Following the decision by the Nigerian Senate to step down concurrence to the Harmonized Retirement Age of Staff of National Assembly Service Bill 2024, the Nigerian Civil Society Centre has insisted on mobilizing the civil society and other stakeholders to press for the reconsideration, concurrence and passage into law of what it described as an “all-important bill”
Addressing Newsmen on Friday morning in Abuja, the Spokesperson of the Centre Mr. David Arumona expressed shock on the Senate’s decision to step down the bill
“We are shocked that the Nigerian Senate Stepped down concurrence to this all-important Bill that is in the overall interest of our country”
“Apparently, some members of the Senate are not fully aware of the relevance, objectives and spirit of the bill, which has passed the third reading in the House of Representatives and awaiting their concurrence.”
“It is important to note that the bill is in the overall interest of the nation and not for the self-seeking gratification of just a few.”
“For all intents and purposes, the bill is widely accepted and considered by all genuine public-spirited Nigerians as a welcome development, and if passed will further boost public confidence, and entrench efficiency, experience, professionalism and optimal service delivery in the nation’s legislative bureaucracy.”
“We therefore call on the Nigerian Senate to as a matter of national interest, represent and reconsider the bill for concurrence at the earliest.”
While insisting that the bill has not been dropped by the Senate as widely speculated in many quarters, but stepped down, Mr. David assured Nigerians that the bill will be reconsidered for concurrence.
He then disclosed plan by the Centre to mobilize the Civil Society and other stakeholders in the coming days to press for the passage of this all-important bill into law.
This reaction is coming barely a day after the Nigerian Senate on 22nd February, 2024 stepped down concurrence to the Harmonized Retirement Age of Staff of National Assembly Service Bill, 2024 which had already scaled third reading in the House of Representatives.
