By Anayo Akwitti
The National Assembly has appealed to the Federal Government to review its monetisation policy, particularly the non-provision of official accommodation for civil and public service officers.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, made the call in Abuja on Thursday while delivering his closing remarks at the end of a one-month training programme for Legislative Aides.
Ogunlana said the policy had widened the accommodation gap between lawmakers and their aides, with some aides living several miles away from their principals, thereby affecting coordination, efficiency and service delivery.
“Proximity between Members and their Legislative Aides can promote synergy, coordination and efficiency,” he said.
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.
According to him, the arrangement was disrupted following the Federal Government’s monetisation policy, which he said could be reviewed to provide appropriate official accommodation for members and personnel of the National Assembly.
Ogunlana also assured more than 14,000 National Assembly staff, legislative aides and their families of improved access to healthcare through a new world-class medical facility currently under construction.
He said the existing National Assembly Clinic, originally designed to cater for lawmakers, career staff and their families, had come under additional pressure due to the growing demands from legislative aides and their families.
“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,” he said.
The Clerk further urged legislative aides to update their records of service ahead of the terminal date of the 10th National Assembly.
He explained that accurate and up-to-date records would enable the management of the National Assembly to process their severance allowances efficiently when due.
