The Senate has dismissed the contentious bill proposing a five-year extension to the service tenure for National Assembly employees.
The bill, previously passed in the House of Representatives, was declined for concurrence by the Senate during Thursday’s plenary session.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reactions varied among lawmakers in the Senate when Senate Leader Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) introduced the bill for concurrence.
While Sen. Sumaila Kawu (NNPP Kano) voiced support for the bill, others, including Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia) and Ali Ndume (APC Borno), expressed concerns, suggesting that it could lead to discontent within the Nigerian civil service.
Abaribe opposed the bill’s passage, highlighting that there seemed to be no distinction between a National Assembly staff member with specialized knowledge, such as a Director of Finance, and a Director of Finance in the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Abaribe said: “I have also looked at the retirement age for university lecturers and judicial officials, which we passed about the same time.
“And coming down to the officers of the National Assembly, I asked a simple question:
“What is the difference between the person who is a Finance Director in National Assembly and that in the Ministry of Finance?
“I do not see what separates the person who works inside here as a staff of the National Assembly from the person who works in the Ministry of Commerce as a staff member.
“We must not allow somebody to stay here beyond the rules of public service of Nigeria on retirement year.”
Ndume emphasized the controversial aspect of the bill and urged fellow lawmakers to proceed with caution in its consideration.
He called on his colleagues to reject the bill to allow for further consultation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his ruling, stated that the bill was rejected due to its contentious nature.