicial Officers and Academic Staff
of Universities and other tertiary institutions who retire at 70 and 65 years
respectively.”
Despite the provisions of the rules, top lawmakers in the
previous assembly smuggled in the amendment bill allegedly with the backing of
the national assembly management.
A source that was involved in the amendment process said:
“It (the amendment) was secretly done in the form of a bill towards the end of
tenure of the eight assembly. The senate rejected it but the house of
representatives approved the extension by five years.
“So, they set up a conference committee which met and
approved it. And it was done in such a way that it will not need the approval
of the president to come into effect. It was not done through the normal
procedure.”
INFIGHTING
For an institution charged with the responsibility of making
laws, the move was said to have infuriated many of the lawmakers who saw it as
an outright breach of the law.
Among those lawmakers are Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila
who are both now senate president and speaker of the house of representatives
respectively.
TheCable reports that both leaders have distanced themselves from
both the amendment and its implementation.
“Both the speaker and senate president are against it; they
said it can’t stand and that what is the difference between them (the
management staff) and others in the public service?” a source privy to the matter said on Friday.
“Eve as at then, there were a lot of other lawmakers too who
were against it and were protesting but nothing much could be done.”
Omolori could not be reached for comments. Yahaya
Danzaria, director, public affairs at the national assembly, declined comments
on the matter when contacted on Friday.
“I will not be able to answer now… meet me in my office on
Monday,” he said over the phone.
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