The newly inaugurated 6th National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has launched its tenure with a weeklong induction and retreat in Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, outlining a five-year strategic roadmap to reform the legislative service architecture.
At the opening ceremony of the retreat, Executive Chairman of the Commission, Chief Dr Saviour Enyiekere, highlighted the policy direction for the 6th NASC, pledging an era grounded in excellence, transparency, and digital transformation.
“We are committed to prioritising a culture of excellence, integrity, and public trust,” Dr Enyiekere stated in his welcome address. “Our focus will be on professional development, employee welfare, accountability, and removing stagnation in staff career progression.”
Dr Enyiekere also stressed the importance of digitising the Commission’s operations, describing it as a key driver for institutional efficiency and responsiveness.
The retreat, which is being facilitated by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is expected to serve as both an orientation for new commissioners and a policy-setting workshop.
Declaring the programme open, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Senator Cyril Fasuyi. In his remarks, Senator Fasuyi described the Commission as “stewards of a sacred trust a trust reposed in you by the Nigerian people to sustain and strengthen the machinery of our legislative arm.”
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According to him, the mandate of the Commission remains central to the stability and effectiveness of the National Assembly.
“You are the sinew and spine upon which the strength and stability of our National Assembly depend,” he stated, while reaffirming the commitment of the National Assembly leadership to support the Commission’s objectives.
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elder Udeme James Otong, delivered the keynote address. He underscored the Commission’s crucial role in legislative governance, likening it to an engine room for the National Assembly.
“Your task is therefore critical and fundamentally strategic. You are all managers of the engine that drives democratic governance,” Otong said, urging the commissioners to build a legacy that will endure.
In his further remarks, Senator Fasuyi noted the Commission’s dual role as both a repository of legislative memory and a catalyst for a future-ready legislative workforce.
“You are the preserver of the procedural wisdom of the past and the motivator of a capable, forward-facing workforce equipped to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving democratic landscape,” he said.
Adding a legal reform dimension, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Service Matters, Hon. Sani Bala, called on the Commission to actively engage in the ongoing repeal of the National Assembly Service Act. He said that updating the Act to reflect the Commission’s reform agenda would be critical to ensuring its success.
“Our committee will provide strict oversight to ensure service delivery,” Hon. Bala affirmed. “But we will also support the Commission with the tools it needs to perform optimally.”
The Secretary to the Commission, Mr Lucky U. Ikharo, provided further insight into the purpose of the retreat. According to him, it was designed to give new commissioners an in-depth understanding of the Commission’s previous activities and guide them in shaping a strategic future.
“The theme of this programme – Vision-Driven Leadership: Fostering an Ethical, Sustainable, and Future-Ready Workforce – reflects our determination to institutionalise purposeful leadership across all levels of the legislative service,” he said.
pene, the 6th NASC appears poised to redefine the standards of professionalism, ethical conduct, and institutional relevance in the workings of the National Assembly.
