A group known as the Concerned Professionals in the National Assembly has thrown its weight behind Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his decision to cancel recent appointments made by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), describing the action as lawful and consistent with due process.
The group said the annulled appointments failed to satisfy statutory requirements, particularly regarding competence, seniority, and the principle of federal character.
It maintained that Akpabio, who also serves as Chairman of the NASC, acted strictly within the powers conferred on him by law.
Speaking through a statement issued on Monday and signed by its leader, Simon Okechukwu, the professionals noted that the decision would enhance transparency, fairness, and institutional integrity within the National Assembly’s administrative system.
According to the group, the Senate President has also directed the Commission to ensure that all future appointments and promotions are guided by merit, seniority, and equitable representation across the federation.
The Concerned Professionals further urged the Patrick Giwa–led Establishment Committee, constituted by Akpabio, to carry out a comprehensive review of personnel records and supporting documents before recommending candidates for appointment or promotion.
They stressed that the committee bears a critical responsibility to guarantee that staffing decisions within the National Assembly bureaucracy comply with established rules on competence, seniority, and federal character.
The group encouraged the committee to open its doors to petitions from aggrieved individuals and groups, noting that such submissions would help uncover irregularities, address grievances, and strengthen public confidence in the process.
They also alleged that some unqualified individuals attempted to influence the appointment process with large sums of money, a situation they claimed contributed to the irregular appointments earlier voided by the Senate President.
Expressing confidence in the committee chairman, the group described Patrick Giwa, a former Clerk of the House of Representatives and current NASC commissioner, as an experienced administrator known for integrity and strict adherence to due process.
The statement also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in promotions within the engineering department, where some senior officers were reportedly bypassed despite regulations requiring officers to pass through at least two promotion levels before advancement.
The controversy followed the recent approval by the NASC of seven senior appointments—three in the House of Representatives and four management-level positions within the National Assembly bureaucracy.
The appointments sparked protests and petitions from staff unions, professional bodies, and senior officers, who accused the Commission of violating due process, seniority, competence, and federal character principles.
Following the complaints, Senate President Akpabio reviewed the process and ordered the cancellation of all seven appointments, insisting that they failed to meet the statutory framework governing the National Assembly Service Commission.
He subsequently directed that a fresh, transparent appointment process be initiated and constituted the Patrick Giwa–led Establishment Committee to review records, consider petitions, and make recommendations on future appointments and promotions.
