N’assembly clerk forced to retire as bid to extend tenure fails

Mohammed Sani-Omolori (pictured), clerk of the national assembly, has been forced to retire after a failed bid for his tenure and other senior management staff to be extended.

Sani-Omolori’s retirement was approved by the National Assembly Service Commission on Wednesday.

In a document signed by Ahmed Amshi, its chairman, the commission also approved the retirement age for national assembly staff as 60 years of age or upon 35 years of service.

TheCable had reported how Sani-Omolori failed to leave despite being due for retirement.

An illegal plot by the previous assembly saw the conditions of service of the national assembly staff being amended, increasing the requirement of retirement for the staff to 65 years or 40 years of pensionable service.

Some other senior management staff of the national assembly were affected by the new development.

“Pursuant to its mandate as provided in the National Assembly Service Act 2014 (as amended), the National Assembly Service Commission at its 497th meeting held on Wednesday 15th July 2020 has approved the retirement age of the staff of the National Assembly Service as 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever comes first,” Amshi said.

“To this effect the commission has approved the immediate retirement of staff of the National Assembly Service who have already attained the retirement age of 35 years of service or 60 years of age.

“Retirement letters would be issued to the affected staff accordingly.”

TheCable had reported how 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 had told TheCable 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 positions 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), were the main beneficiaries.

Sani-Omolori, who started his civil service career on February 6, 1985, was due to retire in February, while Ajakaye, who was born on August 19, 1959, was due to retire in August 2019.

Also, Anonkhai, born on November 25, 1960, is due to retire in November.

Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of service (HoS), recently faulted the attempt to extend the tenure of the affected national assembly staff through a memo to Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives.

Yemi-Esan had argued that the public service rules provide only “for attainment of 60 years of age or 35 years of service for an officer to retire, whichever comes earlier.”