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NASS management crisis: Group exonerates Director of ‘compromised’ promotion
Following the controversy trailing the promotion of some senior staff of the National Assembly for quite some time, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has described the allegation against the Secretary, Procurement, Estate and Works as unfounded.
The NGO, Centre for Policy and Rights Watch International said the Secretary of Procurement, Estate and Works of the National Assembly, Mr. Olatunde Ojo, did not get undue promotions against public service rules (PSR).
An online media platform has alledged that Mr. Olatinde Ojo got “rapid promotion as compensation for loyalty to corrupt political office holders in the National Assembly.’
In a statement by the Centre for Policy and Rights Watch International, which was signed by its Executive Director, Osaretin Clement and Secretary, Olusanya Paul Aderenle in Abuja, and made.available to journalists, it said the allegation was frivolous and malicious.
The Group dosclosed that it carries outbits independent investigation and discovered that the report was part of the power tussle in the National Assembly management’s hierarchy.
It urged the National Assembly to extricate the staff from politics and bigotry.
It said: “To our surprise, we discovered that it was not only deliberately and clandestinely sponsored, but a frivolous and malicious attempt to malign, discredit, ridicule and portray in bad light, the person of Mr. O. A. Ojo, and also as part of the present cold bureaucratic power tussle in the National Assembly management’s hierarchy.
“Our findings revealed that contrary to the report, Mr. O. A. Ojo earned his promotion into the directorate cadre before the politically orchestrated allegation of ‘evasion of payment of appropriate custom duties’ on the imported official Range Rover for the use of the former Senate President.
“The alleged compensation with promotion for an illicit act was concocted and baseless, as Mr Ojo was a victim of the political disharmony and rancour between the 8th National Assembly and the Executive.
“A more critical look at the dates involved in the report revealed the fact that his elevation into the Directorate cadre predates the 2015 tenure of the 8th National Assembly leadership, when he was alleged to have been compensated with promotion for ‘extraordinary loyalty to corrupt political office holders.’
“The award of contract for the supply of the controversial Range Rover whose Import Duty documents was allegedly forged by Mr. Ojo passed through the Tenders Board’s due process as required by the Procurement Act in 2015.
“Mr. A. O. Adelami, the retired Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly was the Secretary, Directorate of Procurement, Estate and Works at the time of this award in 2016. Mr Ojo was not a member of the Tenders’ Board.
“Normally, an authentic contract consists of three stages namely, Award, Execution and Payment.
“The contractor is saddled with the execution aspect which includes payment of the Customs Duty which has been originally built into the contract quote by the contractor, hence it was not the responsibility of the National Assembly or any of its agents, nor Mr Ojo, as Head of the Procurement Department to pay any Import Duty much more forging documents to evade duty fees.
“He was only contacted by the Nigeria Customs in his official capacity as the Secretary Procurement, Estate and Works to verify and authenticate if the National Assembly actually awarded the contract upon arrival of the imported Range Rover by the contractor.
“A diligent and cursory look into the career progression of Mr O. A. Ojo, also shows that he met the required mandatory four years before attaining promotion from the position of Assistant Director to Deputy Director in the Estate and Works Department of the National Assembly, between 1st January 2008 to January 2012.
“He was elevated by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) into an acting Director capacity on 24/9/2013 as a result of a vacuum created upon the retirement of his predecessor, Mr. Ojeh A. Dickson, for his competence and pedigree as the most senior person in the highly professionalised directorate, as an experienced and versatile Architect.
“He was appointed a Director in 2013 but got his confirmation in 2014 due to an existing vacancy which is one of the criteria for promotion in service.
“Considering the rule that any elevation after directorate cadre is political, he got his present elevation as acting Secretary, Procurement, Estate and Works in December 2016 and got confirmed in 2017.
“As far as we are concerned, the crude politics of ‘pull him down’ syndrome being desperately sponsored by some unscrupulous characters and enemies of professional advancement should never be allowed a space to flourish within the National Assembly staff, and we will not permit Mr. Ojo to be given a bad name, in order to crucify him unjustly.”
