By Henry Umoru

STRONG indications emerged yesterday that the Assembly workers’ union under the aegis of  Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) is  not against the bill which seeks to extend the service years of staff of the apex legislature.

According to source, PASAN has endorsed the new bill which has been passed by the House of Representatives and now before the Senate for concurrence and seeks for the  extension of retirement age of staff of the National Assembly Service from 60 to 65 years of age and from 35 to 40 years in service which ever is earlier.

With the endorsement of PASAN, this is contrary to earlier media reports that the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Sani Magaji Tambawal and about 200 members of top management due for retirement this year are behind the bill, just as the Civil Service Rules currently prescribes 35 years in Service or 60 years of age for employees to mandatorily retire.

It was gathered that staff of the National Assembly had during its Congress on December 4, 2023, issued a communique in which they adopted the Bill despite their earlier opposition.

It was titled: “Communique issued at the end of Congress organized by Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) National Assembly Chapter, held on Monday 4th December, 2023 In Senate Conference Room 231, New Building, National Assembly, Abuja.”

A copy of the communique sighted yesterday was signed by Omagu Godwin (Chairman, Communique drafting committee), Gideon Nwaogu (Secretary), Sani Rabiat (Member) and Millicent Laz-Eke (Member).

Mr. Okpekor N. Okpa who was also a member of the communique drafting committee how did not sign the document.