Jane Salihu
The National Assembly hosts more than 14,000 personnel every working day, apart from the 469 federal lawmakers and the large number of visitors who access the complex, the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, has disclosed.
Ogunlana made the disclosure on Tuesday during his address at the final phase of the capacity-building training for Legislative Aides in the 10th National Assembly, using the figures to highlight the enormous administrative demands involved in running Nigeria’s Parliament.
According to him, the workforce comprises career civil servants and legislative aides, making the National Assembly one of the most complex and busiest institutional environments in the country.
The CNA said the scale of activity at the National Assembly is also reflected in its legislative output, revealing that both chambers have passed about 3,500 bills within the first three years of the 10th Assembly.
He said the Senate accounted for 1,500 of the bills, while the House of Representatives passed 2,000 within the period under review.
Beyond the workload of the institution, Ogunlana renewed his call for a dedicated salary structure and improved conditions of service for Legislative Aides, describing them as a critical part of the legislative process.
He urged the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to clarify their respective responsibilities in determining the remuneration and conditions of service of Legislative Aides.
“There is need to streamline the responsibility of the NASC and RMAFC in determining the salaries and condition of service of Legislative Aides,” he said.
Ogunlana explained that while NASC is responsible for the appointment and administration of Legislative Aides, their remuneration operates within a framework developed and approved with RMAFC and is subject to the approval of the National Assembly.
He also raised questions about the nature of the aides’ appointments, noting that although their positions are temporary and non-pensionable, there is a need for greater clarity on whether their roles should be regarded as full-time or part-time appointments.
The CNA stressed that addressing the issues surrounding the welfare and professional status of Legislative Aides would go beyond improving their personal welfare, as it would also strengthen the quality of support available to lawmakers.
He said reforms should ultimately produce a professional legislative support service capable of attracting and retaining highly skilled personnel and individuals of strong character and integrity.
Ogunlana added that the growing volume of legislative activity and the size of the National Assembly workforce make it imperative to strengthen the institutional structures supporting parliamentary operations.
