A group, Omolori Solidarity Group, has vowed to embark on a 1,000-man march to protest the sack of the Clerk of the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji Sani Omolori, by the National Assembly Service Commission.
His sack was based on the civil service rule that gives 35 years of service or 60 years of age, depending on whichever comes first, as the qualification for retirement.
The group said the sack was instigated by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in order to have their candidate in the position of the Clerk.
The threat is contained in a statement signed by one Mohammed Abdumalik (President) and Sani Yaro (Secretary)
The group is said to comprise some National Assembly staff, students, workers in the private and public.
The statement reads:
Fellow Nigerian Citizens,
In acknowledgement of the fact that the mischief in high places at the National Assembly as well as needless intrigues towards effecting the removal of the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Sani Omolori has reached level of concern; we hereby declare our intention to help safeguard the inalienable rights of our inimitable brother, Alhaji Omolori.
In this regard, the Omolori Solidarity Group, comprising some National Assembly staff, students, workers in the private and public sector have come together in a development triggered by an overreaching, callous and mischievous memo from the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) dated July 15, 2020 and implying that the CNA must be rushed out of office prematurely.
Our investigations show that the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan activated his lackey and former aide, Ahmed Kadi Amshi whom he installed as Chairman of NASC to write the letter and unfortunately, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila is part of the ploy, solely because he wants one Architect Ojo to become CNA by all means.
As we mobilize for a 1,000-strong solidarity protest slated for 12 noon at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Thursday, July 16, 2020, we want to make it clear that we have vowed to resist whatever forces at play and ensure that Omolori remains the CNA.
Part of our strategies include dragging both Senator Lawan and Hon Gbajabiamila before President Buhari so that they can learn to live within their legal limitations; it must also be noted that these two Janus-faced men championed the cause for the five years’ extension of service in both respective chambers during the 8th National Assembly!
The NASC mischievously misinformed the public that the Commission has approved the retirement age of staff of the National Assembly as 35 years of service or 60 years of age whichever comes first; we hereby state that the matter may end up being resolved by the courts while Omolori remains in office.
However, the truth is that the extant regulation as contained in NASS’ Revised Conditions of Service duly passed by both Chambers of the 8th National Assembly puts the retirement age of staff at 40 years of service and 65 years of age – whichever comes first.
As brilliantly argued by CNA Sani Omolori yesterday, the resolution of the 8th National Assembly on the Conditions of Service of Staff has not been rescinded nor abdicated by the National Assembly, who under the authentic National Assembly Service Act 2014, as passed is empowered to review any proposed amendment to the Conditions of Service by the Commission.
Therefore, the National Assembly Service Commission does NOT have the powers to set aside the Revised Conditions of Service as passed by, the 8th National Assembly.
Any further attempt to remove Alhaji Sani Omolori from office as Clerk of the National Assembly amounts to an invitation to chaos and those who draw the rain should look forward to being drenched by the force of the rain.
