Rumble In National Assembly Over Alleged Lopsided Promotions

There is growing tension in the National Assembly over the
alleged illegal and lopsided promotion of over 150 staff without
recourse to the Public Service rules. The tension, Daily Sun has
learnt, may soon lead to a protest if the National Assembly Service
Commission (NASC) does not act, according to the Daily Sun
report.

According to documents seen by the Daily Sun, the said promotion
was done in August 2017 when Adamu Fika held sway as Chairman of
the NASC.

According to one of the memos addressed to the former Clerk of
the National Assembly, Sanni Omolori by Fika, he admitted that the
action the Commission took in addressing the issue of proper
placements was against the Public Service rules.

It was learned that some of those promoted bypassed some steps
in the Service and were promoted ahead of their contemporaries. The
development led to a series of protests by aggrieved staff who are
insisting that the action must be reversed by the new Commission
which came on stream last year.

The protesting staff are also demanding that Federal Character
principles must be followed in the promotion of staff. They argued
that the alleged illegal promotion carried out by Fika-led NASC,
favoured his section of the country.

Part of the letter read: ‘In order to redress the situation and
also ensure equity, justice and fairness, the Commission has over
the past two years, looked into cases presented by various staff
and approved the adjustments of the appointment of some officers’
in the National Assembly Service.

‘With effect from 24th of August, 2017, the National Assembly
Service Commission shall not entertain any requests for proper
placement as it doesn’t exist in the Public Service, please.’

After series of protests, Daily Sun learned that the Ahmed
Amashi-led NASC may review some of the promotions and placements
which didn’t follow the Public Service rules. If the Commision goes
ahead to review the exercise, over 100 staff are expected to be
affected.

A source in the office of the chairman, said the move is
necessary to guide against bad blood in the Service and
unnecessarily place those undeserving above their peers. The source
said staff already shortlisted for possible demotion, are scouting
for top traditional rulers from the North to prevail on Amshi to
halt the move.

He said the action ought to have been taken months before now,
but explained that the pressure is growing by the day to halt the
move, which many stakeholders in the National Assembly are rooting
for.

‘If the Commision fails to act, we should expect some
consequences. Staff are angry and they’re waiting to see if the
Commision will act or do otherwise before we will begin to see
documents flying around,’ the source added.

There is growing tension in the National Assembly over the
alleged illegal and lopsided promotion of over 150 staff without
recourse to the Public Service rules. The tension, Daily Sun has
learnt, may soon lead to a protest if the National Assembly Service
Commission (NASC) does not act, according to the Daily Sun
report.

According to documents seen by the Daily Sun, the said promotion
was done in August 2017 when Adamu Fika held sway as Chairman of
the NASC.

According to one of the memos addressed to the former Clerk of
the National Assembly, Sanni Omolori by Fika, he admitted that the
action the Commission took in addressing the issue of proper
placements was against the Public Service rules.

It was learned that some of those promoted bypassed some steps
in the Service and were promoted ahead of their contemporaries. The
development led to a series of protests by aggrieved staff who are
insisting that the action must be reversed by the new Commission
which came on stream last year.

The protesting staff are also demanding that Federal Character
principles must be followed in the promotion of staff. They argued
that the alleged illegal promotion carried out by Fika-led NASC,
favoured his section of the country.

Part of the letter read: ‘In order to redress the situation and
also ensure equity, justice and fairness, the Commission has over
the past two years, looked into cases presented by various staff
and approved the adjustments of the appointment of some officers’
in the National Assembly Service.

‘With effect from 24th of August, 2017, the National Assembly
Service Commission shall not entertain any requests for proper
placement as it doesn’t exist in the Public Service, please.’

After series of protests, Daily Sun learned that the Ahmed
Amashi-led NASC may review some of the promotions and placements
which didn’t follow the Public Service rules. If the Commision goes
ahead to review the exercise, over 100 staff are expected to be
affected.

A source in the office of the chairman, said the move is
necessary to guide against bad blood in the Service and
unnecessarily place those undeserving above their peers. The source
said staff already shortlisted for possible demotion, are scouting
for top traditional rulers from the North to prevail on Amshi to
halt the move.

He said the action ought to have been taken months before now,
but explained that the pressure is growing by the day to halt the
move, which many stakeholders in the National Assembly are rooting
for.

‘If the Commision fails to act, we should expect some
consequences. Staff are angry and they’re waiting to see if the
Commision will act or do otherwise before we will begin to see
documents flying around,’ the source added.