The National Assembly has initiated moves to establish a distinct salary structure and better working conditions for its legislative aides, who support the 469 federal lawmakers in both chambers.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed this in Abuja during a training programme for aides.
He said the reforms were necessary to address the peculiar challenges faced by aides and to enhance their performance in supporting lawmakers.
According to him, beyond a distinct salary structure to meet their financial needs, the National Assembly is also advocating job security for aides by insulating their appointments from arbitrary termination by lawmakers.
He noted that, unlike career civil servants, aides’ appointments lack stability and their ranking is often not based on competence or qualifications.
Ogunlana further lamented the absence of a comprehensive law defining the duties and responsibilities of aides across different cadres, leaving them vulnerable to unfair treatment.
He stressed that the current leadership of the National Assembly is committed to resolving what he described as a systemic issue.
He urged the National Assembly Service Commission and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to consider creating a dedicated salary structure and service conditions reflecting the unique role of legislative aides.
Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Mr. Saviour Enyiekere, while commending the initiative, urged aides to be more knowledgeable and skillful than their principals to strengthen legislative outputs.
The three-day training brought together chiefs of staff to the four presiding officers of the National Assembly, their special advisers, and senior legislative aides to lawmakers.
Writing by Joseph Agi