PUBLIC MISCONCEPTION OF LEGISLATURE WORRISOME -NASS MANAGEMENT

Caroline Ameh

The National Assembly has expressed concern that the functions of the Legislature are grossly misunderstood by the general public leading to its underfunding.

This was contained in a communique that was jointly signed by executive chairman NASC Engineer Ahmed K. Amshi, DG NILDS Professor Abubakar Sulaiman and the CNA Arc. Ojo Olatunde Amos and issued at the end of the retreat that took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja over the weekend.
The communique indicate that it is imperative to recognize the uniqueness of the legislative environment and develop modalities to better serve the Lawmakers.

To this end it said, “It is necessary to ensure that the powers of the Clerk to the National Assembly as enshrined in Section 51 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as the Chief Executive & Accounting Officer)
and the Powers of the National Assembly Service Commission as given in the Enabling Act are not undermined.

The communique also harped on the relevance and contribution of the Staff Union in the National Assembly Service which makes it imperative to continuously interface and dialogue with the association to resolve grey areas that might arise from time to time.
“There should be regular engagements between the National Assembly
Service Commission, the National Assembly Management on one hand, and the National Assembly Leadership on the other hand.

“There should be greater synergy between the National Assembly Service Commission, the National Assembly Management and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies in providing support services to the legislature.”
“All stakeholders in the Bureaucracy of the National Assembly should continuously ensure meaningful balance between politics and administration.”
It commended the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, CON and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila for their support, encouragement and commitment to effective service delivery.

The retreat which was organised for members of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and top management of the national assembly had the theme: “Issues, Challenges and Prospects in the Legislative Bureaucracy”.

The retreat received papers and expert submissions on the “Appraising the mandates of the National Assembly Service Commission and the National Assembly Management”; “Strengthening National Assembly Service Commission and National Assembly Relationship”; “Managing the Political Leadership of the National Assembly”; and “Strategies for Effective Collaboration between the National Assembly Service Commission and the National Assembly”.

It emphasized the centrality of a cordial, consultative and result-oriented relationship as basis for attaining the mandates of NASS and NASC.

It also recognized that the current size of Legislative Aides which stands at five Aides per Legislator, is inadequate for the proper functioning of the Legislators.