One year of the CNA: A scorecard of institutional reform and renewal

By Sufuyan Ojeifo

When Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., assumed office as Clerk to the National Assembly on 2nd February 2025, he stepped into a Service weighed down by tight fiscal realities, inherited inefficiencies and an old, unresolved question about how autonomous Nigeria’s legislature truly is beyond constitutional theory. Expectations were high. Resources were limited. And the margin for error was thin.

One year on, what has emerged is not the noise of dramatic overhaul, but the steadier rhythm of systemic, purposeful institutional reform. To be clear, the Ogunlana administration has chosen the path of fixing systems, professionalising processes, and restoring confidence in the bureaucracy of the National Assembly as the engine room of parliamentary governance.

At the heart of this first year has been a deliberate attempt to reset the rules of advancement and leadership within the bureaucratic wing of the National Assembly. The ongoing legislative review of the National Assembly Service Act of 2014 represents more than a technical amendment. It is a philosophical intervention. By proposing merit-based qualifications for the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Deputy Clerks, Secretaries of Directorates and Directors, the reform seeks to anchor legislative administration on academic rigour, cognate experience and demonstrable competence.

In an environment where public institutions are often vulnerable to patronage and shortcuts, this move signals an insistence that parliamentary bureaucracy must be led by professionals who understand both the letter and the spirit of legislative work. It is an attempt to ensure that career progression within the service rewards excellence and specialisation rather than proximity to power.

Closely tied to this is the long-standing question of parliamentary autonomy. While the National Assembly occupies some of the most recognisable public buildings in the country, the ownership and management of its Abuja complex remain vested in the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory. The Lagos complex, similarly, sits under the control of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. In practical terms, this arrangement undercuts the principle of institutional independence.

With the support of the leadership of both Chambers, the Ogunlana administration has pushed for a review of the relevant laws to vest ownership and management of these complexes in the National Assembly itself. This is not an abstract battle over turf. It is about control of assets, efficiency in maintenance, and the dignity of a legislature that should not function as a tenant in its own house.

Beyond statutes and structures, the first year has also been defined by an unmistakable focus on people. Staff members’ welfare, often the first casualty of fiscal constraint, has been treated as a stabilising priority. Salaries and allowances have been paid promptly. Arrears arising from wage adjustments and federal wage awards have been fully settled without any corresponding increase in budgetary allocation. Legislative aides and eligible staff members received their First 28 Days allowance, a gesture that significantly boosted morale across the Service.

Capacity building followed the same logic of quiet but resolute investment. Within the year, over 4,200 staff members and legislative aides underwent training. A record number participated in international workshops, conferences, and seminars, expanding institutional competence and exposing the service to global best practices in parliamentary administration. This was not training for training’s sake, but a conscious effort to strengthen the human infrastructure that sustains legislative work.

It is equally worth mentioning that operational efficiency has also received overdue attention. Utility vehicles were procured for critical directorates, with plans already in place to extend support to additional departments. The administration standardised financial processes by ensuring equitable disbursement of standing imprest to all directors and heads of departments, correcting long-standing disparities. Notably, historical imbalances in entitlements between the Deputy Clerks of the two Chambers and other top management staff members were addressed, reinforcing internal equity and cohesion.

Furthermore, the National Assembly Clinic, often overlooked in institutional narratives, emerged as a key beneficiary of renewed focus. Enhanced funding and upgraded equipment have improved healthcare delivery for lawmakers, staff members, legislative aides, and their families. The labour ward was upgraded to handle normal deliveries, and the medical laboratory was equipped to conduct critical tests such as PSA and HbA1c. Even the old Library building has been earmarked for rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, with plans to hand it over to the National Assembly Budget and Research Office, ensuring more efficient use of existing assets.

Operational security and facility management were not left to chance. Routine maintenance has been institutionalised to promote sustainability and cost efficiency. In the same vein, access control within the National Assembly Complex has been strengthened. These measures have reinforced confidence in the National Assembly’s internal security architecture and underscored the importance of order in a democratic institution.

For the avoidance of doubt, the administration does not pretend that the work is complete. Limited budgetary allocation, inadequate office space, and the need for a more robust condition of service remain persistent challenges. So, too, does the long overdue task of digitalising administrative and legislative processes in line with modern parliamentary management. Staff members’ discipline and accountability continue to demand vigilance.

Still, taken together, this first year, while not exactly a victory lap, is certainly the laying of firm foundations. For an institution often overshadowed by the political theatre of plenary debates and headline making motions, the real story of reform is unfolding quietly within its administrative spine.

One year in office, Kamoru Ogunlana’s tenure suggests a service being nudged steadily towards professionalism, efficiency, and autonomy. It is a powerful reminder that nation-building is not always loud. Oftentimes, it happens in files properly processed, systems fairly run and institutions patiently strengthened.

■ Sufuyan Ojeifo, journalist and publisher, is the editor-in-chief of THE CONCLAVE online newspaper @ www.theconclaveng.com