Twice in three consecutive years of the leadership of the National Assembly Service Commission NASC under the Chairman of the commission, Engr Ahmed Kadi Amshi FNSE and his commissioners, alot has been achieved towards democratic advancement across it’s strata in the current dispensation.
The previous conference which came up in Kaduna state in 2021 , was a point of convergence for the National Assembly Service Commission NASC and States Assembly Service Commissions SASCs to chart away forward towards creating more enabling environment for the commission to thrive both at National and State Assembly Service Commissions level.
The success story of both the 8th and recently 9th Assembly conference held in Abuja between the 17th-20th October, 2023 was an indicator that both Federal and State governments under the umbrella of the National Assembly Service Commission NASC and State Assembly Service Commissions’ operations is streamlined to ensure the wholistic independence and not only administrative autonomy, but financial controls by the States Assembly Service Commissions.
This year’s conference with it’s theme “Excellence in Parliamentary Service: A Panacea for Good Legislation and Democratic Governance” took place at Maryam Babangida Women Development Centre MBWDC was declared open by the Senate President, Obong Godswill Akpabio.
With impressive attendance from States Assembly Service Commissions members and 21 states of the federation was also graced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Honorable Tajudeen Abbas, including Chairmen of public service matters in the lower and upper chamber.
The event witnessed alot of brainstorming, technical sessions and paper presentation by speakers and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in Nigeria, with a key note address delivered from Professor Ayo Omotayo with six other papers on various topics as sub-themes delivered by recognised facilitators at the conference.
The positive coloration of this year’s conference was the presentation by top democratic and leadership agencies like the Public Complaints Commission PCC, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies NIPSS, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies NILDS, and National Assembly Library Trust Fund NALTF led by their leadership to add more colour to the program.
Under the leadership of Amshi and his commissioners alot has been achieved to regularise the activities of the National and States Assembly Service Commission in line with the best practices.
In his giant strides, efforts was redoubled to ensure the pursuance of unified laws establishing it in line with the operations of the National Assembly Service Commission and State Assembly Service Commissions SASCs, through interface with Speakers of States House Assembly.
Training and re-training of commissions staff both at the National and States Assembly Service Commissions should also be prioritized, with political will and standard laws established and also suggested that appointment of top notchers of State Assembly Service Commissions should at the purview of the State Assembly Service.
The conference insisted on financial autonomy as a follow up to the administrative autonomy granted to the state legislatures as practiced at the National level as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution in line with the laws, so that funds to the commission are released uninterruptedly.
The conference also called for synergy, lobbying and good working relationship to achieve these feats through the harnessing of Executive and Legislative to enhance release and approval of funds.
With improved relationship, funds both local and international bodies particularly democratic countries through grants and aids to ensure good governance.
It also resolved that State Assembly Service Commissions should explore both Policy, Legal Advocacy Centre geared towards building necessary and knowledgeable expertise to enhance excellence in Parliamentary Service.
The commission advocated uniformity in guidelines on appointments, promotions, discipline and code of ethics for the staffs and also the domestication of NASC scheme of service, conditions of service and all others applicable to NASC and SASCs.
A regular interface between the National and States Assembly Service Commissions, Chairmen, and Secretaries of State Assembly Service Commission every three months, as well as a council on Establishment for Legislative arm of government to enhance stability in the National and State Assembly Service Commissions.
The 2023 conference no doubt was an improvement and collective bargaining template existing between the National Assembly Service Commission NASC and State Assembly Service Commissions.
Yusuf , Writes from Abuja on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.