Akpabio Opens NASS/NASC Management Retreat, Tasks Officials on Efficiency, Accountability
National Assembly Clerk, Kamorudeen Ogunlana calls for far-reaching administrative reforms, highlighting merit-based staffing, clearer institutional responsibilities
By Pan Afric Reporters
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has declared open a three-day management retreat for the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), calling for stronger institutional collaboration, merit-based administration, accountability and improved professional service delivery.
Akpabio gave the charge on Friday while declaring open the retreat at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, themed “Strengthening Institutional Synergy, Administrative Effectiveness and Professional Service Delivery in the National Assembly.”
Represented by Senator Babangida Hussaini, the Senate President said the effectiveness of the National Assembly depended not only on its legislative and oversight functions but also on the professionalism of its workforce and the efficiency of the administrative structures supporting parliamentary operations.
He urged the National Assembly management and NASC to strengthen coordination, embrace innovation, improve internal processes and ensure the judicious use of institutional resources.
“Administrative effectiveness requires us to embrace innovation, improve internal processes, promote accountability and ensure that institutional resources are deployed efficiently,” Akpabio said.
He challenged participants to ensure that the retreat produced practical and measurable outcomes rather than ending with discussions and resolutions, stressing that the quality of administrative support must reflect the constitutional responsibilities of the legislature and the expectations of Nigerians.
“Let this retreat be more than an avenue for discussion. Let it mark a turning point towards stronger institutional governance, more efficient administrative processes and a renewed culture of professionalism and accountability,” he said.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana in his opening address, also called for far-reaching administrative reforms, highlighting merit-based appointments and promotions, accurate staff records, clearer institutional responsibilities and stronger cooperation between the Commission and management.
He said the retreat provided an opportunity to examine existing weaknesses and determine the kind of National Assembly Service that current leaders would leave for future generations.
“The National Assembly Service is a professional institution. Our staff should therefore be appointed, promoted and developed principally on the basis of merit, competence, experience, performance and the requirements of the Service,” the Clerk said.
He warned that disregarding the National Assembly Service Act 2014 and the applicable Scheme of Service in personnel decisions could lead to judicial challenges, administrative embarrassment and institutional instability.
The Clerk also called for the establishment of a single, authoritative and verifiable staff database to address inconsistencies, duplication and questionable profiles in existing personnel records.
Addressing the relationship between the NASC and National Assembly management, he stressed that their distinct statutory responsibilities should complement rather than undermine one another, advocating clearer coordination mechanisms to prevent conflicts and improve institutional harmony.
He further recommended a more efficient approach to staff discipline, consideration of delegated personnel responsibilities for lower-grade officers, a common staff welfare framework and greater use of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) for professional training and career development.
The three-day retreat, scheduled for October 15–18, 2026, brings together top management officials of the National Assembly, members of the NASC and other stakeholders to deliberate on administrative reforms, institutional relationships and strategies for strengthening the effectiveness of Nigeria’s legislature.
