Crisis Over Appointment Of Clerk Of National Assembly Deepens

                                                                                                                                                                       The crisis over the appointment of a Clerk for the National Assembly deepened on Monday.

One of the Federal Commissioners of the Commission, Idi Ningi, disclosed that he never signed any document to disassociate himself from the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori as the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly during the meeting held at the residence of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.‎

Seven members of the National Assembly Service Commission had last week rejected the appointment of Sani-Omolori as the Clerk to the National Assembly.

They instead backed Benedict Efeturi.

Sani-Omolori and Efeturi are Clerk to the House of Representatives and Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly respectively.

Sani-Omolori’s appointment was announced through a letter by the Chairman of the Commission, Adamu Fika, last Wednesday.‎

But Saraki, who is also the Chairman of the National Assembly, in a letter to Fika argued that Efeturi should have been considered for the position since he (Efeturi) is currently the Deputy Clerk‎

But in dramatic twist to the development, Ningi, in ‎statement made available to newsmen on Thursday said he only signed the attendance register at the meeting held in the residence of Saraki over the appointment of an Acting Clerk of the National Assembly.

Ningi, who revealed how Saraki expressed disappointment over the appointment at the meeting, said he was shocked and surprised ‎to learn that he signed the letter protesting the appointment of Sani-Omolori.

The statement, titled: “I did not sign any protest letter,” reads: “On Tuesday, 26th April, 2016, I was informed of a meeting of the Commission with His Excellency, the President of the Senate in his house at 7pm of that day.

“Myself and one of my colleagues – Alhaji Rufai Tuta arrived after 7pm, having missed our way trying to locate the Senate President’s house. On arrival, we met four of our colleagues already seated – Elder Yepwi, Funmilayo Lamuye, Paul Oweh and Joseph Oru. About five minutes later, His Excellency, the Senate President walked in and after exchanging pleasantries, he spoke about the way the issue of the appointment of the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly was handled by the Commission and essentially expressed displeasure about it. My colleagues, who all spoke before me recalled their contributions at the meeting of the Commission where the decision on the appointment was taken. I spoke last and only offered apologies to His Excellency as it was apparent that he was not happy with the Commission; assuring him that we cannot annoy him intentionally. Mid-way into the meeting, the Deputy Senate President walked in and joined us.

“While I was speaking, one of my colleagues (amongst the four we met at the residence) walked towards my seat with a sheet of paper which he gave to my colleague sitting close to me – Alhaji Rufai Tuta to sign and thereafter gave it to me. I noticed the paper was merely to write our name, the zone we represent and signature to indicate our attendance at the meeting and I signed accordingly.

“I am therefore shocked and surprised to learn that I signed a document. No document was presented at the meeting and I did not sign any document but an attendance sheet.

“I could not have signed any document dissociating myself from the decision of the Commission as I had earlier (on the 19th April, 2016) in a hand written note – attached – expressed my support for the appointment of Alhaji Sani Omolori as the Clerk to the National Assembly in Acting capacity.

“Let me seize this opportunity to express my deep and sincere respect and loyalty to His Excellency, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the Deputy President of the Senate – Mr. Ike Ekweremadu and to pledge my unflinching loyalty to and confidence on the Executive Chairman of the Commission – Dr. Adamu Mohammed Fika.”