The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, has underscored his commitment to the training and retraining of staff in order to improve the functioning of the National Assembly.
This commitment was reiterated at the opening of a Capacity Development Workshop for Legislative Aides in the Office of the Speaker, held in Abuja.
The workshop, organized by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), aims to enhance the capacity of staff to increase productivity and improve service delivery.
The Speaker further emphasized that the 10th House is prepared to collaborate with development partners to provide targeted capacity programs for both Members and staff.
“Capacity building is a crucial factor in driving productivity in any institution. It is my firm commitment to ensure that capacity building becomes a defining aspect of my tenure as Speaker, not only for staff members but also for Members of the House of Representatives. I urge you to seize every training opportunity seriously. The success of an institution heavily relies on the capacity and output of its workforce. Today, you represent the face of the Speaker’s office and are responsible for interacting with Members and visitors. Your conduct, attitude, and relationship with people, as well as how you serve the public, reflect the image of the office of the Speaker. Therefore, it is vital that you continually familiarize yourselves with the code of ethics and public service rules while carrying out your responsibilities,” Hon Abbas stated.
The Speaker advised the participants to exhibit discipline, understanding, control, and the ability to drive the vision of the office of the Speaker.
“Respect for each other’s authority, demonstrating competence in your respective positions to justify your qualifications, protecting the office, and maintaining a positive and focused mindset are essential. I strongly urge you to seize this opportunity to foster bonds with one another, transcend cultural barriers, develop interpersonal relationships, practice conflict resolution, and enhance your communication skills. These soft skills are crucial for effective interpersonal and organizational development as you serve in the Office of the Speaker and the National Assembly as a whole. Therefore, I encourage you to make the most of this training and become even more capable and resourceful professionals in your legislative roles,” he added.
The Speaker expressed his gratitude to PLAC for the opportunity, expressing his anticipation for more training programs as the 10th Assembly progresses.
The Executive Director of PLAC, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, emphasized that the training was designed to ensure that staff members of the Speaker’s office are well-informed about the functioning of the office.
He highlighted that the staff members are the initial point of contact for individuals visiting the office and need to have a comprehensive understanding of how to address their inquiries.
“This marks the commencement of the 10th National Assembly, and with a new Speaker and a fresh set of staff members, we recognize the importance of equipping the Speaker’s office with the necessary knowledge to respond to the challenges that the country is currently facing. This training will enable the aides to effectively address the citizens’ questions and demands during this critical period,” Mr. Nwankwo explained.
He further stated that the workshop will prepare the aides to implement the Speaker’s open legislature agenda.
The Capacity Development Workshop included a series of lectures conducted by expert speakers.
The theme of the workshop was “Improving the Effectiveness of Legislative Aides.”
