Stakeholders Seek Unification Of Laws On National, State Assembly Commissions

Stakeholders at a conference organised by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) have called for the unification of laws establishing the national and the state Houses of Assembly Service Commissions (SASCs). 

The stakeholders also advocated uniform legislative guidelines on appointments, promotion and discipline, code of ethics for the staff of the parliamentary bureaucracy and domestication of the National Assembly Service Commission’s Schemes of Service, Conditions of Service and all other enabling circulars for use in the NASC/SASCS. 

A communique issued at the end of the conference which held from October, 17-20, 2023  tagged: “Excellence in Parliamentary Service: A Panacea For Good Legislation For Democratic Governance,” and signed by the executive chairman, NASC, Engr Ahmed Kadi Amshi, also called for a national council for the legislative arm of government. 

The communique said; “There is the need to vigorously pursue the unification of the laws establishing State Assembly Service Commissions to be in line with that of the National Assembly Service Commission for smooth operations. 

“To this end, the NASC and SASCS should interface with the Forum of Speakers to make them understand the need for unified laws that apply to both the National Assembly Service Commission and State Assembly Service Commissions.

“The commissions should embark on regular training and re-training of staff of the commissions for effective and efficient service delivery.

“That chairmen and members of the State Assembly Service Commissions should have the political will to ensure that standard laws are established, be knowledgeable and keep abreast with the provisions of the Laws.

“To that effect the appointment of the clerks, deputy clerks and the secretaries to the Assembly Service Commissions should be the sole responsibility of the State Assembly Service Commissions.”