Director drags NASS Commission to court over alleged premature retirement

The Director, Senate Table Duties Department in the National Assembly, Dr. Christopher Vershima Ashiekaa, has challenged attempts by the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, to retire him from service before his statutory exit date.

The suit, which is before Justice Osatohanmwen Ayodele Obaseki Osaghae of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, seeks judicial interpretation of Rule 020909 of Public Service Rules, 2021 edition, which the Commission, under the Chairmanship of Engr Ahmed Kadi Amshi, applied to terminate the director’s appointment.

The claimant is represented by lawyer Daniel Penda, while the 1st Defendants (NASC) and the National Assembly Management (2nd Defendant), are represented by Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, and Aisha Abdulsalam, as well as Barrister Charles Yoila, respectively.

In the suit marked NICN/ABJ/455/2024, the claimant is arguing that his 2017 notional appointment to the post of Director Legislative should not count as he did not “Serve on the Post” and enjoyed no financial or other benefits.

He is relying on previous rulings on the subject matter in the case of Ambassador DCB Nwanna vs National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in 2013 and several others.

When the case came up for first mention on Wednesday, counsel to the 1st defendant pleaded for seven days to enable them file their defence, arguing that the NASC briefed them very late.

In her response, Justice Obasaki adjourned the matter to February 17, 2025, for further mention.

The claimant, Ashiekaa, claimed that he joined the National Assembly in November 1992 and that going by the public service retirement rule, he is expected to retire in November 2027.

Similarly, Ashiekaa, who claimed to have been born in 1968, said that he has not attained the retirement age of 60 years.

Besides, he said that his appointment as a Director in 2017 was notional, meaning that his effective date of attaining the rank of Director with financial benefit was 1st January 2018.

According to him, going by the eight-year tenure of directors envisaged by Public Service Rule 020909, he should be retiring by January 2026 adding that even the rule can only apply if he is not appointed to consolidated grade.