Akpabio Kicks Against ‘Sit-tight’ Bureaucrats in NASS
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has strongly criticized the practice of top bureaucrats in the National Assembly overstaying in their positions beyond their official service years. He called on the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to act decisively and remove such officials from service, as stipulated by the relevant laws.
Akpabio made these comments during a meeting with the outgoing Chairman and members of the NASC on Monday in Abuja. He expressed mixed feelings about the end of their tenure, commending the outgoing Chairman for his service while also highlighting certain lapses that need to be addressed.
One of the main issues, according to Akpabio, is the reluctance of some clerks and directors in the National Assembly to retire once their service years expire, alongside the commission’s failure to enforce timely retirements. He described this “sit-tight” attitude as problematic, particularly for the functioning of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), and warned that it leads to unnecessary politicization within the system.
“The politicization of tenure or years of service for staff of the National Assembly is a result of the actions and inactions of NASC, and this must stop,” Akpabio stressed, adding that NASC must comply with the terms of appointments and enforce service regulations strictly.
To address the issue, Akpabio suggested an amendment to the NASC Establishment Act, ensuring that the Secretary of NASC works more closely with National Assembly leadership to foster a disciplined and efficient work environment.
The outgoing Chairman of NASC, Engineer Ahmed Kadi Amshi, informed Akpabio that he, along with five other commissioners, would conclude their service on February 7, 2025. However, the commissioner representing the South East will remain in office until 2026.
