No fewer than 30 top officials will be retiring alongside the Clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambawal.
Based on parliamentary practices, Tambawal began his pre-retirement leave on November 1, 2024, having handed over to his deputy, Kamouroudeen Ogundele.
Tambawal, who was first appointed acting Clerk to the National Assembly in November 2022 and later confirmed in March 2023, will turn 60 in February 2025.
Although he officially retires in February, he will not be actively involved in any assignment or tasks from the commencement of his pre-retirement leave till when he officially vacates the office.
According to an official document received by our correspondent, prominent staffers of the National Assembly who would also be leaving are the Clerk to the Senate, Chinedu Akabueze, the Deputy Clerk to the Senate, and the Deputy Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Others are 11 directors, six deputy directors, one assistant director, and two other directors at the National Assembly Service Commission.
The exodus comes after President Bola Tinubu declined assent to the bill requesting service elongation for parliamentary staff.
The bill sought to increase the retirement age to 65 years or 40 years of service, while the extant law prescribes 60 years of age or 35 years of service for retirement.
