NASC Chairman Urges Akpabio To Inaugurate NASS Pension Board

The Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Chief Saviour Enyiekere, has appealed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to fast-track the implementation of the National Assembly Service Pension Scheme through the inauguration of the National Assembly Service Pension Board.

Enyiekere made the call during a courtesy visit to the Senate President on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

He stressed that the formal take-off of the Pension Board would significantly enhance the welfare of retirees of the National Assembly Service, many of whom, he said, are currently facing severe hardship due to delays in accessing their pension benefits after retirement.

According to him, the inauguration of the board would align the National Assembly with global best practices in parliamentary administration and staff motivation.

Beyond pension reforms, the NASC Chairman urged the leadership of the National Assembly to support additional measures aimed at strengthening the effective functioning of the federal legislature.

Chief among these proposals is the establishment of a Council of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, which he said would serve as a think-tank and a repository of institutional memory for the legislature.

He explained that harnessing the experience of past presiding officers would provide valuable guidance for present and future assemblies while ensuring continuity in legislative traditions and professional excellence.

Addressing infrastructural concerns, Enyiekere also called for the reintroduction and construction of National Assembly Legislative Quarters to address accommodation challenges and security concerns affecting lawmakers and National Assembly staff.

He noted that a modern residential complex would help streamline legislative operations while improving safety and efficiency within the legislature.

The visit, which was the first by the Commission since the inauguration of the 6th NASC on May 5, 2025, was also used to brief the Senate leadership on the Commission’s activities and future plans.

Among these plans, Enyiekere disclosed, was a comprehensive staff audit of the National Assembly Service aimed at eliminating ghost workers.

Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the Commission for its foresight and commitment to its mandate, describing the proposed reforms as necessary.

He assured that the 10th National Assembly was committed to supporting the Commission in achieving its objectives.

Akpabio urged the NASC to develop proposals for the amendment of the NASS Act, 2014, to enable the Commission to assume full control of manpower management across all segments of the National Assembly Service.

He disclosed that the NASS Pension Board would soon be inaugurated after the correction of identified anomalies in its enabling Act, which is currently undergoing amendment.

However, the Senate President advised the Commission to address complaints arising from recent appointments and redeployments of senior National Assembly officers.