The National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF) has denied media report that its newly inaugurated Chairman, Comrade Salisu Zuru is a staff of two government agencies where he is drawing double salaries.
In statement which signed by Mr. Shehu Kanam on behalf of the Union and made avilable to CAPITAL POST on Sunday, he explained that Comrade Zuru is a board member of the National Orientation Agency, a category B parastatal that are on salary.
The statement noted that ‘as a part time board member”, the law allows him to work anywhere, emphasising that he was not on salary at the NOA.
The statement claimed: “Our attention has been drawn to a planted story in the Punch Newspaper wherein it was erroneously stated that the Chairman of National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum, NASSLAF, Comrade Salisu Zuru, is holding double public service appointment and drawing salaries from both.
“While we recognize that it is not proper to make comments on a matter that is already before a court, we consider it appropriate to enlighten our colleagues on some basic facts.
“And in doing so, may we state that the sponsored publication is solely aimed to create fears, confusion, havoc and destabilization among our colleagues and in the long run distract the newly inaugurated NASSLAF Exco from focusing on delivering on the mandate we gave them freely.
“Also, the publication was laced with sufficient falsehoods and misrepresentation of facts so as to achieve the criminal aim of the sponsors.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Orientation Agency had in a memo addressed to Joshua Okah, dated 19th October, 2020 stated that though “Alh. Salisu Zuru is a member of the present Board of the Agency inaugurated in 2018, NOA Board members are on part-time basis and therefore not entitled to salaries.
“The Agency is in Category “B” under the categorization of Board of Federal Parastatals. You may wish to refer to National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission for further information”.
Meanwhile, a letter written by the National Orientation Agency in response to inquiry by Joshua Okah and Associates (Law Firm) clarifying the position of law which was made available to our Correspondent, it confirmed that the NOA is a category ‘B’ parastatal.
The letter which was signed by Barr. Juliet Ojatabu on behalf of the Director General, noted that Comrade Salisu Zuru had never been on salary, adding that since the agency’s board was inaugurated in 2018, the board only sat for five times.
Part of the letter read: “Please refer to the above request on Freedom of Information in regards to Alh. Salisu Zuru dated 5th of October, 2020.
“Alh. Salisu Zuru is a member of the present Board of the Agency inaugurated in 2018.
Since the inauguration of the Board to date, it has sat for four (4) times and the fifth meeting this year was done virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The NOA Board members are on part-time basis and therefore not entitled to salaries. The Agency is in Category “B” under the categorization of Board of Federal Parastatals
“You may wish to refer to National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission for further information.”
