Task before new National Assembly Clerk

The emergence of Alhaji Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori as the new Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) offers the institution and the country another opportunity for realigning the processes of democratic governance in Nigeria with the expectations of the people. This is informed by the wide scope of responsibilities associated with the office based on the […]

The emergence of Alhaji Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori as the new Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) offers the institution and the country another opportunity for realigning the processes of democratic governance in Nigeria with the expectations of the people. This is informed by the wide scope of responsibilities associated with the office based on the statutory role of the National Assembly in facilitating good governance in the country. The National Assembly is the apex legislative establishment in the country. As the CNA, Sani-Omolori is the head of the parliamentary bureaucracy as well as the chief accounting officer of the institution, and in that capacity the co-signatory with Mr President of any law enacted by it.
As the engine room of the legislature, the bureaucracy is saddled with the responsibility of providing the enabling environment for legislators to carry out their legitimate functions of lawmaking, constituency representation and oversight of all ministries, departments and agencies of government in their performance of service delivery to the Nigerian public. The bureaucracy is also vested with the responsibility of maintaining cordial relations with various publics of the establishment comprising the sundry operatives and visitors that traverse its precincts on a daily basis, other agencies of government, host community, the various constituencies of its past and serving members, as well as the various legislative establishments across the globe. Hence, as CNA Sani-Omolori has his job clearly cut out for him. 
It is significant that the new CNA is coming to office at a time when the institution is faced with a complement of challenges arising from various angles. In particular, the nation’s political terrain and the regular operating environment of the country’s public service are in crisis. A typical challenge is that of facilitating uniform and level-playing ground for the performance of legislative functions by legislators, comprising senators and members of the House of Representatives who routinely come to serve from different backgrounds and endowments.  Associated with this task is the need for the bureaucracy to deliver without compromising on the statutory imperative of remaining apolitical and anonymous, in line with the expectations of the civil service.
Also of importance is the expectation that the National Assembly bureaucracy under Sani-Omolori will provide inspiration for the legislative establishments in the states and local government councils of the country to upgrade their legislative credentials and capacities beyond the presently depressed level in order to provide a harmonised progression of all parts of the country along the path of democratic governance and sustainable development. It is in this regard that the new CNA needs to initiate the protocol to facilitate a harmonized culture of best fit legislative enterprise not only for the National Assembly bureaucracy but for the other legislative establishments in the country who look up to it for guidance.
Meanwhile, it is auspicious that the political leadership of the National Assembly strives to insulate the bureaucracy from being compromised in the discharge of the statutory functions of keeping the establishment functional in the interest of the country’s democratic dispensation. It is easily recalled that complement of scandals and crisis that have been associated with the institution have originated from the political class, only to infect the bureaucracy with telling effects on some of the staff. 
We call on the new leadership to maintain the needed vigilance and professionalism that is required for ensuring that the various officials of the institution act in synergy in order to avail the country the best from the institution.
Interestingly Sani-Omolori is coming to office with a rich pedigree in public service and in particular, legislative enterprise.  Having served as a former Director of Legal Services and the immediate past Clerk of the House of Representatives, he could not have asked for a better level of preparation for the job.
We also call on the National Assembly leadership to give him a free hand to do his job in a transparent manner so that the third arm of government can be repositioned.