National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF) has removed the younger brother of Senator Dino Melaye, Sam Melaye as chairman of the Forum with immediate effect.
The Legislative Aides of 250 members took the decision during their congress held last week in National Assembly and immediately constituted Electoral Committee that will oversee emergence of the new executives.
However, in a telephone interview with our correspondent , Melaye explained that the decision took by clerk to the National Assembly, in order to avoid any form of vacuum.
He added the Clerk of the National Assembly consulted widely before appointing him and six others to run the affairs of the forum for three months within which election will be conducted into various offices in the Forum.
Melaye begged his fellow legislative aides who wish to lead the forum through a constitutional process, to join hands with his committee and participate in a free and fair poll that would produce the elected officials of NASSLAF.
It was gathered reliably that Melaye brother collided with the former Chairman of the forum and National Assembly management to emerge as caretaker Committee of NASSLAF.
The Forum said, “Having disowned Sam Melaye as Chairman of the legislative Aides has by since convoked a congress and has nominated members into the electoral committee for the purpose of conducting election into its Executive offices of the 8th Assembly session.”
The forum however added that if Sam Melaye wanted to become the chairman of Legislative Aides Forum, he should follow normal procedure by contesting election through back door.
The Forum based their decision on article 14 (iii) and (iv) of their bye law which reads,” the clerk of the National Assembly shall direct the conduct of the election of the central working committee and Executive Committee within six months of the inauguration of anew legislature.
“Where the clerk of the National Assembly does not call for election 250 duly appointed members stating their file numbers shall summon a congress to initiate the process and communicate progress to the clerk of the National Assembly provided that 75 signatories shall come from each Chambers reflecting the six geo-political zones.”
Also the communique of the meeting held which was signed by Signed by Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee, Lawson Oviasogie reads, “The National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF) congress held agreed on a set of recommendation and actions geared at inaugurating the Electoral Committee to conduct elections into the Executive Committee of the Forum.
Oladiimeji Abimbola adopted the agenda of the Congress after which nominations were received for a protem chairman to superintend over the congress. Micheal Ola and Sikiru Bamidele were nominated but latter graciously stepped down for the latter to chair the congress after his nomination was validly affirmed through a voice vote.
“The chair spelt out modalities for the selection of members of the Electoral Committee and Appeal Committee. Part of the requirement was that nominations must be representatives of both chambers and each zone is to present two aides to serve in the committee.
Names of electoral committee and Appeal Committee who were picked from all geo-political zones in the country were Paul Usenbo, Margaret Samuel, Valentine Akus, Mon- Charles Egbo, Femi Akanbi, jide Solanke, Balarabe Gambo, hyellakuri Malgwi, Isa Alhaji Isa, Suleiman Babajinro, Ishaya Natur Vangjen.
