House of Reps accuse Buhari of flouting Nigerian constitution

The House of Representatives faults president Buhari for extending the tenure of a retired permanent secretary

- The House says the extension of tenure by the president is against the civil service rules and procedures

The House of Reps accuse Buhari of flouting Nigerian constitution

The House of Representatives has faulted Buhari for allegedly flouting the civil service rules.

The House of Representatives has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of violating the Nigerian constitution he vowed to uphold.

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The lawmakers made the accusation in response to revelation by the Head of the Civil Service (HOS) of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, that the presidency had further extended the tenure of a retired permanent secretary, Dr. Jamila Shu’ara for another year (till 2018).

The House had summoned the HOS after discovering that the alleged extension of service, which was for one year, expired on February 17, 2017, Daily Post reports.

During her appearance, the head of service disclosed that the additional one year extension was conveyed to her office in a letter by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

Oyo-Ita, added that the letter dated March 7, notified her that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of Dr. Shu’ara for an additional one year following the expiration of the first tenure granted her in February.

Dr. Shu’ara had retired from the civil service as permanent secretary in the ministry of education in 2016, having attained the mandatory age limit and year of service before an extension was granted her to remain in service.

Oyo-Ita, said the president’s action was anchored on Section 171 (2) of the amended 1999 Constitution and is based on special considerations and shouldn’t be cited as policy.

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But her explanations were rejected by the lawmakers who condemned the extension and agreed that the development was against civil service rules and procedures.

Meanwhile, plenary at the House of Representatives assumed a dramatic turn on Wednesday, March 22, when a lawmaker from Benue state, Hassan Anthony, announced his defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Premium Times, the lawmaker who represents Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu constituency, cited division in the PDP as his reason for decamping.

Mr Hassan’s defection to the APC has brought the number of APC representatives to 226 and that of PDP to 124.