HoS Faults N’Assembly Clerk, Others’ Service Extension

HoS Faults N’Assembly Clerk, Others’ Service Extension

Peter Uzoho

The Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has described as illegal, the extension of service of the Clerk of the National Assembly and has urged the leadership of the National Assembly to reverse their elongation of service and retirement age of workers.

HoS, in a memo to the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, also faulted the amendment made by the 8th National Assembly to the Conditions of Service of the affected staff.

The memo with reference number: HCSF/SPSO/ODD/E & NP/649807/I, and dated June 30, 2020, which was sighted by THISDAY, was entitled ‘Presentation by the Head of Service of the Federation to the Leadership of the National Assembly on the Resolution of the 8th Assembly Regarding the Extension of Retirement Age of the Staff of the National Assembly Service Commission.’

“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) classifies the clerk and other staff of the National Assembly as public servants whose conditions of service are guided are by the public service rules which derives its existence from Section 169 made pursuant to Section 160(1) of the Constitution.

“In specific terms, Section 318(1) of the Constitution states that ‘public service of the Federation means the service of any capacity in respect of the Government of the Federation and includes as (a) clerk or other staff of the National Assembly or of each house of the National Assembly.’

According to her, the public service rules “prescribes attainment of 60 years of age or 35 years of service for an officer to retire, whichever comes earlier.”

Related Articles