N’Assembly’s N125 Billion Appropriation Inadequate – NASS Service Commission Chairman

The Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi has said the current appropriation of N125 billion annual budget for the National Assembly was grossly inadequate while calling for an increase in appropriation to enable the arm tackle its multiple challenges.

Amshi said this in Abuja when he received the Chairman of the Benue State House of Assembly Commission (BSHAC) Dr. Sylvester Atachin who led other Commissioners to NASC leadership on a working visit.

“The National Assembly Service Commission is not enough and we seek an increase to enable us achieve more and ensure stability in the legislative arm of government,” Amshi stated.

Earlier, Atachin had told the Chairman that the visit was to rub minds with them on a number of issues which, he said, could be of benefit to the State Assembly commission as they commence the journey of providing critical administrative support to the state House of Assembly.

He said: “Our Journey Commenced with the passage of the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission law 2018 which was given assent by the Governor on 11th Day of April 2018, consequently, this five-member Commission was inaugurated on 6th June 2020. As a relatively new institution in Nigeria’s democratic history, we intend to share in your wealth of experience.”

Consequently, Amshi noted that the state Houses of Assembly Commissions should as a matter of necessity, separate themselves from the control of the executive in the states.

He further insisted that a situation where the executive takes charge to hire and fire aides to legislators is not acceptable as it erodes the principle of Separation of powers.

Amshi while speaking to the team further clarified that the Parliament everywhere in the world is independent, not under any control of the Executive, even in recruitment and management of its staff and that the same should apply in the states Assemblies.