The National Assembly Commission has been condemned and criticised for politicising and monetising appointment of some key positions in the National Assembly.
The commission was berated for revealing official documents to the public and even allowed senior staff to manipulate their files thereby falsifying their age so that they could perpetually stay in office.
It was revealed that staff of the commission have weapnised activities in the commission thereby selling official secrets to the highest bidders especially among those jostling for Clerk of the National Assembly and other position.
The commission was said not to have lived up to expectations in the just concluded screening of some of the directors and the secretaries by allowing their staff to be with panel during the sittings.
It was discovered that some of the staff are already selling documents to those concern with a viewing to positioning them for the position they are looking for.
It was also discovered that the composition of the commission is not helping the working of the Parliament, that is putting politicians as commissioners who are desperate in looking for money rather than working to ensure vibrant Parliament.
The commissioners are said to be too desperate in demanding for money rather than putting the best in a position. A typical example was the out going Clerk to the National Assembly who was said not to be competent and also had seniors when he was picked to be Clerk.
It was also revealed that the out going Clerk used money to buy the position and also using the same money to perpetuate himself in office. He was said to have made the attempt by sponsoring 65 years for retirement which consumed the previous Clerk.
It was revealed that he spent money to pass the bill but both the House of Representatives and the Senate rejected the bill, on the ground that it was presented in the 8th Assembly.
When this failed the out going Clerk who ought to leave office by 14th of this month is making frantic efforts to stay still February next year. But the commissioners are trying to work against such moves because some of them have already positioned their candidate who will take over from him.
Therefore, the Federal Government is advised to review the appointment of commissioners and desist from appointing politician rather they should appoint those who have retired from National Assembly that know the workings of the Parliament.
Already four people are jostling for the vacant office of the Clerk to the National Assembly, the Acting Clerk of the House, Clerk of the senate, one director of finance and one deputy from the House which ever way, it is hope that the commission will retrace it’s step by considering merit seniority and competence above other sentiments.