Retirement: NASC queries Sani-Omoloroi over counter order, as embattled Clerk vows to respond

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has queried the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, for exhibiting traits of insubordination to the Commission, asking him to explain within twenty four hours, why disciplinary measures should not be taken against him.
According to a statement issued by the executive chairman of the Commission, Ahmed Kadi Amshi, the Commission reminded Sani-Omolori that the Clerk to the National Assembly is an employee of the National Assembly Service Commission, inline with Section 6(1)b of the National Assembly Service Act, 2014 (As amended).
To this end, the NASC explained that as a Clerk, he has no such authority whatsoever to dictate to the commission on anything.
According to the NASC statement, “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.
“As you are very much aware, the Clerk to the National Assembly is an employee of the National Assembly Service Commission, vide Section 6(1)b of the National Assembly Service Act, 2014 (As amended).
“The Clerk to the National Assembly has no authority whatsoever to dictate anything to the Commission. 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”.
However, in his response to the querry, Sani-Omolori sent a text message saying he will respond appropriately to the query at the right time.
According to the text message, the Clerk said “I will respond to the query appropriately, the content of which will make concerned parties understand the issues at stake better”.
Recall that the NASC had yesterday issued a statement retiring the Clerk of National Assembly and about one hundred and fifty other senior staff of the parliament for having attained either the required retirement age of 60years or working for over 35years in the assembly.
On the other hand, the Clerk had insisted that there was a revised condition of service passed by the 8th National Assembly, which increased by five years the 35years of service and 60years of age for retirement of the staff of National Assembly.