It was Celebration galore on Friday,June 25th when the National Assembly Service Commission NASC marked the two decades of it’s existence as a body charged with overseeing the affairs of the National Assembly under it’s current leadeship and Executive Chairman, Engineer Ahmed Kadi Amshi FNSE.
Engineer Kadi who was appointed in February 2020 as the 5th Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Services NASC saw the need to celebrate the two consecutive decades of the existence of the Commission.
The low key event celebrated in the commision’s premises rather than in an event centre,five star hotels or high brow environment was inline with his new mandate to operate within the confines and robust policy of fiscal and financial prudence, and in line with the management of scarce resources, and on the other hand adhere strictly to the provision of COVID that had become a major global heath issue.
Defying all natural phenomenon, particularly in the depth of rainy season and unpredictable shunshine,the stage for the memorable occasion was glamoured and adored not only with a well arranged environment,but staffers of the commission with each and everyone gorgeously dressed and in high spirit to witness the novel occasion ever held in the commission.
In his usual characters of keeping to time, The Executive Chairman of the commission in company of his commissioners from the six geopolitical zones in the country took the centre stage, including the other invited guests, that came to honor both the leadership and members of staff of the commission who had put in their best in the last two decades.
The new Clerk to the National Assembly CNA, Architect Amos Olatunde Ojo was not left out of the all important occasion,even though,he was precluded with tight official engagements,he honored the occassion and made alot of contributions towards the success of the event.
The significance of the days event was not only to celebrate the commemoration of the 20 Years Anniversary,but also celebrated both the past leaders,staffers of the commission and also remembered those who have died both in active service or after retirement from the service of the commission.
The Executive Chairman in his address at the occassion paid glowing tributes to the past commission in their efforts to make it responsible and responsive to the yearning and aspirations of successive Assemblies since the return to democracy in 1999.
He also commended the efforts of the staff of the Commission particularly in the area of carrying out their statutory obligations,while urging them to sustain the tempo to achieve maximum success.
The commission’s Chairman used the opportunity to roll out the achievements of the current management within the short period of assumption of duty as the 5th Commission.
This included the protracted and unressolved and restoration of years of service in the commission pegged at 35 years in service or 60 years of age in the public service, that paved way to staff rationalisation and advancement,retarded promotion,as well as elevation.
This positive initiatives led to the appointment of top management positions that hitherto was stagnated in the National Assembly, cleared all outstanding promotions, disciplinary cases and appeals.
It also included to boost staff morale the validation and implementation of financial provisions of the conditions of service proposed by the commision, implementation of new minimum wage among others.
He used the occassion to also reward deserving staffers with merit award for good record of service,even though he stated that staffers of the commission who have spent 20 years in service will also be honored one way or the other.
The commision as part of it’s orientation and re-orientation embarked on a retreat to refresh newly appointed leadership on the intricacies of the new assignment held in Uyo Akwa ibom state, with a vision and mission to provide a level playing ground for excellent workforce in the commision,provide support and expertise to legislators to assist in the deliverance of democratic governance,good legislation for sustainable development.
The commision will also on the long run intend to build excellent manpower resource with competence and knowledge for the commision,so as to build on the past successes.
The new commission that came into inception even at an emergency global health challenges of COVID period was able to navigate it’s way and settle down for the onerous assignment, through the expansion of the establishment structure from seven(7) to nine(9)operational departments to facilitate smooth and more effective operation of the commision.
It also secured the release of about 3 Billion naira in the 2021 budget for the construction of it’s permanent site at the three arms zone to ressolve the inadequate accommodation problems of the commision in the last decades.the commision intends to complete the new office complex within it’s tenure.
In it’s quest to ensure the welfare of staffs to attract maximum productivity,the commision launched a new code of conduct(ethics) for staffs, that will guid the activities of staffs of the commision, especially in the sole power vested in it to appoint, discipline, confirm,promote and generally exercise disciplinary action, regular training and re-training in line with the present realities,as the implementation of the training manual for staffs is being vigorously pursued.it is expected that staff of the Commission is expected to abide by the code of ethics and strictly be guided by it.
As part of it’s plans to bequeath lasting legacy, the need to establish a commision’s clinic for staffs treatment of minor aliements, to offer first aides services during working hours.
The chairman also highlighted the need for a proper nominal roles for the commission through a well thought out staff verification/ digitazation of data base and IPPIS similar to the service,robust pension scheme for maximum productivity.
He used the opportunity to thank Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari, leadeship of the National Assembly that find them worthy of appointment promised to deliver on their mandate in the next few years with justice, fairness,and equity as their watchwords.
He used the opportunity to congratulate management and staff of the commision for attaining the two decades of a working establishment, with a promise to a more fruitful third decade ahead with determination to achieve more successes,while solicited for more cooperation in the task of administering the service.
To mark the occassion,the commision Chairman, Engineer Ahmed Kadi Amshi FNSE and the clerk to the National Assembly,Arch Amos Olatunde Ojo used the opportunity to launch the new code of ethics after which the staffers,invited guests were treated to a light reception.
