The Concerned Professionals in the National Assembly have endorsed the decision of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to cancel recent appointments made by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), describing the move as lawful, timely and in full compliance with due process.

The group said the cancelled appointments failed to meet statutory requirements, particularly in the areas of competence, seniority and federal character, stressing that the Senate President acted strictly within the provisions of the law establishing the Commission.

Akpabio, who chairs the National Assembly Service Commission, was reported to have directed the NASC to ensure that all future appointments strictly comply with due process and are guided by merit, seniority and equitable representation across the federation.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its leader, Mr Simon Okechukwu, the group said the decision would strengthen transparency, fairness, and institutional credibility within the National Assembly’s administrative structure.

The Concerned Professionals also urged the Patrick Giwa–led Establishment Committee, constituted by the Senate President, to conduct a thorough review of personnel records and relevant documents before recommending individuals for appointment or promotion.

According to the group, the committee has a crucial responsibility to ensure that appointments and promotions within the National Assembly management are carried out in line with established rules on competence, seniority, and the balance of federal character.

They further encouraged the committee to receive petitions from individuals and groups, noting that such submissions would help expose irregularities, address grievances and strengthen confidence in the process.

The group alleged that some unqualified individuals attempted to influence the appointment process with large sums of money, a development they claimed contributed to the flawed appointments earlier cancelled by the Senate President.

Expressing confidence in the committee chairman, the group described Mr Patrick Giwa, a former Clerk of the House of Representatives and current NASC commissioner, as a seasoned administrator with a track record of integrity and adherence to due process.

The statement also raised concerns over promotions in the engineering department, where some senior officers were allegedly bypassed despite regulations requiring officers to complete at least two promotion levels before being eligible for advancement.

The controversy followed the recent approval by the National Assembly Service Commission of seven senior appointments: three positions in the House of Representatives and four management-level appointments within the National Assembly bureaucracy.

The appointments triggered protests and petitions from staff unions, professional bodies and senior officers, who alleged violations of due process, seniority, competence and federal character principles.

Following the complaints, Senate President Akpabio reviewed the appointment process and subsequently ordered the outright cancellation of all seven appointments, insisting that the process failed to meet statutory requirements.

He further directed that a fresh and transparent process be initiated and set up the Patrick Giwa–led Establishment Committee to examine records, review petitions and make recommendations on future appointments and promotions.

All seven appointments were eventually nullified after the Senate President concluded that they did not comply with the legal framework governing the National Assembly Service Commission.