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has commended Senator Basheer Lado, for redefining the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, stating that, for the first time in a long while, the office is fully meeting its expectations.
Speaking during his visit to the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters accompanied by distinguished senators, Akpabio described the visit as a significant step in strengthening Executive-Legislative relations.
He praised the Special Adviser and his team for maintaining the confidentiality of communications between the President and Senate, and also, ensuring a seamless flow of information. He further emphasized that the office is now more result-oriented.
Additionally, he acknowledged the office’s diligent efforts in tracking all Bills passed by the Senate and assented to by the President, underscoring its critical role in legislative efficiency.
Expressing his satisfaction, Akpabio noted that he and the Senate delegation were proud of the office’s achievements and looked forward to sustaining the existing cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature throughout the administration.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Senator Lado presented an Award of Excellence to Senator Akpabio.
In his remarks, Senator Lado reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. He lauded Akpabio for his unwavering dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—defending it with clarity, articulating it with passion, and advancing it through legislative action.
Ahead of the 2025 political party Congresses, Plateau State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) stakeholders has endorsed the defection of the candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections and the leader of Justice and Rebirth, Barr Gyang Zi SAN, to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the view to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
They made the call in a communique issued at the end of the enlarge meeting of the stakeholders from Plateau North senatorial zone at the residence of Barr. Gyang Zi in Rayfield Jos.
The communique which was jointly signed by Dr. Ayiki Sati Director General, Justice and Rebirth and
Barr. Samuel Galadima- 2024 Chairmanship candidate of Jos East LGA among others said the call became imperative on the sideline of the leadership tussle at the National Level which violates the core principles and values for the formation of the Party as an alternative for Nigeria for the protection, sustenance of democracy and Social Justice.
They regretted that the leadership tussle has also divided the party into factions leaving party loyalists and supporters in the state of despondency and confusion not knowing where they belong.
Our correspondent reports that the gathering included LP candidates from the 2023/2024 general elections, party executives, and support groups from the six local government areas of the Northern Senatorial District.
Besides, the focus of the discussions was centered on the state of the Labour Party at both national and state levels and the need for political realignment ahead of the 2025 party congresses and conventions.
The stakeholders further frowned at the structural weaknesses in LP and resolved to advise Barr Gyang Zi, to leave the party and join the APC while expressing confidence that the APC would provide him with a platform to advance good governance in the state .
The communique also emphasized the importance of political consultations, particularly with APC leaders at both state and national levels. It called for collaboration with Plateau State APC leaders, including Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, Sen. Diket Plang, and other party officials.
According to the communique, supporters of Barr Gyang Zi also pledged to mobilize grassroots support for the APC, stating that their leader’s defection would strengthen the party in the state.
They urged the APC leadership to formally receive Gyang Zi and his supporters into the party, marking their official transition from the Labour Party.
Stakeholders also reiterated the need for inclusive governance, ensuring that youths, women, and less privileged individuals are sidelined in the democratic process and accordingly officially denounced their membership in the Labour Party, declaring their support for the APC.
They assured that all LP structures aligned with Gyang Zi would follow suit, shifting their loyalty to the ruling party in the state and at the National level.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has extended his heartfelt felicitation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the occasion of his 73rd birthday.
Governor Ododo in statement signed by his special adviser on media, Ismaila Isah described President Tinubu as a statesman whose leadership and dedication to national development continue to inspire hope and progress across Nigeria.
He commended the President’s unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is driving economic reforms, strengthening national unity, and advancing the nation’s democratic values.
“On behalf of the government and people of Kogi State, I celebrate Mr President and our father on this special day. Your resilience, visionary leadership, and patriotism have laid a strong foundation for Nigeria’s growth. We deeply appreciate your tireless efforts in repositioning our country for sustainable development,” Governor Ododo stated.
He further reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s administration and prayed for continued wisdom, strength, and good health for the President as he leads Nigeria toward greater prosperity, sustainable development, peace and stability.
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