The three days visit to Nigeria of the ten member delegation from the republic of Ghana Parliamentary Service Board, that started with the arrival on Tuesday,17th August to 18th, Wednesday August 2021,when the team visited the National Assembly Service Commission NASC,National Institute For Legislative And Democratic Studies NILDS, the National Assembly Management and Leadership on the 19th, Thursday,August,2021, coordinated by the commision’s leadership under Engr Ahmed Kadi Amshi FNSE.
The all important and August vsistors that coincidentally came into the country in August was led by a former Member of Parliment Hon Johnson Asiedu Nketiah MP.
With high spirit,the National Assembly Service Commission NASC for many weeks provided the enabling environment for the sister African country,Ghana and the most closest to Nigeria,even though,it got independence before Nigeria,as both had learnt a lot from each other,a trend that is continuing which occasioned the visit.
The two days events availed the Ghana’s Parliamentary Service Board delegates alot of opportunities to acquaint itself Nigeria’s parliamentary activities, through the commission as the engine room of National Assembly,it’s sister body, NILDS as well as Management and Leadership of the National Assembly.
During the session,the National Assembly Service Commission NASC gave details of the it’s activities, functions and responsibilities in it’s enlarged brief produced by the commision without ambiguity.
Nigeria’s NASC Chairman, Engineer Ahmed Kadi Amshi FNSE did not mince words before his visitors from Ghana and rolled out extensively the functions of the commision and by extension overseeing the Management of the National Assembly with strict cognisance of NASC act,2000 as amended in 2014.
The global visit even though, more or less an interactive session turned educative and training session as the host, Engineer Ahmed Kadi Amshi FNSE with his wealth of experience as a bureacrat reeled out about 12 expansive points under many subheadings, the activities of the commision,which was subject to review from time to time in line with the current realities.
With rapt attention,delegates from Ghana were inundated with the activities of the commision and by extension the experiences there in, in the last two decades of the uninterrupted democratic practice in Nigeria.
The NASC act according to the brief dwelled on membership and responsibilities of the commision,design and structure as well as coordination along with human resources.
Nigeria NASC members, according to Amshi which consisted of the Chairman and 12 commissioners with two from each six geo-political zones of Nigeria, formed the leadership of the commision.
The ongoing reforms and restructure and expansion of organogram was also mentioned in the brief to the Ghanian parliamentary service Board.
Heirachical and coordination of divisions, departments,units and specialised offices of the National Assembly formed the core of NASC activities.
NASC in it’s nature of carrying out support services, implementation of meal subsidy as well as observed the legal framework guiding the conditions of service of the commision and it’s staffers.this also formed part of the operational documents.
The Nigeria’s National Assembly Service Commission also listed on it’s acts of 2004 as amended in 2014 it’s further roles to include standing orders, Membership and roles of standing committees, trainings and career development of all staffers of the commission, National Assembly and legislative aides Guidelines, conditions of service and others.
As part of it’s primary obligations,the commision also dealt with the establishment of structures,reviewed in line with the 2020 Establishment structure, roles of departments in line with the present realities.this occasioned the expansion of Departments from 7 to 9 at the inception of the present NASC leadership.
The ethics of the commision,code of conduct for staffers of the commision and by extension the National Assembly,though undergoing series of revision to address the gap and enhance staff development,as recently a revised code of ethics was launched for staff of the service..
The funding which is the bane of the survival of any organisation was directly from the National Assembly,whose first line charge status is sustained with the current democratic practice.
This was also been proposed by the commission to be replicated at the 36 states including the remaining four states who has not establish State Assembly Service Commission,and not only adminstrative independent,but also financial independent and autonomy.
Elated by the submission of Nigeria counterpart,the chairman of the Ghana parliamentary Service Board,Hon Johnson Asiedu Nketiah MP team said they were in Nigeria to assess the workability of it’s democratic Institutions as Ghana is undergoing reforms and chooses Nigeria as a sister and neighboring country and ally for over six decades,to carry out it’s proposed reforms using it’s experiences.
He said Ghana Parliamentary Service Board consisted of only four members unlike that of Nigeria,as the benefits of the wealth of experience garnered in Nigeria will have multiplier effects on it’s newly proposed reforms.
NASC also used the opportunity to extend similar visit to NILDS with Ghana delegates,it’s sister organisation and availed itself of the program of the institute, as well as familiarise with the modus operandi and the leadership structure.
In it’s bid to ensure an in-depth knowledge of the democratic Institutions in Nigeria and not theoretical experience alone,the commision also seek audience and interface of both the Management and Leadership of the National Assembly with the Ghana parliamentary service Board.
While on a visit to Nigeria’s National Assembly, Former Member of Parliament and his delegates with the leadership of the assembly led by Senate President,Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,Femi Gbajabiamila who was unavoidably absent, with a strong solidarity message to the delegates interacted on major issues that will improve democratic practice in both countries.
The delegates also interface with the Management of the National Assembly led by Clerk to the National Assembly CNA, Arch Amos Olatunde Ojo with his team including the Deputy Clerk in the House of Representatives and his team,as well as other top management team of the Nigeria National Assembly.
As part of the visit of the Ghana’s Parliamentary Service Board,the National Assembly Service Commission used the opportunity to fete the delegates with a continental luncheon after the visit to NILDS, and later in the day hosted a well thought out dinner to mark the historic visit to Nigeria of Ghana Parliament.
In his remarks at the occassion,the Chairman of Ghana Parliament, Honourable Johnson Asiedu Nketiah MP expressed satisfaction both with the reception to the delegates,the environment as well as the interactive session from the commision to NILDS and later the National Assembly.
He said the delegates will avail itself the wealth of experience, education garnered from the two days visit to Nigeria,as he assured his Nigeria counterpart, Engineer Ahmed Kadi Amshi FNSE of Ghana’s unquatifiable benefits on the visit to Nigeria.
The Former Member of Parliament promised to utilize the rich experiences garnered by the team from Nigeria in the course of the ongoing reforms in Ghana Parliamentary Service Board.