National Assembly Service Commission holds training workshop for staff

The National Assembly Service Commission, has organised a three day workshop on Lawmaking processes for the promotion of efficiency and diligence in the National Assembly.

 

The workshop is part of the training and retraining mandate of the commission.

 

The Chairman National Assembly Commission, Mr. Ahmed Amshi, said that the National Assembly is the symbol of democracy and that people who work there need to be kept abreast with work ethics.

 

He also noted that continuously training the staff would lead to perfection.

The Clerk to the National Assembly Mr. Ojo Amos said that training and re-training of staff was one of the cardinal objectives of his administration.

 

“Training and development of employees assist both the organisation and employees in attaining diverse goals, such as improving morale, sense of security, employee engagement and overall competencies.

 

The Legislature is the first among the three Arms of Government – the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary. These Arms are characterised by the principle of separation of power as each is supposed to be independent of the other. The Legislature derives its powers from the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in Sections 4(1) and 4(2). The Legislature is vested with the powers to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Federation. It is also vested with investigatory powers, financial powers, confirmation and impeachment powers”. Amos said.

He noted that it was pertinent and incumbent on all Lovers of Democracy to ensure that the legislative Institution is protected.

“One of the ways of doing this, is adequate training of Staff. As I said at one of the training programmes organised for Staff, we cannot continue to do things in the same way and expect to achieve different results. Although it is the Legislators that have the monopoly of presenting Bills during the Plenary, most of you play critical supportive roles in ensuring the enactment of quality Bills. These could be in the conduct of research, drafting, scrutinising Bills, while some of you are responsible for cleaning up the Bills and Authentication of Bills by me, before forwarding for Presidential Assent”. He said.

He reminded the staff that their roles in the law-making process are therefore critical to the sustenance of Democracy in Nigeria and well recognised by Management.

 

Similarly, the Clerk, House of Representatives, Mr. Yahaya Danzaria, said that the essence of the training was to bring about forthrightness in the conduct of the National Assembly staff and ensure optimum service output and serve as a means of enlightenment and constant reminder of staff oath of office as civil servants.

Danzaria stressed that the training is in recognition of the need to build capacity and strengthen the institutions that will represent the yearnings of the public served by those in government.

 

“In our instant case, it is to build institutions that will compete among developed parliaments in the democratic community around the world. As noted by many scholars of capacity building, the best leader teaches by action and fewer words. 

That is why William Arthur Ward states that “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”  This training is to satisfy in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson “our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” 

We understand the situation of things in our country today and even the low morale of staff on many issues, yet, we are determined and hopeful that what is constant is change.  And no difficult situation will remain forever. It is on this note that we arranged this workshop to give you an opportunity to interact and refresh yourselves in your different areas of legislative duties”. Danzaria said.

 

He also said ’’to hold a capacity-building workshop is good but it cannot be complete without embracing true legislative work ethics and behavioural conduct. Those conduct manifest in your daily legislative duties. One cannot be isolated from the other”.

 

He added that the three-day workshop is intended to bring staff to speed on their ethical and behavioural responsibilities and guide them in their legislative processes.

 

The three-day programme is designed to provide staff with another opportunity to refresh their understanding and knowledge of the legislative practices and procedure; equip them with new skills in bill processing in the era of technology; their role in legislative support service among others.

 

 

Olusola Akintonde