Senate Stops NASS Service Extension for CNA , others

By Andrew Oota

The Senate has haunted moves to extend the years of service for officials of the National Assembly ( NASS ) , headed by the Clerk to the federal parliament, ( CNA) Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal .

Objecting to the planned service extension, Senate stood down down the bill forwarded to it for concurrence by the House of Representatives .

Before the Bill ran into troubled waters, the Leader of the Senate , Senator Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC Ekiti Central ) , had in his lead debate on it , argued that extension of years of service for National Assembly staff, will strengthen the legislature as an arm of government .

He spiritedly submitted that extension of years of service of National Assembly staff from 35 to 40 or retirement age from 60 to 65, would help to protect institutional memory needed in as far as parliamentary practices and procedures are concerned

Senator Summaila Kawu ( NNPP Kano South), also threw his weight behind the legislative proposal by submitting that it would help to create reservoir of knowledge in the administration and federal parliament.

But Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( APGA Abia South), kicked against the proposal by warning that it would portray the federal lawmakers as being biased in their judgement on what is good or bad for public servants.

” All the arguments made by the leader for this bill to be concurred to, by the Senate to me , do not add up . What is special about a Director of Finance in the National Assembly from Directors of Finance in the Ministries and Parastatals .

” The extension of years of service done for the teachers , lecturers and Judicial officers through laws passed to that effect by the Senate and the House of Representatives , are understandable but that cannot be in anyway , rationalized for National Assembly staff.

” They are civil servants like those in the Ministries and Parastatals and should not be treated outside the public service rule . I am against this bill and admonish the Senate to be cautious with the proposal .

Also kicking against the bill, the Whip of the Senate , Senator Ali Ndume ( APC Borno South) , admonished the Senate to be cautious on considering the proposal .

” Mr President , if secret ballot is to be conducted among staff of the National Assembly in the Chamber with us now on the bill, many of them , will vote against it “, he said .

Final nail on the bill was done by Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse ( APC Katsina South) , who said the proposal if approved , would furtber worsened the problem of unemployment in the country.

Realizing growing opposition of Senators to the bill, the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio , hurriedly interjected the debate by declaring that the bill is controversial and should be stood down , which was accordingly done.