By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has cautioned clerks of the 36 state Houses of Assembly against getting involved in the leadership tussles among lawmakers.
He said that as professional technocrats, their duties were to guide legislators in following the right procedures in whatever legislative actions they wanted to carry out.
The DG stated this yesterday during a two-day capacity-building workshop on leadership development and innovative management skills for the Forum of Clerk to State Houses of Assembly, chaired by Rukkaiya Adamu Jalo.
Sulaiman said clerks of legislative arms of government are crucial to the success and effectiveness of legislation in Nigeria.
He emphasised the critical roles played by clerks in the success of legislation in the country and said achieving good governance and constitutional mandates depends on the competence of legislative bureaucracy.
He said, “We’re in a turbulent period, and whether we like it or not, our lawmakers are politicians of divergent political lineage. They have national interests, no doubt about that.
“We bureaucrats, at both executive level, judiciary, and the legislature, have a role to play. Most importantly, we clerks have a role to play. Many crises are happening in so many states’ houses of Assembly.
“We have a crisis in Lagos. We have a crisis in Rivas. We have crises in so many states of Assembly. We have recorded cases of impeachments here and there. Politicians do politics. You must perform your work.
“As technocrats and bureaucrats, we must ensure that procedures are followed in everything we do. That is why when there’s any harm to a politician, it will not affect you.
“However, when you see it affecting a clerk, as we have it in Lagos State, you must ask yourself why. Have you compromised? Have you been fingered in any of these feuds? Or is it corruption? Or abnormalities that are obtained during that period. We must stand above partisanship. We must be law-abiding.
“We must do the needful. And the best way to be law-abiding and stand above partisanship and compromises is always to emphasise our staff’s training and retraining.
“I’m not unaware that some of your staff coming up in the various assemblies are products of politicians.”
He explained that the workshop was necessary to present “an opportunity to strengthen our collective capacity to enhance legislative efficiency, institutional resilience, and democratic governance.”
He said, “You are the engine room of legislative activities through your coordinating role in your various Assemblies.
“Your leadership, administrative competence, and strategic guidance are essential for the smooth functioning of legislative processes and the successful implementation of financial and administrative autonomy.
“Recognising this crucial role, NILDS, being the capacity-building hub for legislatures at all levels of government, has designed this intensive two-day capacity-building workshop to equip Clerks with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary for innovative and responsive leadership in legislative management.
“Our carefully selected resource persons, drawn from various fields of expertise, will offer valuable insights and practical strategies to address the complex challenges confronting legislative bureaucracies in Nigeria.”
The Chairperson, Forum of Clerk to State Houses of Assembly, Rukkaiya Adamu Jalo, commended the DG and the management of NILDS for organizing the training.
She noted that it would help in no small measure to advance the effectiveness of the legislature.
