Tinubu’s Veto of Tenure Extension Bill Welcomed, Agada Confirmed as Senate Clerk

On Monday, August 25, 2025, President Bola Tinubu’s decision to withhold assent to a bill proposing to extend the service years of National Assembly and state legislative officers from 35 to 40 years and retirement age from 60 to 65 was hailed by public servants as a commitment to upholding Public Service Rules, per Vanguard and The Sun. The veto, seen as preserving career progression, aligns with provisions allowing short-term contracts for specialized skills, as evidenced by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) appointing Emmanuel Rawlings Agada as substantive Senate Clerk on August 6, 2025, following its 7th meeting, announced by NASC Chairman Chief Saviour Enyiekere (Leadership.ng).

Agada, previously Deputy Clerk, earned praise for stabilizing Senate proceedings, particularly during the tenure of former Clerk Andrew Nwoba, who required a refresher course approved by Senate President Godswill Akpabio (ThisDay). With experience in both National Assembly chambers and the Pan-African Parliament, Agada faces imminent retirement but may be retained for 12 months under Public Service Rules Section 4 (02401) to mentor younger officers (Punch). A senior staff member described him as a “Titan” of legislative bureaucracy, vital for institutional memory. X posts from @NGRSenate (August 25, 2025) celebrated Agada’s confirmation, while @Naija_Activist noted public support for Tinubu’s veto, with 68% of civil servants favoring merit-based retention over tenure extensions (NOI Polls, 2025).