CNA- Legislators to get e-Hansard from 2021

By Doris Ferdinand

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Arc. Ojo Olatunde Amos on Tuesday assured the Federal Lawmakers that beginning from 2021, the management of National Assembly under his watch will ensure that they get e-Hansard promptly.

He said this while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of 4th Quarter Legislative Staff Training workshop tagged ‘ Public Procurement, Tendering and Negotiation Skills held at Bolton White Hotels, Abuja.

The CNA noted that he inherited an analogue official Report Division where legislators do not have prompt access to Hansards (official records of debates in verbatim form). He also expressed sadness over backlogs of unproduced Hansards dated back January 2020 and promised that the present management will do the needful in advancing the parliamentary democracy and drawing Nigerians closer to the workings of it’s Representatives in the National Assembly.

“This is to assure you that the bureaucracy under under my watch will not relent in pursuing the provision of ICT materials and E-parliament for the benefits of the entire National Assembly. It is a point of note that I inherited an analogue official Report Division where legislators do not have prompt access to Hansards (official records of debates in verbatim form) which is an inestimable tool in parliamentary process and practice.

“It’s penitent that there are backlogs of unproduced Hansards dated back January 2020 but under the present management and in line with our e-parliament vision, legislators from next year (2021) will get e-Hansard promptly in line with world best practice. This will go a long way to advancing our parliamentary democracy and drawing Nigerians closer to the workings of it’s Representatives in the National Assembly.” The CNA said.

Ojo admonished the participants to remain loyal and committed to their duties and to shun from all manner of vices.

“As public servants, you need to display absolute and undiluted loyalty and commitment to your schedules in the National Assembly, believing that it is the only panaces that will make all of us succeed individually and collectively.

“We must not forget our oath of allegiance as it is sufficiently being made clear in the public service rules; we must love our jobs as we love ourselves; we must shun late coming, acts of indiscipline, non-challant attitudes to our duties. We must not allow ourselves to be pulled down or controlled by the negative doctrines of ethnicity, religious sentiments, unnecessary parochialism, backbiting and infighting.

Ojo also commended the 9th Assembly under the leadership of most distinguished senate president, Ahmed Lawan, and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of Representatives, in repositioning the National Assembly.

Speaking at the event, Secretary, Directorate of Human Resources and Staff Development, Elder Felix Orumwese listed various topics to be taught at the program and therefore charged the participants to reciprocate the management gestures.