A pressure group within the National Assembly, the Concerned Professionals in the National Assembly, has endorsed the decision of Senate President Godswill Akpabio to cancel recent appointments made by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), describing the action as lawful, timely and in line with due process.
Gatekeepers News reports that the group said the cancelled appointments failed to meet statutory requirements, particularly in the areas of competence, seniority and federal character, adding that Akpabio acted strictly within the provisions of the law establishing the Commission.
Akpabio, who chairs the NASC, was earlier reported to have directed the commission to ensure that all future appointments strictly comply with due process and are guided by merit, seniority and equitable representation across the federation.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its leader, Simon Okechukwu, the group said the decision would strengthen transparency, fairness and institutional credibility within the National Assembly’s administrative structure.
Committee urged to review records
The group urged the Patrick Giwa–led Establishment Committee, constituted by the Senate President, to conduct a thorough review of personnel records and relevant documents before recommending individuals for appointment or promotion.
According to the statement, the committee has a crucial responsibility to ensure that all appointments and promotions are carried out in line with established rules on competence, seniority and federal character.
It also encouraged the committee to receive petitions from individuals and groups, noting that such submissions would help expose irregularities, address grievances and strengthen confidence in the process.
The group further alleged that some unqualified individuals attempted to influence the appointment process with large sums of money, a development it said contributed to the flawed appointments earlier cancelled.
Confidence in Giwa
Expressing confidence in the committee chairman, the group described Patrick Giwa, a former Clerk of the House of Representatives and current NASC commissioner, as a seasoned administrator with a track record of integrity and adherence to due process.
The statement also raised concerns over promotions in the engineering department, where some senior officers were allegedly bypassed, despite regulations requiring officers to complete at least two promotion levels before being eligible for advancement.
Background
The controversy followed the approval by the NASC of seven senior appointments — three in the House of Representatives and four management-level positions within the National Assembly bureaucracy.
The appointments triggered protests and petitions from staff unions, professional bodies and senior officers, who alleged violations of due process, seniority, competence and federal character principles.
Following the complaints, Akpabio reviewed the process and ordered the outright cancellation of all seven appointments, insisting that they failed to meet statutory requirements.
He also directed that a fresh and transparent process be initiated and set up the Patrick Giwa–led Establishment Committee to examine records, review petitions and make recommendations on future appointments and promotions.
All seven appointments were eventually nullified after the Senate President concluded that they did not comply with the legal framework governing the National Assembly Service Commission.
