Last week, the leadership of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) National Assembly chapter was assured of cordial working relationship to make the new assembly successful. JOSHUA EGBODO reviews this prospect.
A new approach to resolving issues?
PASAN is currently under a leadership that is just few months on the saddle, but it appeared the new team has armed itself with a better approach to getting results. In the near past, activities of the National Assembly were in days grounded with protests by the staff members over issues relating to unpaid benefits.
Expectations of the new PASAN leadership
Last week, the new leadership of the PASAN paid a courtesy call on the political leadership of the current House of Representatives, and were received in its stead by Deputy Speaker Idris Wase.
Chairman of the chapter, Mr Sunday Sabi, while congratulating Wase on his election as the deputy speaker, pledged the support of the staff of the National Assembly, with a view to helping to helping the new leadership realize the agenda of the present House leadership.
“We are here to support you, we are here to promote democracy, we are here to promote the 9th Assembly. I believe from this place, we have a lot to present here but it is not today.
“When we go back, we will call our congress whereby we will itemise all the challenges that we are facing and submit to your table and the Honourable Speaker. We know that you are going to support our welfare and well being in this institution”, the chairman stated.
What the political leadership promised
The House’s leadership, through Wase, requested the partnership of the PASAN, to achieve the expected reforms the 9th Assembly had in stock. This he said would move Nigeria forward.
Wase urged the staff me beds to always adopt the dialogue option in canvassing for their welfare, assuring them that the current leadership of the House would make their welfare a priority, as partners in progress, without who the business of the parliament cannot be executed.
“We are partners in progress and we are going to be partners in progress to ensure that we have a very conducive and peaceful atmosphere in the National Assembly. We believe that the welfare of workers is very paramount and any attempt otherwise will not give the necessary result.
“It is going to be a House of reforms and it is not going to be one way, we expect cooperation from your own side so that together we will move the country forward.
“Members cannot operate well if the staff who are supposed to be supporting do not have the enabling environment. My appeal is that let dialogue be the first instrument and reasoning should also come to bear”, the Deputy Speaker stated.
Issues with the legislative aides
Beyond the challenge of addressing welfare issues of the staff members, there usually issues with that of the legislative aides to lawmakers. Before the expiration of tenure of the 8th assembly, aides to the lawmakers repeatedly frustrated the smooth business of the parliament over disagreements on Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), which they argued were budgeted for, but not paid them by the management.
The management was later to explain that it was not a right for the aides, but a prevalence, which due to paucity of funds under the new dispensation could not be sustained. It is at the moment unclear whether their matter was satisfactorily addressed, before the former House wind down, and so not likely to rear up during the life of the current assembly.
As the House settles down to business
The House appeared set for business, as it resumes plenary this morning, after a two week break embarked on, for its welfare committee to conclude logistics, especially, the allocation of fives for members.
It also expected that as the House resumes, the remaining principal officers would be announced.
On the appointment of aides to the presiding officers, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila during his inaugural speech on June 11, announced the appointment of his Chief of Staff, in the person of Hon Sanusi Rikiji. It is unclear if any other aide has been appointed by him
However, the deputy speaker in the course of the recess, approved the appointment of Mr. Muhammadu Umar Puma as Chief Press Secretary. Until his appointment, Puma, from Gombe State, was Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps.
A statement from Wase’s office last Thursday, also announced the appointment of Dr Aminu Malle from Taraba State as Chief of Staff. Malle, who holds a Ph.d in Animal Production and Management from the Federal University of Technology Yola, was a member of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2019.
Other appointed aides include Nanven Nimfel, Special Adviser, Political Affairs; Sani Abdu, Special Adviser, Budget; Lumuba Adeh, Special Assistant; Abdullahi Mohammed, Special Assistant, Economic Matters; Suleiman Abubakar, Special Assistant, Investment.
With all these in place, and an expected robust relationship with staff of the parliament, it is a considered opinion of any stakeholders that the 9th House would take off on a smooth ride, especially if the Speaker is able to handle the selection of committee heads with the expected maturity.
