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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: BETWEEN THE BUREAUCRATS AND THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS





Novices outside the realm of the legislative chambers often ask questions about what the National Assembly really is.  A good number of them actually are at a loss to understand the functions and operation of that elite Establishment, which is why so much dust is raised about their finances.  Somebody asked me what does the Clerk of Senate do; same to Clerk of the House and even the National Assembly.

Another was to ask me where does the billions budgeted by NASS go to?

For now, the National Assembly is the legislative arm of Government and it is made up of the politicians (law makers) and the Civil Servants (Bureaucrats).  The legislative Aides compliments the wheel of the Establishment.  Between them are two Chambers – the Red (Senate) and Green (for Reps.)

The Senate President is Head of the Senate Chambers while the Speaker is head of the House of Representatives.  The CNA (Clerk) is the overall head, supported by (Permanent Secretaries) in both Senate and House of Representatives.  The Permanent Secretaries are designated as Clerk of Senate and Clerk of Reps.


The Principal Officers helps the Senate President and Speaker to run the business of law making, oversight functions and checkmating the Executive.  Broken down, you have Chief Whip, Majority, Minority Leaders as well as their Deputies.  The Committees compliment the rest.  To support them are battalions of Senior and Junior Legislative Aides, Special Assistants and Advisers.  These run into thousands.

The Clerk of the National Assembly (CAN) is complimented by Directors, Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors.  It is this group of officers that are known as the bureaucrats because they are in charge of running the behemoth and ensuring efficiency, provisions of amenities, payment of salaries, compensation, etc.

When some of the Directors become “too powerful”, they are then dubbed as “bureaucrats”.  For instance, Salisu Maikasuwa who is the capo-de-tuti at the moment is seen as a mere titular head compared to Alhaji Sanni Omolori, Clerk of the House of Representatives who is a scion of the Ohinoyi clan of Igbira land.  It is currently whispered in the back circles that he is the heir apparent to the CNA throne.  Closely on the heel of this Igbira barrister is a Director in the administrative department who is described as “formidable” for the way and manner he discharges his function.

The relationship between the bureaucrats and the Principal Officers has however remained cordial.  No one wants to rock the boat.  As is being whispered, a kind of rub-my-back- I-rub-yours spirit is playing out.

The meaning of this hybrid relationship is obvious.  It means unless you “belong” you aren’t likely to get anything.  With 109 Senators and 350 Reps, thousands of permanent and non-permanent staff, this is why their budget runs into billions for procurement, projects, salaries, overheads, etc

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