The plan by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to introduce examinations for prospective candidates for the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) is being frowned at by some top management staff members.
Staff, THE CONCLAVE report, woke up to the shocking news that the NASC is working at setting examinations for those who are interested in becoming the next Clerk
Recall that effort to extend service years of National Assembly workers did not enjoy President Tinubu’s assent.
Executive Chairman, NASC
This has opened the doors for the race for the next Clerk as the incumbent CNA, Magaji Tambuwal, is scheduled to proceed on his pre-retirement leave on November 2, 2024.
The next most senior officer, Kamoru Ogunlana, is the substantive Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.
Against this backdrop, staff are worried about the sudden twist of event by the commission to introduce a strategy that might threaten the tradition of succession which hitherto had produced former CNAs.
In 1999, when the current fourth republic democratic journey started, Alh Ibrahim Salim was the CNA. His deputy was Alh Nasir Arab.
After his retirement from service, Arab succeeded Salim.
While Alh Arab was in the saddle of CNA, he had Mr. Ogunyemi Ogunyomi as his deputy.
Ogunyomi took over the reins of office as CNA consequent upon Arab’s retirement.
In a similar fashion, Alh Abubakar Salisu Maikasuwa, who was deputy to Mr Ogunyomi, took over as the CNA after Ogunyomi’s retirement.
Under Alh Maikasuwa, the late Benedict Efeture, was the DCNA, but, couldn’t step into the position as the CNA because of some high-powered politics and intrigues.
Alh Sani Mohammed Ataba Omolori brushed Efeturi aside to clinch the coveted position. But until Omolori retired, he didn’t have a DCNA.
Arch Olatunde Ojo stepped in after Omolori as the CNA while Alhaji Yabani was his deputy.
Unfortunately for Alh Yabani, he had to retire before his boss.
Alh Sani Magaji Tambuwal stepped in as acting CNA and was later confirmed as the substantive CNA.
While in acting capacity, Mr Kamoru Ogunlana was issued his letter as a substantive DCNA.
Staff members, who are conversant with the order of succession, are worried why the commission which offered a substantive DCNA letter to Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, is now introducing a strange approach to get the next CNA, whereas, the next successor should be the substantive DCNA.
As a top official told THE CONCLAVE: “Mr Kamoru Ogunlana is naturally to step in as the CNA. I am a Northerner and Muslim. I say this with all sense of responsibility, justice and equity. The Commission should not change the convention suddenly in a way as to suggest some sinister plot targeted against an individual from a section of the country.”
Some staff members have hinted that they’ll resist and frustrate any attempt by the commission to undermine the rights of staff, to create chaos and to overheat the existing peaceful and harmonious environment they’re enjoying.
They also cautioned the commission to do well by ensuring that existing protocol for succession as it has been to subsist before things get out of hand.
Some others also expressed their pains in the lopsided way the office of the CNA has been in the last 25 years.
They argued that, of the 25 years, the North have remained in the office for about 22 years. The remaining years have only produced two southern CNAs.
According to them, “this does not represent equity, justice and fairness. Allowing the examination strategy is divisive and intended to deny the next CNA, who, by all standards that avcord with the convention, should naturally step in.
They however, posited that, the NASC chairman, should be circumspect and avoid anything that would further embarrass the commission by doing what is fair and just, by allowing a smooth transition of power from the retiring CNA to his substantive DCNA.
