…demands explanation over usage of ₦20 billion meant for liability and contractors payment

The Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) has faulted the continued stay of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Sani Magaji Tambuwal as a clear breach of extant provision of the law.

SNM deputy coordinator, Comrade Oduma Joshua at a press conference in Abuja argued that Tambuwal appointment was in breach of the National Assembly Service Act as captured in sections 6(1), 7(2) and 12(1).

“Tambuwal is not qualified for appointment as Clerk. As someone who was number six in hierarchy, Magaji Tambuwal deserves to be sacked immediately without further patronising illegality,” SNM noted.

“It is a truism that nothing good can spring from evil. The appointment of Magaji Tambuwal as clerk of the National assembly is documented to be in breach of all extant laws and violates the Code of the National Assembly Commission for the appointment of senior the Clerk.

“Those who orchestrated the imposition of Magaji Tambuwal on the National Assembly disregarded the Civil Service directive requiring the former Clerk, Olatunde Ojo to continue working while observing his retirement leave.

“Those corrupt arrowheads sidelined very senior officers in the National Assembly and picked Magaji, who at the time was a mere secretary in the Directorate of Finance and Accounts, leaving out Akubueze Chinedu, the most senior officers because of their selfish interests.”

The group maintained that the illegality allegedly perpetrated by the Chairman of National Assembly Commission, Alhaji Ahmed Amshi and his cohorts therefore is the root of the rot ongoing in the National Assembly.

SNM called on Tambuwal to come clean over his alleged role in the cover up of the misappropriation of over ₦20 billion naira meant for settling liabilities and payments to contractors.

The group alleged that Tambuwal who is responsible for overseeing procurement and contracting at the National Assembly is alleged to have used his office to fraudulently award contracts to YAMSA and other fronts without following due process as enshrined in the Procurement Act 2007.

Continuing, it claimed: “If the allegations above are left uninvestigated, certainly Mr Magaji is not one to be trusted with clerkship as his personality snack of nothing but corruption.

“Under Magaji, some selected Directors who paved his way to power are now contractors. This is highly unethical and unacceptable under the law and the best way to save the situation is to sack him.

“The Clerk of the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal, according to media reports functions as a shareholder and Director of a privately owned company. This action breaches Nigeria’s anti-corruption law regulating ethical conduct among public officials.

“According to the Nigerian Constitution, the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, public officials are prohibited from managing private businesses except if it is for farming.

“if nothing is done to address the excesses of the Clerk and the National Assembly Commission, the level of corruption in the National Assembly will stink to the highest heavens.

“It is most unfortunate that the Commission charged with the responsibility to enthrone decorum, stability predictability and professionalism in the running of the bureaucracy of the National Assembly has since 2020 proved to be incapable of its mandate.

“The appointment of Mr. Magaji Tambuwal must therefore be reversed since it has run afoul of the order of succession In the National Assembly.

“Again, what the law says in Section 23 of the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act provides punishment for anyone who contravenes the position of the Act, which includes vacation of office and even disqualification from holding office for 10 years.

“The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has the power to try any public officer who contravenes the Act. Mr. Magaji has contravened all the laws including unilateral award of contracts, contract splitting and payments to fronts for non or partially -executed contracts.

“We therefore demand his immediate sack and transparency as the Clerk of the National Assembly to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the National Assembly and the constitution.”