The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, has cautioned against promoting legislative staff based on external influence instead of merit, competence and experience. He warned that such practices could lead to legal challenges and instability within the institution.

Ogunlana spoke on Saturday in Abuja at the opening of a three-day retreat for top management officials of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission. He stressed that appointments, promotions and professional development must follow the National Assembly Service Act 2014 and the approved scheme of service.

He said the National Assembly service is a professional body where staff should be appointed and promoted mainly on the basis of merit, competence, experience and performance. When other factors take precedence, he noted, the institution risks having people in positions they lack the capacity to handle effectively.

The clerk also called for an end to ad hoc training arrangements for personnel. He argued that the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies has the capacity to provide specialised and more cost-effective training tailored to the needs of legislative workers.

Ogunlana emphasised the need for continuous learning in areas such as parliamentary procedure, policy analysis, digital skills and ethics. The Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Saviour Enyiekere, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to building a disciplined, competent and responsive legislative service based on merit and due process.