House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen has said he and Senate President Godswill Akpabio have proposed amendments to the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Act to ensure that it is merit-based and transparent.
Abbas said this when he hosted the outgoing chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) yesterday in Abuja.
The Speaker stressed that in agreement with the Senate President, he was sponsoring a Bill to amend the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Act to ensure merit and transparency in the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly.
He said: “One persistent challenge facing the National Assembly Service Commission has been the lack of a well-defined succession plan. The recurring crisis surrounding the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly and other key positions highlight the need for an urgent reform.
“The absence of clarity in succession plan undermines the service’s stability and efficiency. As the legislative arm of government, the National Assembly cannot afford such disruptions.
“To address this, I am pleased to inform you that the National Assembly, led by my counterpart in the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, along with myself, has initiated amendments to the NASC Act. These amendments aim to streamline the qualifications and processes for appointing key officers, thereby ensuring merit-based and transparent succession.
“Furthermore, the amendments will provide new entrants into the service with clear guidelines on career progression, eliminating controversies surrounding promotions and aligning the scheme of service with the broader vision of the Commission and the National Assembly.”
Presenting a 13-page document to the Speaker, Amshi highlighted the challenges and successes of the NASC in the last five years.
The chairman noted that Sani Magaji Tambuwal would retire in five days while the outgoing NASC board would be working with the incoming Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, for only five days before the end of its tenure.
