The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has commenced training of Senators and the House of Representatives members’ aides on basic lawmaking processes and procedures.
Speaking at the commencement of the training, the acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Tambuwal, assured the national assembly legislative aides that their demands with regards to remuneration will always be met.
Tambuwal said the 2022 induction/orientation programme for Legislative Aides to Senators and members of the House of Representatives, organised by NASC with the theme “Basic Lawmaking Processes and Procedures for Effective and Efficient Legislative Aides Performance,” is important for the national assembly.
Tambuwal who underscored the role of legislative aides in lawmaking said that he would ensure that effort was made in addressing their welfare.
He said: “I will work hard to meet your demands. The national assembly under my leadership is highly committed to the welfare of both staff and legislative aides.
“I will work assiduously to ensure that all demands you are pursuing with the ministry of finance, in the shortest period, will be realised.
“I want to assure you that with the support of the management of the national assembly, I will ensure that you have a conducive working environment to discharge your responsibility to the senators and members of the house of representatives effectively.”
The acting clerk also said that the workshop was timely and apt, taking into consideration and understanding the basis of law making processes and procedures which was among the core roles of legislative aides in the legislature.
“The role of aides in the legislature revolves around analysing constitutional provisions and drafting letters. This shows clearly the need to undertake these induction/training programmes toward value addition to self, legislators, constituents and our dear country.
“Let me express my appreciation for the good work the commission has been doing to support the national assembly toward delivering its mandate.
“This is because a lot has been achieved not only in the area of training legislative aides but also in the recruitment, promotion and disciplining of the staff in the national assembly.
“Let me assure the commission of our unflinching loyalty and commitment to effectively serve legislators and the good people of Nigeria in the discharge of our duty.
“Our dear legislative aides and personal assistants, the task before you will surely add value to self and country.
“Kindly take advantage and privilege of this training and ensure that you are not left behind.
“I hope and pray that at the end of the induction, the national assembly will witness a great improvement in the services toward better legislative processes, procedures and democratic development of Nigeria.”
The Executive Chairman National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Mr Ahmed Amshi, said that the commission had over time, taken the issue of training and retraining to develop the capacity of staff and personal aides to lawmakers.
“This is because we have the belief that in law making, it is not the lawmakers that always prepare the laws, it is you, aides, that prepare everything for the lawmakers.
“The lawmakers are so busy. They hardly have time to go through the laws, it is you, the legislative aides that have to go through every process of law making.
“This is to enable your principals so that they can be equipped to stand in the assembly and deliberate on the processes of law making in the assembly.”
Amshi, who was represented by Sen. Abubakar Tutare, a commissioner, however, assured the sides of conducting the workshop more than once in a year.
“Having this induction once a year is not enough.
“The commission has a duty. If the finances will be enough, we will be having this induction at least two times a year so that it can give legislative aides more knowledge and the capacity to assist in the law making processes of their principals.”
Hannatu Ibrahim, one of the staff and the acting Chairperson, Training for National Assembly Legislative Aides (NASLAF) said that the training would make them perform their duties effectively.
She also appealed to the management of the national assembly to ensure issues of staff welfare were giving priority.
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