National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) on Thursday queried the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Mohammed Ataba , for rejecting his retirement, OBSERVERS TIMES report
The Executive Chairman of the NASC, Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi, in the query letter dated July 16, 2020, described the press release by Sani-Omolori rejecting his retirement as an act of “gross insubordination to a constituted authority.”
Amshi said: “The attention of the National Assembly Service Commission was drawn to a Press Release titled: ‘Retirement age for staff of the National Assembly Service is 40 years of Service or 65 years of Age, whichever comes first’ dated 15th July, 2020 and signed by M.A Sani-Omolori, Clerk to the National Assembly.
“You press release is considered by the Commission as a gross insubordination to a constituted authority.
“You are, by this letter requested to explain to the Commission within twenty four (24) hours as to why disciplinary action will not be taken against you as per the provision of Section 6(2)b of the National Assembly Service Act, 2014 (As Amended) for this gross insubordination.”
Sani-Omolori and the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) had clashed over the retirement age of staff of the National Assembly.
While the NASC put the approved age for retirement at 35 years of service or 60 years of age, Sani-Omolori insisted that it is 40 years in Service or 65 years of age whichever comes first.
Sani-Omolori in a statement titled: “Retirement age for staff of the National Assembly is 40 years of Service or 65 years of age whichever comes first” said the NASC does not have the powers to set aside the Revised Conditions of Service as passed by the 8th National Assembly.
Sani-Omolori said: “The attention of the National Assembly Management has been drawn to a Press Release dated 15th July, 2020 signed by the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, informing the general public that the Commission has approved the retirement age of staff of the National Assembly as 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever comes first.
“The Management of the National Assembly wishes to inform all staff and the general public that the extant regulation as contained in our Revised Conditions of Service duly passed by both Chambers of the 8th National Assembly puts the retirement age of staff at 40 years of service and 65 years of age whichever comes first.
“The Resolution of the 8th National Assembly on the Conditions of Service of Staff has not been rescinded nor abdicated by the National Assembly, who under the authentic National Assembly Service Act 2014 as passed is empowered to review any proposed amendment to the Conditions of Service by the Commission.
“Therefore, the National Assembly Service Commission does NOT have the powers to set aside the Revised Conditions of Service as passed by the 8th National Assembly.
“The Management had maintained a studied silence in deference to the leadership of the 9th National Assembly who is looking into the position being canvassed by the Commission.
“It is therefore intriguing that the National Assembly Service Commission has unilaterally gone ahead to take a ‘’decision’’.