The National Assembly has called for strict adherence to merit and established service rules in staff promotions, warning that undue external influence could expose the institution to litigation, administrative setbacks and internal instability.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, stated this on Friday at the opening of a three-day retreat for senior management of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Ogunlana said appointments and promotions within the National Assembly Service must be guided by the National Assembly Service Act 2014 and the applicable Scheme of Service, with competence, experience and performance serving as the primary considerations.

He warned that allowing external interests to override established rules could undermine professionalism and weaken the institution’s capacity to function effectively.

“Where appointments or promotions are influenced by considerations outside the National Assembly Service Act 2014, and the applicable Scheme of Service, we risk creating serious institutional consequences, that is, judicial review, administrative embarrassment and institutional instability,” he said.

The Clerk noted that the consequences could extend beyond the officers directly involved to affect the entire legislative service.

He expressed concern that prioritising geographical origin or other considerations over seniority, relevant experience and competence could result in officers occupying positions without the necessary qualifications and capacity to perform their duties.

“The result can be an institution with too many people in positions and too few people with the capacity to perform effectively those positions,” he said.

Ogunlana stressed the need to protect professional standards by ensuring that promotion decisions comply with established regulations and reflect the competence and experience of individual officers.

He also called for a review of the National Assembly’s staff training system, advocating greater reliance on the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to provide structured and sustainable professional development.

According to him, the existing ad hoc arrangements for training personnel are no longer sustainable given the institution’s limited financial resources and the growing demands of legislative administration.

He said National Assembly personnel require continuous training in parliamentary procedure, legislative practice, policy analysis, research, digital technology, public financial management, ethics, leadership and emerging international practices in parliamentary administration.

Ogunlana argued that NILDS possesses the institutional capacity to serve as the central platform for staff training, providing a more coordinated approach to professional development while ensuring better use of available resources.

He said strengthening the institute’s role would help equip legislative personnel with the knowledge and skills required to support effective parliamentary administration.

In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Chief Saviour Enyiekere, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to building a disciplined, competent and responsive legislative workforce.

Enyiekere said the commission would continue to uphold merit, respect due process, give appropriate attention to staff welfare and encourage every officer to contribute meaningfully to institutional progress.

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, were represented at the event.