Saraki’s directive on choice of new clerk rejected

The National Assembly Service Commission says it will not honour Senate President Busola Saraki’s directive for the reversal of the appointment of Mohammed Sani-Omolori as acting clerk of the assembly.

Sani-Omolori’s appointment was announced on April 20, but he was to assume office on May 13, as replacement for Salisu Maikasuwa who will proceed on his pre-retirement leave on May 14.

But Saraki wrote to Adamu Fika, chairman of the commission, to demand a reversal, saying he had been misled and misinformed.

He said Benedict Efeturi, deputy clerk of the national assembly, who once acted as clerk, ought to have been the head of the bureaucracy of the legislature based on seniority.

“We present to you the compliments of the president of the senate and chairman of the national assembly, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON. Please recall that during your last meeting with the senate president on April 20, 2016, the procedure of the appointment of the acting clerk of the national assembly was discussed,” Saraki’s letter read.

“The commission was directed to follow due process and ensure that seniority is adhered to. Of course, Mr Benedict Efeturi who is deputy clerk of the national assembly (DCNA) and who has previously acted as the clerk of the national assembly should be the first to be considered.

“The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives were informed that Mr. Efeturi was not considered for the appointment because he was not duly appointed as deputy clerk of the national assembly.

“On further enquiry, we found out that he was duly appointed by the National Assembly Service Commission vide extract from minutes of its 403rd meeting held on Friday, 21st November, 2014.

“From the foregoing, you have misled and misinformed the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives. Consequently, I am directed by His Excellency, the senate president, to inform you that the letter appointing Mr Sani Omolori as acting clerk of the national assembly be withdrawn immediately for further consultations.”

However, in his response, Fika said it is impossible to reverse the appointment because it would be improper, as Omolori is Efeturi’s senior.

He also explained that Efeturi could not be appointed because he is already scheduled to proceed on pre-retirement leave before the end of the incumbent’s tenure.

“I wish to refer to your letter on the above subject matter issued on your behalf by your Chief of Staff, Senator Isa Galaudu,” Fika’s letter read.

“The letter was instructing the Executive Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission to withdraw the letter appointing Mr. Mohammed A. Sani-Omolori as the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly for the period that the incumbent Clerk to the National Assembly will be on Pre-retirement leave from the 14‘h May to 14th August 2016.

“The above decision was taken at the Commission’s 440th meeting held on the 20th day of April 2016. The Commission took into account the fact that Mr. Benedict Efeturi will himself proceed on his Pre-retirement leave on 20th August 2016, twelve days before the incumbent Clerk will be due to hand over to his successor.

“This means that Mr. Efeturi is time barred for the Acting Appointment. Hence the choice of Mr. Sani-Omolori to act and ensure continuity in that very important Public Service office where he will serve for the next five years.”

He further explained that the commission did not consider voting right in reaching its decision, adding: “It should be noted that in the Nigeria Public Service, Seniority is determined at the time of consideration for promotion and career progression chart leading to it.

“Seniority has never and is never decided by the date of appointment to the service nor date of retirement from service or indeed the number of years spent in the service.

“From the above analysis, denying Mr. Mohammed A. Sani-Omolori appointment as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly in 2014 was improper being that he was senior to Mr. Benedict Efeturi.

“With the above explanations, the issue of misleading and misinforming your good self and the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives does not arise as the Commission properly evaluated the two officers and took into account their service records as a determining factor for the appointment of Acting Clerk to the National Assembly.

“In the light of all the foregoing, Your Excellency will agree that reversing the decision of the Commission appointing Mr. Mohammed A. Sani-Omolori as the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly cannot be tenable in the circumstance.”