By Mohammed Mohammed
High ranking officers of the National Assembly (NASS) and the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alh. Sani Omolori,
allegedly back by some of his staff loyal to him may clash today as a result of the lingering issues on the propriety of the Omolori to continue to stay in his office.
Mr. Mohammed Abdulmalik, who is the arrow Head of the Omolori Solidarity Group, in a statement made available to the media on Wednesday night said information leaked to the group that principal officers of the Senate and House of Representatives are plotting to remove the Clerk through the backdoor.
He said, we have come to acknowledge 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 the 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.
“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.”
According to him, part of its strategies includes dragging the principal officers of both chambers before President Muhammadu Buhari so that they can learn to live within their legal limitations.
Abdulmalik, said 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, he added.
As argued by 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, the group head said.
“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 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.” He said.