BREAKING: Senate Reject Move To Extend Tambuwal, Others’ Tenure

A bill aimed at extending the tenure of the Clerk of the National Assembly from 35 years to 40 years faced rejection and suspension following a heated debate in the Senate on Thursday.

The bill, sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Michael Opeyemi, sought to prolong the service tenure of the Clerk, Sani Tambuwal, along with other Directors within the National Assembly’s administrative structure.

Titled ‘A bill for an Act to make provisions for the retirement age of staff of National Assembly Service and for other related Matters, 2024,’ the proposal encountered significant opposition during deliberations.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe questioned the differentiation between National Assembly staff employed by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and those in other government agencies. He disputed the notion of specialization, asserting that there was no unique quality about National Assembly staff warranting special treatment.

Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, cautioned against favoring individual interests at the expense of legislative integrity, warning of the repercussions in the eyes of history.

Similarly, Senator Zangon Daura Nasir Sani, Katsina North, openly rejected the bill, highlighting its alignment with particular interests and urging the Senate President to dismiss it.

In the midst of the debate, chaos ensued as senators clashed over the bill, with supporters and opponents engaging in verbal sparring.

Consequently, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, deemed the bill contentious and postponed its consideration indefinitely.