The outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, Olatunde Ojo, has created confusion in the federal parliament by embarking on a three-month Pre-retirement Leave without appointing anyone to act in his absence.

Ojo started his pre-retirement leave effective Monday, November 14, 2022, following an order from the National Assembly Service Commission.

The NASC letter directed the outgoing CNA to hand over to the most senior official next to him as acting CNA pending the appointment of a substantive one.

An official of NASC confirmed the development to ThisNigeria yesterday.

The source said, “The letter issued to the outgoing CNA directed him to hand over to the next most senior official in the National Assembly management.

“From our records at NASC, those in the same cadre as Secretaries on the same Consolidated Salary Scales are, Henrietta Aimua-Ehikioya, Felix Orumwense, and Magaji Sani Tambuwal, in that order of seniority.

The Director of Information in the National Assembly, Mr. Rawlins Agada, said he had not seen any official communication from the outgoing CNA to that effect.

He said, “At the moment, there is no clear indication as to who had been appointed by the outgoing CNA to act in his absence

“The CNA is expected to advance a memo informing us that he would be proceeding on his Pre-retirement Leave. Up till now, there is no such communication.

“Everything we are hearing is in the realm of speculation. We don’t know who had been appointed as acting CNA.

“Those who should know are the custodian of the National Assembly staff records, which is the National Assembly Service Commission.”

However, the NASC source said that Henrietta Aimua, the Secretary of inter-parliamentary affairs is the most senior official.

He said next to her is Felix Orumwense while Magaji Sani Tambuwal is the third most senior official.

He said, “All of them are on Consolidated Salary Scales. They are in the Permanent Secretary cadre. They are already in Grade Level 17. They are off the salary scale. Henrietta Aimua is the most senior official in terms of years of service. She is the secretary of inter-parliamentary affairs”

The NASC in a letter dated November 14 and signed by its Chairman, Ahmed Amshi, ordered the outgoing CNA to proceed on his pre-retirement leave, effective November 14th, 2022.

This is contained in a letter sighted by ThisNigeria on Tuesday morning,

The development followed a marathon meeting held by the Commissioners of NASC on Monday.

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A source at the Commission said the Commissioners rejected Ojo’s request to spend his three months of pre-retirement leave in the office.

They, therefore, directed him to hand over to the next most senior officer while the NASC would hold consultations with the National Assembly leadership on how to appoint a new CNA.

The NASC letter to Ojo read, “Approval letter of pre-retirement leave for the outgoing CNA, NASC/PF/SS/1378, 14th November 2022.

“Ojo Olatunde Amos, Clerk to the National Assembly, National Assembly Complex, Three-Arms-Zone, Abuja.

“Re: commencement of terminal leave on 14th November 2022, eventual retirement on 14th February 2023, and a nomination for vacant positions. Your letter dated 8th November 2022, on the above subject matter refers, please.

“The National Assembly Service Commission at its meeting held on 14th November 2022 considered your letter and approved the commencement of your pre-retirement leave w.e.f 14th November 2022 and your eventual retirement on 14th February 2023.

“As you proceed on your pre-retirement leave, you are to be guided by the provision of the Public Service Rules 100238 and HCSF/PS/CSO/556/11/131 of 1st August 2012.

“While the Commission is working on the appointment of your successor as the Clerk to the National Assembly, you are to hand over your duties to the most Senior Officer in the National Assembly Management.

“As you finally exit from the Service on the 14th of February 2023, the Commission hereby appreciates your valuable contributions to the National Assembly Service and pray that God will continue to grant you good health and success in your future endeavours. Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi, FNSE, Executive Chairman.”

The development has therefore laid to rest, the tension and controversy created by Ojo’s moves to allegedly circumvent the civil service rule on the retirement of senior officers.