Meet Sani-Omolori, The Clerk Of The National Assembly

By Sunny Anderson Osiebe

Barrister Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori’s, was before his recent confirmation, the Acting Director of Legal Services Department in 2002 and subsequently he became a substantive Director in 2007 and served for three years. He was promoted to be the Clerk of the House of Representatives on February 5, 2010 where he served until his appointment as the Acting Clerk to the Law-making arm of Government in Nigeria.

His versatility in legislative matters can be traced to the body of knowledge acquired at different times as well as the collage of cognate experience gained over the years. Among others, he has Certificate in Legal Drafting from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (1991); Certificate in Legislative Drafting from the Royal Institute of Public Administration, London (1982); and another Certificate in Drafting from Public Law Centre, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A (2001). Besides acquiring yet another Certificate in Parliamentary Administration in November, 2004, he has attended many seminars, workshops and conferences notable among which are: African Bar Association conference, 1991: Conference for Clerks of National/State Assemblies; Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsels Annual Conference, NICOSIA, Cyprus; International Bar Association conferences: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conferences; and several Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) conferences across the world.

A well breed technocrat, his working career has seen him traverse a varied field of experiences starting off in the private sector before finally anchoring in the public service. He however began his early job calls as a teacher in Local School Management Board, Okene, in 1976; and then Private Secretary in the Office of the Chairman, Ebira Traditional Council, Okene in 1982. During his year as a Youth Corps Member in 1983, he worked as a Legal Draftsman/Adviser to the Sokoto State House of Assembly and in 1984 he was a Legal Adviser, Headquarters 7 Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Nigeria Army, Sokoto.

 

August 15, 2016, as Barrister Sani-Omolori was announced as substantive CNA, the ovation and songs of joy that broke out from the staffers of the National Assembly are testimony of his popularity and general acceptability. Several people attest to his competence and amiability, two essential ingredients, he would need to run such an office. His admirers maintain that he is the right choice at this particular point in time.

Born on June 7, 1961 in Okene, Kogi State, North-central Nigeria. He attended both primary and secondary schools in Okene, before proceeding to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria between 1979 and 1982 where he obtained a Bachelor of Law degree before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School in Lagos. While in ABU, he served in various leadership positions including being member of the Students Parliament; Assistant Secretary, Law Students Union; and Secretary-General, Students Union Government (Kongo Campus between 1981-1982). Prior to his education at the ABU Zaria, Omolori had attended the Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology between 1977 and 1979 where he was the Secretary General, Student Union Government between 1977 and 1978.

 

He has practiced both in the private sector and the public sector and as such has the temperament and disposition to be dynamic and visionary in the implementation of his vision for an effective National Assembly. The new CNA was in private practice with two prestigious law firms between 1983 and 1984 from where he proceeded to the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited where he served as Legal Officer between February 1985 and December 1989. He moved on in 1990 to also become Legal Officer in the now defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) for two years. It is from there that his career path brought him into the National Assembly in 1992 as a Legislative Counsel.

 Sani-Omolori is a member of many associations notable among which are: Nigerian Bar Association, African Bar Association, Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel, International Bar Association, and Commonwealth Lawyers Association. He is determined to turn around the fortune of NASS around for good.

It is a new dawn and before long, his footprint and characteristics of excellence will beam before all and sundry. One can confidently say that a glorious page has commenced and his tenure shall be a reference point in the annals of legislative branch in Nigeria.

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