The National Assembly has called on the Federal Government to review its monetisation policy on official accommodation, citing difficulties faced by lawmakers and legislative aides.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, made the call in Abuja on Thursday while delivering his closing remarks at the end of a month-long training programme for legislative aides.
Ogunlana said accommodation challenges, particularly for aides living far from the lawmakers they serve, could undermine effective communication, coordination and the discharge of their official responsibilities.
“I am mindful of the accommodation difficulties faced by some of you, particularly those who live far from their Principals. Proximity between Members and their Legislative Aides can promote synergy, coordination and efficiency,” he said.
The Clerk recalled that members of the National Assembly and many of their aides previously lived at the former Apo Quarters in Abuja, allowing aides to maintain close proximity to their principals.
He said the arrangement was discontinued following the introduction of the Federal Government’s monetisation policy.
“That arrangement was affected by the Federal Government’s monetisation policy,” Ogunlana said.
He urged the government to reconsider the policy and explore the provision of official accommodation for members and personnel of the National Assembly.
“I believe Government may wish to consider reviewing the policy, with a view to providing appropriate official accommodation for Members and personnel of the National Assembly,” he said.
“Such an arrangement could also provide significant relief to Legislative Aides and improve coordination with their Principals.”
New medical centre planned
Ogunlana also disclosed that steps were being taken to address healthcare challenges affecting legislative aides, National Assembly staff and their families.
He said the existing National Assembly Clinic had come under pressure because it was originally designed mainly to serve lawmakers, career staff and their families.
The addition of legislative aides and their dependants had further stretched the facility’s capacity, he said.
“I am also mindful of the challenges some of you face in accessing medical services,” Ogunlana said.
“The National Assembly Clinic was designed primarily to cater for lawmakers, career staff and their families, and the additional demands created by Legislative Aides and their families have stretched the existing facilities.”
According to him, the leadership of the National Assembly is responding to the situation through the development of a new medical facility.
“I am pleased to inform you that the present leadership is already addressing this challenge. A new, world-class medical facility is currently being developed and will be equipped with modern medical facilities and supported by experts in various fields of medicine,” he said.
Ogunlana expressed optimism that the new facility would be operational around the same period next year.
Aides told to update service records
The Clerk further advised legislative aides to ensure that their employment and service records are complete and up to date ahead of the end of the 10th National Assembly.
He said accurate records would help the National Assembly Management process their severance allowances promptly when they become due.
“As we approach the terminal date of the 10th Assembly, I enjoin you to ensure that your records of service are properly updated,” he said.
“This is necessary to enable Management to process your severance allowances efficiently when due.”
He urged the aides to take the necessary steps to resolve any gaps in their records before the conclusion of the current Assembly.
