The Concerned Yoruba Youth of Nigeria has strongly opposed a proposed bill in the House of Representatives that seeks to restrict the appointment of the clerk to the National Assembly to only individuals who have served within the chambers.
At a press conference in Lagos, the group’s National President, Oluwasegun Thompson, and National Secretary, Ayofemi Badmus, respectively, described the bill as discriminatory and an attempt to limit opportunities for qualified Nigerians.
The group criticized the bill, arguing that the position of the clerk to the National Assembly requires competence, experience, and leadership skills, which should not be exclusive to individuals who have worked directly within the chambers.
“The bill appears discriminatory and violates the terms of service under which many National Assembly Service Commission staff were employed,” the group stated.
The group emphasized that hundreds of National Assembly employees have dedicated their careers to ensuring the smooth functioning of the National Assembly, and excluding them from consideration for the position is unfair and unjust.
The Concerned Yoruba Youth of Nigeria further argued that restricting the appointment to chamber staff will undermine the role of the National Assembly Service Commission, limit career progression, reduce diversity in leadership and stifle innovation, lower staff morale.
The group urged the National Assembly to prioritize competence over restrictive policies, arguing that leadership should be based on merit, not exclusivity.
“Excluding qualified candidates because they lack chamber experience is an act of exclusion that will breed discontent and weaken the institution,” they warned.
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They also noted that democratic nations prioritize flexibility in such appointments to select the best candidates, regardless of their previous roles.
In a declaration, the group vowed to mobilize Nigerians to resist the bill and, if necessary, occupy Abuja in protest.
“If this bill is passed into law, it will create division, discourage merit-based progression, and set a dangerous precedent for other public service institutions. We will not allow that to happen,” the group added
They urged the speaker of the House of Representatives to immediately withdraw the bill, calling on lawmakers to oppose any attempt to manipulate the career structure of the National Assembly Service Commission for personal or sectional interests.
