Controversy is now trailing the decision of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to bypass the most senior officer in the commission , Chinedu Akubueze and appointed Magaji Tambuwal as the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly.
But Tambuwal, the secretary of the directorate of finance and accounts in the National Assembly, is said not to be the most senior officer in the management cadre of NASC.
According to the National Assembly Service Act, the offices of the commission are listed as follows: clerk to the national assembly, deputy clerk to the national assembly, clerk of the senate, clerk of the house of representatives, deputy clerk of the senate, deputy clerk of the house of representatives, and secretaries to the directorates.
According to the act, NASC has five directorates — corporate affairs; legal services; finance and accounts; procurement, estate and works; and common services office.
Incidentally, the office of the head of service had said it was in order for Olatunde Ojo, the outgoing clerk, to continue working during his retirement leave.
But NASC has directed Ojo to proceed on his leave that took effect on Monday.
Chinedu Akubueze is also said to be the next in line, owing to the fact that Bala Yabani, deputy clerk of the national assembly, has retired.
But in a letter dated November 18 , the Chairman of NASC, Ahmed Amshi, said Tambuwal’s appointment was based on section 6(b) of the commission service act.
The aforementioned section gives the commission the power to “appoint persons to hold or act in the offices”.
Regarding appointments, section 14(5) of the act states: “Consideration shall be given to seniority, cognate experience, competence, or federal character”.
Amshi also said that Tambuwal’s appointment is as a result of his “hard work” and “administrative competence”.
The letter of appointment reads in part, “ I write to inform you that the Commission at its 565th Meeting held on Friday, 18th November, 2022, approved your appointment as Acting Clerk to the National Assembly w.e.f. 18th November, 2022.
“This is in exercise of its powers as provided in Section 6(b) of the National Assembly Service Act 2014.
“It is therefore expected that you will continue to uphold the confidence reposed in you.”
The Secretary of Legal Services, Ogunlana Kamoru was also appointed as the Acting Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly.
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