House of Representatives Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, has announced plans, alongside Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to amend the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Act in a bid to ensure merit-based and transparent appointments within the National Assembly.
The Speaker made the announcement during a meeting with the outgoing Chairman and members of the NASC in Abuja on January 27. He emphasized that both he and Akpabio were sponsoring a bill aimed at reforming the National Assembly Service Commission to address key issues, particularly the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly.
“One persistent challenge facing the NASC has been the lack of a well-defined succession plan,” said Abbas. He pointed out that the recurring crises surrounding appointments, especially the Clerk and other key positions, have revealed the need for urgent reforms. The absence of a clear succession plan, according to Abbas, has caused instability within the service and hindered the overall efficiency of the legislative arm of government.
He added, “The National Assembly cannot afford such disruptions. The amendments we are introducing will streamline the qualifications and processes for appointing key officers, ensuring that selections are merit-based and transparent.”
The proposed amendments to the NASC Act, according to the Speaker, aim to clarify the career progression path for new entrants into the service and eliminate controversies around promotions. This would align the National Assembly’s staffing policies with the broader vision of the Commission and strengthen its service delivery.
Abbas also referred to a 13-page document presented by the outgoing NASC Chairman, which highlighted both the challenges and achievements of the Commission over the past five years. The Chairman, Amshi, noted that Sani Magaji Tambuwal, the current Clerk to the National Assembly, would retire in just five days, and the outgoing board would only work briefly with the incoming Clerk, Kamoru Ogunlana, before the end of their tenure.
This proposal signals a significant step towards greater transparency and accountability in the operations of the National Assembly, with hopes of improving the overall functioning of the service in the future.
