Absence of NASS Commission worsens Assembly crisis

The failure of the leadership of the National Assembly (NASS) to put in place a new National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) appeared to have worsened the crisis rocking the institution, sources close to the legislature have said.

Staff of the National Assembly under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria(PASAN)  had on December 4 picketed the National Assembly complex and disrupted the planned sittings of the Senate and the House of Representatives, having accused the management of the legislature of failure to pay outstanding allowances.

The intervention of the political leadership of the Assembly including Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara as well as their deputies and the leadership of the two chambers helped to douse tension in the first week of December following promises made to the workers that their outstanding payments would be effected.

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But the workers, again at the weekend in a letter dated December 14, 2018, issued a notice of warning strike starting from Monday, December 17.

 If the strike goes into effect, the planned presentation of the Federal Budget on December 19 would have been torpedoed, sources said.

Feelers from a meeting between the political leadership of the Assembly, the workers and the Management headed by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Sani Omolori had indicated that the outstanding payments were to be made  from December 7, a promise that has apparently been bungled.

It was however gathered that the absence of National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has further worsened the crisis since according to sources, there is very little the political leaders can do to force the hand of the (CNA).

The Commission is empowered by law to employ, promote and discipline staff of the Assembly, while maintaining supervisory roles on the CNA, the Chief Accounting Officer of the Assembly.

Right now, the workers are angling for the release of the letters of promotion approved by Board of the last NASC, which left office in June.

Besides, there are reports that some officers who are due t=for retirement are not being served with letters to proceed on terminal leaves because the Board statutorily empowered to do so is not in place.

The Board is usually composed by the political wing of the National Assembly and forwarded to the President, who will in turn send the list to the Senate for confirmation.

“Without the board, there are a number of issues that would remain pending, especially the issue of those due for retirement, who might eventually overstay their tenures,” a source said.

Spokesman of the Senate President, who is the Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki, Yusuph Olaniyonu said that the issue of the NASC board was being addressed, adding that the workers are more concerned about the outstanding payments.