CSOs decry presence of 2 clerks in N/Assembly, threaten protest

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Justice and Equity (CCSO-JE) has threatened to commence a series of protests at the National Assembly from next week if the leadership of Nigeria’s apex lawmaking body fails to address the presence of two clerks in the parliament. The outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Olatunde Ojo, […]

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Justice and Equity (CCSO-JE) has threatened to commence a series of protests at the National Assembly from next week if the leadership of Nigeria’s apex lawmaking body fails to address the presence of two clerks in the parliament.

The outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Olatunde Ojo, has been recalled from his three-month pre-retirement leave, while a former Secretary, Finance and Accounts, Sani Tambuwal, has also been appointed as acting clerk.

The development is creating confusion among the staff of the parliament as their umbrella body, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PSAN), issued a statement on Monday claiming that they didn’t know who to relate with as the CNA between Ojo and Tambuwal.

Briefing newsmen at the weekend, the coalition described the situation as an anomaly.

The chief convener of CCSO-JE, Comrade Olayemi Success, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, threatened that the group would organise a series of protests from next week if the matter was not resolved.

He said, “We are aware that as it is now there are two people we can refer to as Clerk to the National Assembly. This is terrible.”

He further said the group would petition all the authorities concerned to address the issue.