The National Assembly (NASS) on Thursday, September 17, urged the federal government to review its monetisation policy and consider providing official accommodation for lawmakers and personnel of the legislature.
Kamoru Ogunlana, clerk to the NASS, made the appeal in Abuja while delivering his closing remarks at the end of a one-month training programme for legislative aides.
Ogunlana said the policy had created a wide accommodation gap between lawmakers and their aides, which he said had affected coordination, efficiency and service delivery.
“I am mindful of the accommodation difficulties faced by some of you, particularly those who live far from their principals,” he said.
“Proximity between members and their legislative aides can promote synergy, coordination and efficiency.”
The clerk recalled that lawmakers were previously accommodated at the former Apo Quarters in Abuja, where many legislative aides also lived close to their principals.
“This reminds me of the period when members were accommodated at the former Apo Quarters in Abuja, where many legislative aides also lived close to their principals,” he said.
“That arrangement was affected by the federal government’s monetisation policy.”
Ogunlana said the government should consider reviewing the policy to provide appropriate official accommodation for members and personnel of the NASS.
“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.”
Ogunlana also assured legislative aides, NASS staff and their families of improved access to medical services once a new facility under construction becomes operational.
He said the existing NASS clinic, which was primarily designed for lawmakers, career staff and their families, had come under pressure because of the additional demands created by legislative aides and their families.
“I am also mindful of the challenges some of you face in accessing medical services,” he 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.”
Ogunlana said the present leadership was already addressing the challenge through the construction of a new medical facility.
“I am pleased to inform you that the present leadership is already addressing this challenge,” he said.
“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. We expect the facility to become operational by about this time next year.”
The clerk also urged legislative aides to update their records of service ahead of the terminal date of the 10th national assembly.
He said accurate records would enable management to process their severance allowances efficiently 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.”
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