Abbas Unveils Policy on Lawmakers’, Staff Capacity Devt
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen yesterday unveiled a policy document on training, retraining and capacity building of members of the 10th House, legislative aides and support staff for better performance.
The document, titled: ‘'Parliamentary Development Programme for 10th House of Representatives, National Assembly, 2023-2027'', was prepared by the office of the speaker in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to the statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Mr Musa Krishi, the Programmes
Coordinating Unit (PCU) in the research and policy division of the office of the speaker spearheaded the process of formulating the document.
The unveiling which was done by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on behalf of the speaker, had several local and international development and technical partners of the National Assembly.
Abbas, in his address, noted that the document contained the results of the assessment study conducted by the House with the support of the UNDP and other partners.
“This is in line with our legislative agenda, which identifies the strengthening of the internal capacity of the legislature as a critical factor towards achieving all our other legislative objectives.
“As a result, the document before us today reflects our current capabilities and the urgent requirements needed to elevate the standards of our legislative functions,” he stated.
According to him, the need for continuous capacity strengthening in the legislature is well known, noting that the high turnover rates at the National Assembly posed a significant challenge to maintaining continuity and building on the institutional knowledge crucial for effective governance.
Abbas further added that the UNDP's capacity and institutional needs assessment study had laid bare the gaps in our current system, stressing that it had highlighted areas where the House needed to strengthen its capabilities to meet the demands of contemporary governance.
“These include, but are not limited to strengthening our law-making functions, enhancing our legislative drafting capabilities, improving our research and analysis functions, bolstering our oversight mechanisms, and advancing our engagement with the citizens we serve.
“In view of these challenges, we must embrace a culture of continuous learning and capacity development. We must invest in human capital development, ensuring that members, staff and legislative aides are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of modern legislative work.