NASS DIGITAL NEWSROOM: Clerk Ogunlana Says Facility Signals Fresh Drive for Efficiency, Professionalism
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
National Assembly has commissioned a state-of-the-art newsroom as part of renewed efforts to strengthen transparency, enhance operational efficiency, and modernise legislative communication in the country.
At the commissioning ceremony held Tuesday within the Assembly complex, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, described the ultra-modern facility as a strategic milestone in the institution’s reform agenda. He said the newsroom represents not just infrastructural growth but a deliberate commitment to professionalism, credibility, and improved public engagement.
Ogunlana noted that in a rapidly evolving media environment where communication shapes public trust, the new newsroom will significantly boost information management, documentation of proceedings, and the timely dissemination of legislative activities.
“In an era where communication defines credibility, this facility strengthens our capacity to discharge our responsibilities with greater openness and professionalism,” he stated.
The Clerk explained that the development aligns with broader administrative reforms under his leadership aimed at improving service delivery and prioritising staff welfare. He emphasised that equipping personnel with modern tools and a conducive work environment remains central to achieving institutional excellence.
He further disclosed that the newsroom forms part of a wider transformation initiative to reposition the National Assembly as a model of public sector efficiency and national pride. According to him, several infrastructural projects—both completed and ongoing—reflect this commitment to institutional renewal.
Ogunlana also stressed the importance of sustaining the new facility through a strong maintenance culture. Recalling the era when the Assembly’s Printing Press ranked among the most advanced in the country and attracted major government contracts, he lamented its decline due to poor upkeep. He urged staff and stakeholders to embrace collective responsibility in preserving public assets.
“Maintenance is not the responsibility of management alone; it is a shared duty. Protecting our facilities means safeguarding our progress,” he said.
In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Research and Information, Dr. Alli Umoru, described the newsroom as a strategic communication hub designed to enable real-time monitoring of legislative proceedings, counter misinformation, and strengthen public trust in the parliament.
He added that the facility will serve as a centre for archiving and documentation, as well as a training hub for Information Officers to enhance professional development and intellectual engagement. Umoru highlighted the Directorate’s contributions to institutional growth through key publications, including the National Assembly Guide and the compilation of historic presidential budget speeches and reform-related submissions.
The event drew senior management staff, legislators, permanent secretaries, heads of departments, and other invited guests, marking what officials characterised as a significant milestone in the ongoing modernisation of legislative communication in Nigeria.
The newly commissioned newsroom is expected to boost the image of the National Assembly and reinforce citizen engagement through accurate, timely, and professional dissemination of information.
