“Akpabio Pushes for Reforms in National Assembly Service, Slams ‘Sit-Tight’ Bureaucrats”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has expressed his dissatisfaction with National Assembly management staff who seek extensions of their service after retirement, calling it a violation of public service rules. He has directed the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to take immediate action to remove such staff from service without delay.

Akpabio made his comments during a meeting with the outgoing Chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission, who had visited him in Abuja.

“Mr. Chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission, your visit to formally notify me of the end of your tenure is bittersweet,” Akpabio said. “It’s sad to lose an experienced hand like yours, but at the same time, I’m happy you have concluded your term successfully after five years.”

He acknowledged that the Secretary of the Commission would take over temporarily until new recommendations for the Chairman and members are made. However, Akpabio took the opportunity to address issues that have been observed in the past few years, particularly the reluctance of some clerks to leave office when their years of service expire, and the commission’s slow enforcement of this rule.

“Some clerks, either to the National Assembly, Senate, or House of Representatives, have been reluctant to retire at the end of their service. There’s also lethargy on the part of NASC to enforce the rules in these cases,” Akpabio said. “This tolerance of sit-tight bureaucrats has introduced unnecessary politics into the system, dividing the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) and even prompting threats to take the leadership of the National Assembly to ‘Berekete Radio’ — a station that doesn’t even exist.”

He emphasized the importance of adhering to the terms set out in staff appointment letters, warning that such politicization of staff tenure must end. “Refusal to proceed on terminal leave by some clerks, secretaries, or directors is a clear attempt to extend their service, which must be enforced by NASC,” Akpabio stated.

The Senate President also called for amendments to the NASC’s establishment Act, ensuring that the Secretary works closely with the leadership of the National Assembly to improve discipline and service delivery within the system.

In response, the outgoing Chairman of NASC, Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi, shared that he and five out of the six National Commissioners will be concluding their tenure on February 7, 2025, having assumed office on the same date in 2020. He also noted that the Commissioner representing the South East would remain in office until October 14, 2026, due to a later appointment on October 15, 2021.