By Saminu Ibrahim
The Acting Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Arc. Ojo Olatunde has said the management of the National Assembly under his watch will maintain zero tolerance for corruption.
He added that the management would ensure that the work of the bureaucracy is done in the most transparent and accountable manner at all times.
Olatunde spoke on Friday when he played host to delegation of YIAGA AFRICA, a civil society organization led by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo at the National Assembly in Abuja.
He noted that to address knowledge gaps in the lawmaking process by the legislature, capacity development efforts will be a continuous process.
“We will work to ensure that all members, aides and staff have adequate capacity to utilize internet services and materials from e-library, in preparing and processing legislative bills or motions” he said.
Consequently, the CNA declared that ICT development, establishment of E-library and capacity building programmes will be pursued vigorously for the benefit of lawmakers and all relevant staff and aides.
“Provisions of desktop computers and laptops are being planned for staff. We are resolved never to neglect our responsibilities and to pursue our core mandate to logical conclusions” the CNA said.
He acknowledged what he called selfless support and commitment that YIAGA AFRICA is playing in strengthening legislative capacity, and providing technical support over the years.
“The resultant effect is that your efforts have activated new thinking around legislative advocacy and provision of knowledge on the workings of the legislature.
“The National Assembly’s bureaucracy shares some commonalities with YIAGA AFRICA in the protection of our nation’s democratic values of pluralism, accountability and transparency, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti- corruption drive.
“We intend to further promote attitudes of transparency through strong media relation to educate the public about parliamentary activities and lawmaking” Olatunde added.
Earlier, Executive Director of YIAGA, Itodo said the organization works in three areas, elections, legislative engagements and governance and development.
He emphasised that in the National Assembly over the last few years, YIAGA AFRICA has implemented a parliamentary strengthening programme, supported by the European Union.
“Over the last few years we have worked with specific committees both at the Senate and the House of Representatives and also worked with young parliamentarians forum and women in parliament Committe” Itodo said.
While he congratulated the clerk on his appointment, Itodo stressed few germane issues.
“Key among them is, there is a huge opportunity that avail you as the clerk of the National Assembly, to promote openess and transparency in NASS.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic, technology provides a huge opportunity, so e-parliament should be a top agenda.
“There is need for huge investment in capacity development in the National Assembly, there is need for increased citizen participation and public engagement”.
He maintained that in 2019, YIAGA AFRICA released a score card on the 8th NASS, saying the study was led by former chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega.
He added that a comprehensive report was indeed released on how the 8th NASS fared with respect to its three core function; lawmaking, representation and oversight.
He said the organization is ready to support the new clerk to deliver on its target agenda.
