Senator Ali Ndume, former Chief Whip of the Senate, has rejected the new office allocated to him by the Senate Services Committee, chaired by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West). Ndume’s refusal stems from his assertion that offices should be allocated based on seniority.
In a letter to the committee, dated July 30, 2024, and signed by his Chief Confidential Secretary, Shuaibu Gawu, Ndume stated his position clearly, insisting on an office on the fourth floor due to his senior status in the Senate. A copy of the letter, titled “Re: Office Allocation,” was obtained by our correspondent.
“I am directed to inform you that, Distinguished Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has rejected the allocation of office number 3.10 by the Committee,” the letter read. “This is because offices are traditionally allocated on a seniority basis. Senator Ndume is the most senior senator after Senator Ahmad Lawan and will only occupy an office on the fourth floor.”
Efforts to reach Senator Ndume for comments were unsuccessful as he was attending an ECOWAS Parliament session in Ghana and could not be reached by phone. However, a senior senator who is a current principal officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, supported Ndume’s stance, stating, “Ndume is a ranking senator. He deserves to be on the fourth floor just like former senate president, Ahmad Lawan.”
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions within the Senate over office allocations, which are traditionally influenced by factors such as seniority and rank. Ndume’s insistence on an office befitting his seniority underscores the importance of these conventions in maintaining the hierarchy and order within the Senate.
