By Michael Agbaji
The Speaker of House of Rep.Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has charged the development partners to work closely to House of representative to helpin building the county.
Dr Abbas stated today at official public presentation of the results of the capacity needs assessment study conducted by the House with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners.
Dr Abbas was represented by Deputy speaker Hon.Benjamin Kati.
According to him, The results are presented today in a document titled Parliamentary Development Programme. This is in line with our Legislative Agenda, which identifies the strengthening of the internal capacity of the legislature as a critical factor towards achieving all our other legislative objectives. As a result, the document before us today reflects our current capabilities and the urgent requirements needed to elevate the standards of our legislative functions.
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He said the need to continuous capacity strengthening in the legislature is well known to us all. The high turnover rates at the National Assembly pose a significant challenge to maintaining continuity and building on the institutional knowledge crucial for effective governance. In this Tenth Assembly, over 80% of the members are new to the legislature. This phenomenon, combined with the growing expectations of our citizens for transparency, accountability, and efficiency, underscores the urgent need for a robust framework for capacity building within the legislature.
He further said the evidenced by the level of engagement, especially on social media, our constituents are becoming increasingly aware and involved in the governance process, demanding greater accountability and better service delivery from their representatives. This heightened expectation requires us to be at the forefront of legislative knowledge and practices. Also, the intricate landscape of modern governance demands a higher level of expertise, analytical skills, and adaptability among our members and supporting staff.
He says UNDP’s Capacity and Institutional Needs Assessment Study has laid bare the gaps in our current system. It has highlighted areas where the House needs to strengthen its capabilities to meet the demands of contemporary governance. These include but are not limited to strengthening our lawmaking functions, enhancing our legislative drafting capabilities, improving our research and analysis functions, bolstering our oversight mechanisms, and advancing our engagement with the citizens we serve.
According to him, view of the challenges, we must embrace a culture of continuous learning and capacity development. We must invest in human capital development, ensuring that Members, staff and legislative aides are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of modern legislative work. This involves not only formal training programmes but also fostering an environment that encourages innovation, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of the issues facing Nigeria.
He called for the commitment and collaborating with partners towards addressing capacity gaps. We created the Committee on Civil Society and Development Partners to, among others, improve the interface between the House and civil society actors. We have equally set up two novel standing committees: one to monitor the implementation of our Legislative Agenda and another to track the performance of all House standing and ad hoc committees. Both committees work closely with civil society organisations and development partners to ensure that the House builds the capacity to deliver on its agenda and the skills required to track and improve performance. Furthermore, we set up the Programmes Coordinating Unit (PCU) in the Research and Policy division of the Office of the Speaker to work in partnership with the Committees to harmonise and utilise partnership interventions to ensure that all committees and departments of the House receive necessary and equal attention.
As we reflect on the findings of this study, let us also acknowledge the support of our development partners, including the UNDP, whose expertise and assistance have been invaluable in identifying our needs and charting a path forward. However, the responsibility to act on these findings rests with us all. It is a call to action for the House and all Members to commit to a comprehensive plan for capacity Hon. Kali said”
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The Parliamentary Development Programme document is presented at the occasions represents the first comprehensive and coordinated attempt at systematically identifying the capacity needs of the House and strategies for addressing them. The structure of the Report follows the eight thematic areas outlined in the House Agenda. Therefore, it makes for a better understanding of the capacity issues related to each thematic area and recommendations for tackling them. The Report also contains a capacity-building plan that responds to the needs of the 10th House.
