Lawmakers move to replace patronage with merit in aides’ conditions of service
By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The National Assembly is charting a path to overhaul the welfare of its thousands of aides — with promises of a distinct salary structure, clearer career progression, and protection from arbitrary dismissal by lawmakers.
Speaking at a three-day training in Abuja on Tuesday, Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, admitted that aides currently work under a civil service template that neither guarantees stability nor reflects their political roles.
“Legislative aides are political appointees, yet their service conditions mirror those of career civil servants. This leaves them vulnerable to sudden termination, and advancement is rarely based on merit or qualifications,” Ogunlana told participants.
He warned that the absence of a clear framework has left aides exposed to unfair treatment. “It is time to fix these gaps and give aides a structure that reflects their real contribution to the legislature,” he declared.
The National Assembly management is proposing that the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), in collaboration with the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, design a tailored salary and service system to match the unique demands of legislative work.
NASC Chairman, Saviour Enyiekere, challenged aides to sharpen their expertise beyond those they serve. “Your knowledge and professionalism will determine how strong our legislative outputs are,” he said.
If the reforms scale through, over 300,000 aides — including Chiefs of Staff, Special Advisers, and Senior Legislative Aides — stand to benefit from what could be the biggest shift in their welfare since the return of democracy.
