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NASS Clerk Appointment Must Prioritize Merit, Transparency – Speaker Abbas
…partners Senate President on reform bills for workers, career advancement
By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has announced his sponsorship of bills to amend the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Act, which is aimed at ensuring merit and transparency in the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly.
The bills, co-sponsored by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, seek to introduce reforms that prioritize career progression for legislative workers and enhance efficiency within the National Assembly administrative framework.
Speaker Abbas who emphasised the need for experienced legislative professionals to lead the National Assembly bureaucracy, noted the controversies that often mar the selection process for the Clerk to the Assembly.
The Speaker stated this during the presentation of the exit report by the 5th Commission of the National Assembly Service Commission, led by its Chairman, Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi, on Monday in Abuja.
He said: “One persistent challenge facing the National Assembly Service has been the lack of a well-defined succession plan. The recurring crisis surrounding the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly and other key positions highlight the need for urgent reform. The absence of clarity in succession plan undermines the service’s stability and efficiency. As the legislative arm of government, the National Assembly cannot afford such disruptions.
“To address this, I am pleased to inform you that the National Assembly, led by my counterpart in the Senate, His Excellency Sen. Godswill Akpabio, GCON, along with myself, has initiated amendments to the NASC Act. These amendments aim to streamline the qualifications and processes for appointing key officers, thereby ensuring merit-based and transparent succession.
“Furthermore, the amendments will provide new entrants into the Service with clear guidelines on career progression, eliminating controversies surrounding promotions and aligning the scheme of service with the broader vision of the Commission and the National Assembly.”
Speaker Abbas reaffirmed the steadfast commitment of the House to fostering a strong and collaborative partnership with the NASC.
“As partners, we commit to fostering an efficient, productive, and professional National Assembly Service,” he said, adding that through collective efforts, the House would ensure that the National Assembly “continues to grow and develop to serve the evolving and complex needs (of the National Assembly) and the constituents we represent.”
The Speaker highlighted that the presentation reflects a commendable tradition that has strengthened and advanced the institutional growth of the Commission over the past 25 years.
He emphasised that it reinforces the principles of accountability, transparency, and continuity, which are fundamental to effective governance.
Speaker Abbas also acknowledged the significant role parliamentary service commissions play in shaping and consolidating democracies, especially in developing nations, and noted that the NASC has been instrumental in supporting the National Assembly’s transformation into the vibrant institution it has become.
“In contrast to the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Judicial Service Commission, which have long histories and greater resources, the NASC has faced significant challenges. Nevertheless, it has made impressive progress in enhancing the institutional capacity of the National Assembly, ensuring it meets its constitutional responsibilities.”
While congratulating the outgoing Chairman of the NASC, Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi and his team of Commissioners, he thanked them for their service to the National Assembly and Nigeria, and said that over the past five years, their stewardship has advanced the Commission’s mission and vision and strengthened the institutional backbone of the legislative process.
Speaker Abbas further noted that their efforts in upholding the Commission’s mandate as a cornerstone of democracy, while fostering professionalism within the National Assembly bureaucracy, are highly commendable.
He said: “Over the last 25 years, the National Assembly has achieved significant milestones. The legislature has transformed into a formidable institution, contributing to national development through effective lawmaking, oversight, and representation. The remarkable growth of the various organs and agencies of the National Assembly highlights the importance of institutional development.
“However, we must not rest on our laurels. The journey to establish a strong, independent, and productive legislature requires continuous improvement, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.”
The Speaker urged the NASC to continue focusing on recruiting capable personnel with the requisite skill sets, enhancing the capacity of its workforce, and maintaining discipline within the Service.
“Without these essential elements, no institution can thrive. A well-trained and disciplined bureaucracy forms the foundation of an effective legislature. The National Assembly Service must be primed to attract and retain the best talents while fostering a culture of professionalism and integrity,” he stated.
Earlier while presenting a 13-page document to the Speaker, Amshi highlighted the challenges and successes of the NASC in the last five years.
The chairman noted that the outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Magaji Tambuwal, would retire in five days’ time, while the outgoing NASC board would be working with the incoming Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana for only five days before the end of its tenure.
The bandits who kidnapped the Head of the Zamfara State Office of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Alh. Bashir Aliyu Abara Gummi, are demanding an additional N44m ransom to release him after collecting N16m from his family.
Gummi was abducted in October 2024 along Funtua-Gusau Road while travelling to Abuja to represent the Zamfara State Government at a meeting.
The bandits opened fire at moving vehicles, k!lling two persons before kidnapping the coordinator and scores of other travellers.
It was gathered that his family managed to gather N16,000,000 ransom which the kidnappers accepted but refused to release him.
According to a source, they are now demanding a new ransom of N44,000,000, along with 10 motorcycles.
“We implore the State Government to take immediate action to save this important individual, as the kidnappers have set a deadline of Thursday, February 6, 2025, which was yesterday”, the family source added.
Meanwhile, the bandits have released a video of the victim, pleading for help.
A 4% charge has been placed on Free On-Board (FOB) value of imports by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
This was announced by the NCS spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Maiwada noted that the directive was in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.
“In line with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of NCSA 2023, the NCS is implementing a 4 per cent charge on the Free On-Board (FOB) value of imports.
“The FOB charge, which is calculated based on the value of imported goods, including cost of goods and transportation expenses incurred up to the port of loading, is essential to driving the effective operation of the service.
“Furthermore, the NCS acknowledges concerns raised by stakeholders over the sustained collection of 1 per cent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) fee.
“It is a regulatory charge imposed for funding Nigeria’s Destination Inspection Scheme alongside the 4 per cent FOB charge.
As a responsive government agency, the service wishes to assure the general public that extensive consultation is ongoing with the Federal Ministry of Finance to address all agitations raised by our esteemed stakeholders, “ he said.
He urged all stakeholders to comply with the directive, which was conceived after extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders and organisations.
“All stakeholders are urged to support this legally binding initiative.
“As the measures introduced in alignment with the NCSA 2023 reflects a balanced approach born out of extensive consultations with industry players, importers, and regulatory bodies,” he said.
US authorities are looking for a small plane carrying 10 people that has been reported missing in the state of Alaska.
The US Coast Guard for the Alaska region said a Cessna Caravan craft was 12 miles (19km) offshore on a flight from Unalakleet to Nome when “its position was lost”.
The two cities are some 146 miles from each other across the Norton Sound, an inlet of the Bering Sea on Alaska’s western coast.
Search and rescue crews “are working to get to the last known coordinates” of the flight, state officials said in a statement.
They said they had been notified of an “overdue” aircraft operated by the airline Bering Air at 16:00 local time on Thursday (01:00 GMT).
The 10 people on board comprised nine passengers and a pilot, the update from the Alaska Department of Public Safety said. There was no information immediately available about who was on board.
The volunteer fire department in the landing city Nome said the pilot had told air traffic controllers that “he intended to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway to be cleared”.
David Olson, director of operations for Bering Air, was quoted by Sun UK as saying that the aircraft left an airstrip in Unalakleet at 2:37 pm before officials lost all contact less than an hour later.
It was 12 miles offshore when it was last sighted, according to the US Coast Guard.
Nome Volunteer Fire Department said in a statement: “We are currently responding to a report of a missing Bering Air caravan.
“We are doing an active ground search from Nome and from White Mountain.
“Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time.
“National Guard, Coast Guard, and Troopers have been notified and are active in the search.”
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