Concerns over moves by NASC to block Iloba from becoming Clerk of Senate

▪︎ As Commission contemplates ethnic origin as possible reason for planned decision

There are growing concerns in the National Assembly over purported moves by the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, to block the confirmation of Mrs Isabella Ugochi Iloba as Clerk of the Senate.

The NASC had in its February 9, 2022 letter of retirement from service served on the Clerk of Senate, Dauda Ibrahim el-Ladan, only directed him to hand over to his deputy, Isabella Ugochi Iloba, Deputy Clerk, Legislative.

Whereas, Iloba had yet to receive a formal letter from the NASC directing her to take charge of the Clerk’s Office, in acting capacity, she has only been overseeing the activities of the Clerk’s office in her present position as Deputy Clerk and the most senior officer at table in Senate plenary sessions.

Advertisement

THE CONCLAVE reports that as of Thursday, February 17, 2022, there were fresh plots by the NASC to block Iloba from being confirmed as substantive Clerk of the Senate.

National Assembly staff members have raised concerns over purported attempts to deliberately frustrate the ascension of Mrs Iloba and some other officers who should have been elevated to the next cadres/offices.

A staff member specifically alleged that the Engineer Kadi Amshi-led Commission was out to stymie Mrs Iloba’s elevation from becoming the next substantive Clerk of the Senate on the grounds of ethnic origin.

Some staff members of the National Assembly said they could not understand the rationale behind the NASC shopping for another person to be appointed as Clerk of the Senate when she’s eminently qualified for the position.

Mrs Iloba, THE CONCLAVE, reports has been a staff member of the Senate for many years and has the benefit of enormous experience to steer the ship of the senate at this point.

It was learnt that the just retired Clerk of Senate, el-ladan, was her junior in terms of service experience, not age, but that intrigues and certain interests played out in favour of el-Ladan and at her expense.

Some staff members are also miffed that the NASC is trying to present gender issue and ethnicity as reasons why she shouldn’t be the substantive Clerk of Senate.

Some of them argued that she got to her current position based on merit and career progression in line with the provision of the civil service rules.

Some also pointed out that her progression to her current level as a woman is a feat that needed support and not tenuous reasons to block her from being confirmed as substantive Clerk of Senate.

They particularly dismissed the issue of her ethnic origin being contemplated by the NASC as a ground to shove her aside, saying in the past other ethnic groups had simultaneously held top positions in the National Assembly without anyone raising eyebrows.

Whereas, the NASC’s reasoning, as learnt, is that an Igbo man, Mr Chinedu Akubueze, is the Clerk of the House of Representatives, staff members cited precedents to justify the propriety of Iloba and Akubueze being Clerk of Senate and House simultaneously.

One of the staff members with institutional memory said that, for instance, under Ibrahim Salim, a Kano man from Northwest zone as Clerk to the National Assembly, his then deputy, Nasir Arab was from Kaduna state.

He also said that when Abubakar Salisu Maikasuwa from Nasarawa State, North Central zone, was Clerk to the National Assembly, Clerk of House of Representatives, Sani Omolori was from Kogi state in North-Central zone.

“Even in the immediate past Nelson Ayewoh, Clerk of Senate was from Edo state South-South, the same Patrick Giwa also from Edo state, South-South zone.

“So, it’s really worrisome that a parochial decision is to be taken against her (Mrs Iloba) based on the fact that Chinedu Akubueze, an Igbo man from Anambra State, is Clerk of House of Representatives, while she is from Imo State,” he stated.

He, however, advised that the NASC should be up and doing to be fair and do the right things in accordance with the rules and precedents in the interest of justice.

It will be recalled that El-ladan who was Clerk to the Senate was asked to proceed on retirement upon attaining the mandatory years of service and age.

The drama surrounding his exit gave rise to Iloba being saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the office of the clerk in acting capacity while the NASC is now shopping for a substantive clerk.