The National Assembly Service Commission [NASC] is embroiled in a controversy over alleged violations of the federal character principle in its upcoming promotions.
The commission is set to fill key positions, including Deputy Clerks in the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, but insiders warn that the process may be marred by favoritism and lobbying.
Pundits are questioning why Sokoto State is poised to get another Secretary, despite already having one representative, Atiku Ibrahim, who oversees the Procurement Directorate.
This raises concerns about the fairness of the process, especially given the principle of federal character that aims to promote equitable representation across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
Atiku Ibrahim’s potential appointment as Secretary of Finance and Accounts has sparked concerns among staff members, who cite his alleged mismanagement of funds in the House of Representatives.
They argued that his appointment would undermine the integrity of the Directorate and the National Assembly as a whole.
●Call for Transparency and Fairness
Staff members and observers are urging the National Assembly Service Commission to prioritise merit and fairness in the promotion process.
With the Senate recently probing systemic abuse of the federal character principle in recruitment and promotion, the commission’s decision will be closely watched.
It was learnt that a number of vacant positions are to be filled, including those of the deputy clerks in the Senate, Administration and Legislative.
In addition, a vacancy will be created by the exit of the Clerk, House of Representatives, sometimes in February 2026.
Another vacancy is the Inter parliamentary Directorate, and that of Finance and Accounts, which vacancy shall be declared in January 2026.
Sources close to the development hinted that the lobby for the vacant positions has become intense with horse trading and intrigues hallmarkimg the process.
It was learnt that the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, made some recommendations of officers who could be tapped for the positions, but his imput was kept aside for whatever reason by the commission.
In the political structure of the national assembly, every geopolitical zone is entitled to produce three Secretaries each, except North West because of its peculiarity of having seven states as against the six in four other zones andand five states in the Southeast.
Under the immediate past commission, a state was literally producing all three of the secretaries, which negated the principles of federal character, fairness, and justice.
Under the Ahmed Amshi-led Commission, Edo state, produced the late Nelson Ayewoh, Elder Felix and Barrister Henrietta
The current commission, however, vowed to change that narrative by insisting on a spread across the states in the zones.
It is, therefore, curious that this same commission is about to stop the emergence of two Secretaries from the South South because two top contenders are from the same state and local government.
Laudable as it is, the case appears to be different from what is about to happen in the North West. Sokoto state is about to get yet another Secretary with an existing one, in the person of Atiku Ibrahim, who oversees the Procurement Directorate.
Watchers of development in the National Assembly are worried about this anomaly that is about to happen. They queried, why Sokoto state should have two Secretaries, when there are six other states that make up the Northwest zone?
A source disclosed that Atiku Ibrahim has been eyeing the Finance and Accounts Directorate for a very long time.
He was reportedly disappointed with the emergence of his supposed junior, Clement Iyang, as Secretary, Finance and Accounts, after Sani Magaji Tambuwal vacated the position to become the Clerk to the National Assembly.
Atiku Ibrahim, as learnt, lost in his bid to become the Secretary of Finance and Accounts because both Sani Magaji Tambuwal and himself, hailed from Sokoto state and the same local government.
Watchers querried what has changed.
One observer asked: “Why is one Sidi, Clerk of Appropriation from the House of Representatives, from Sokoto, being considered as a preferred officer from the zone?”
The intrigue is intense, and Atiku is doing everything humanly possible to get the Finance and Accounts.
Bringing up the appropriation clerk from sokoto to be a Secretary in the House automatically knocks out any possible contender for the Directorate, being that he has some accounting knowledge.
Some staff members of the Finance and Accounts disclosed that the Directorate is for honest, highly disciplined and skilled professionals, who will not mess up the national assembly.
Many staff members are not in support of Atiku Ibrahim brcoming the Secretary of Finance and Accounts.
They advised that the commission should be circumspect in its actions and decisions.
