The Senate yesterday, passed into law, the National Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) Bill which now empowers the Commission to play key role in the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) as well as the discipline and removal of staff.
The Bill, which scaled third reading in the Senate yesterday, aims at addressing the stagnation of staff of the National Assembly.
The new bill, according to the chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Aloysius Etok, “will address the rivalry among the core legislative staff and non-legislative staff, who work in various administrative and technical departments of the National Assembly.
“This bill, with the creation of additional four directors will expand the National Assembly bureaucracy, take care of future expansion, strengthen the service and motivate staff efficiency and affectiveness,” he said.
In a bid to strengthen the legislature, the new amendment stated that the, “Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any authority or person in exercise of its duties.”
According to Etok, the Bill will primarily create capacity, enhance professionalism, open up the Commission and encourage the staff of the National Assembly to put in their best.
The Bill also made provision for the funding of the National Assembly Service. Section 15 of the amendment stipulates that the National Assembly shall establish a fund for the National Assembly Service and provision for the fund shall be made in the annual budget of the National Assembly.
Speaking on the financial implication of the amendment, considering that the National Assembly has been on a fixed budget of N150 billion per annum, Etok stated that the presiding officer would not hesitate to propose an increase when necessary.
