CSOs tackle critics over reform in N/Assembly

Some civic groups have tackled those criticising the ongoing reforms in the National Assembly by its management.

The groups said while the management led by Sani Magaji Tambuwal, the Clerk to the National Assembly, was not immune from investigation, the activities of some individuals and groups hiding under the umbrella of civil societies to blackmail and extort public officials, portray a bad image of the civil society and undermine national security.

The chairperson of the Conference of Civil Societies, and Coordinator of Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMICO), Comrade Adams Otakwu, in a statement, said there were moves by “some so-called civil society groups to distract the CNA through blackmail and spurious allegations that are unfounded and misleading” in the performance of his duties.

He said since Tambuwal’s assumption of office as the CNA, there has been a telling improvement in staff welfare and communication in the National Assembly bureaucracy.

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“It is a fact that since Mr Sani Magaji Tambuwal’s emergence as the CNA in November 2022 and his eventual confirmation in March this year, there have been marked improvements in staff welfare and communication with top management within the National Assembly bureaucracy,” he said.

The groups also vowed to investigate recent media reports that alleged some official infractions against the Clerk to the National Assembly.

Otakwu said they will involve the security and the intelligence community in the planned investigations.

Specifically, some online publications had alleged that the CNA transmitted a false Real Estate Regulatory Council Bill of Nigeria ACT 2023 to President Bola Tinubu, but was rejected.

He cautioned media practitioners against being used as pawns in the political chess game by those who lost out in any contest in National Assembly management leadership.