Alleged Marginalization: Yorubas Demand NASS Commission Chairman

ABUJA, June 27, (THEWILL) - The South West geo-political zone is now demanding that the position of Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) be conceded to it as a make up for the perceived marginalization of the zone in national politics. The tenure of the incumbent board of the Commission is due to lapse in October this year.

THEWILL learned that the authorities have already flagged off a search for the likely nominees into the 12-member board and the Chairman of the Commission.

The National Assembly Service Commission is the body empowered to regulate issues of recruitment, promotions and remunerations of National Assembly Staff.

The National Assembly Service Commission Act, 2000, which replaced the National Assembly Commission Act Cap 236, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, provides that the board shall comprise of twelve members, two from each of the six geo-political zones in the country.

The South West currently has one Commissioner in the NASC, following the death of the second commissioner, Surveyor Enoch Ayoyemi Olaniyan, who hailed from Osun state, last year.

THEWILL gathered that those canvassing the appointment of a South West candidate as Chairman of Assembly Service Commission have zeroed in on a Commissioner from the zone, Dr. Adekola Oluremi Bolarinwa is experienced in the running of the Commission citing his experience.

The Commissioner is a Sociologist and Public Administration expert with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.

“It is not just a question of zoning. There is the issue of competence as well. Elder Bolarinwa has gathered enough experience in the last five years that he has served as a Commissioner in the NASC. His appointment will be a matter of placing square pegs in square holes. It will therefore serve two purposes, correcting the political imbalance and placing the right candidate in position,” a source in the vanguard of the agitation told THEWILL on Monday.

The source added that Bolarinwa’s appointment will also amount to a befitting compensation for the South West which was marginalized in the sharing of National Assembly positions.

Section 3(3) of the NASC Act 2000 indicates that in constituting the board, the President of the Senate in consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives will submit a proposed list of board members to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The nominees will then be subjected to confirmation of the Senate. A member of the Commission shall according to the Act hold office for a period of five years and can be re-appointed only once.

The NASC Act states Section 3(3) states: “The President of the Senate shall, upon consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, submit to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a proposed list out of which the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall nominate for appointment a Chairman and members of the Commission.

“(4) The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall appoint the chairman and Members of the commission from the list submitted to him in accordance with the provision of Subsection (3) of this section subject to the confirmation of the Senate.”