Enyiekere; Retreating, Inducting Towards Reformation of NASC ,

BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

To kick the ball rolling as the new helmsman of the National Assembly Service Commission NASC, Dr Saviour Enyiekere appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the 6th Chairman of the commission, rolled out his blueprint through the enlightenment and awareness program held at Ikot- Ekpene in Akwa-Ibom state at induction and retreat program.

The moves geared towards acquainting the new commission and it’s commissioners of the intricacies of the job and the previous achievements garnered over the years under the previous leadership, with it’s theme , “Vision driven Leadership: Fostering An Ethical, Sustainable and Future-Ready Workforce”.

The newly inaugurated 6th National Assembly Service Commission NASC kicked off a weeklong induction/ retreat programme aimed at serving as a forum for the new commission to map out a roadmap for its activities in the next five years.

Shortly after his assumption of duty, the new leadership of NASC determined to improve modestly and moderately on the previous order, unveiled a policy thrust of the new commission in May , 2025 , promising to prioritize the culture of excellence, integrity, public trust, professional development, while others are employee welfare, accountability, transparency, dynamism and strengthening of relationship with stakeholders as his watchword.

While expressing worries over the analogue way of it’s operations, the new commission leadership stated that he will ensure the digitization of the activities of the commission in line with the current order, that will not be underplayed, and promised to remove staff stagnation prevalent in the current dispensation.

In collaboration with some foreign and local bodies , the induction and retreat program organized by the commission was supported by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office (FCDO), declared open by the President of the Senate, Senator Godwill Obot Akpabio. Senator Akpabio, who was represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Senator Cyril Fasuyi who described the Executive Chairman and Commissioners as “Stewards of a Sacred trust – a trust reposed in you by the Nigerian people to sustain and strengthen the machinery of our legislative arm”.

“According to him, the Commission’s mandate was the sinew and spine upon which the strength and stability of our National Assembly depends.”

“He enjoined the new Commission to strive to achieve excellence in its activities and pledged the support of the Leadership of the National Assembly towards achieving success in its activities.”

“In a key note address, the speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elder Udeme James Otong noted that the National Assembly Service Commission held a strategic role in the National Assembly as the incubator or engine room for providing efficient and effective manpower resource for law making “Your task is therefore critical and fundamentally strategic. You are all managers of the engine that drives democratic governance…..”. he told his audience.”

“He urged the new Commission to strive to build a legacy that would stand a test of time.*

” The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Senator Cyril Fasuyi noted that the Commission carried a dual purpose of serving as the institutional memory of the Legislature, preserver of the procedural wisdom of the past as well as the motivator of a capable forward -facing workforce that is equipped to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving democratic landscape.”

“Also, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters, Hon Sani Bala urged the Commission to actively participate in the ongoing repeal of the National Assembly Service Act with the view to ensuring that appropriate legal provisions were enshrined in Act to drive the reforms the 6th Commission intended to champion. He stated that while his Committee would oversight the Commission strictly to ensure Service delivery, it would also help provide it with all the Commission’s needs to make it perform optimally.”

“The Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Lucky U. Ikharo pointed out that the Induction/Retreat was organized to brief the new commissioners of past activities of the Commission and to chat the way forward. ”

No doubt , the leadership of Dr Savior Enyiekere on appointment promised to revolutionize policies and programs that will move the commission forward.

Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.