The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has said that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has proposed the amendments to the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Act.

He believed that these changes would ensure transparency and merit. Abbas made announcement when he hosted the outgoing chairman and members of the NASC in Abuja on Monday.

The Speaker revealed his intention to sponsor a bill to amend the NASC Act in collaboration with the Senate President for the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly.

He said: “One persistent challenge facing the National Assembly Service Commission has been the lack of a well-defined succession plan. The recurring crisis surrounding the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly and other key positions highlight the need for an urgent reform.

“The absence of clarity in succession plan undermines the service’s stability and efficiency. As the legislative arm of government, the National Assembly cannot afford such disruptions.

“To address this, I am pleased to inform you that the National Assembly, led by my counterpart in the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, along with myself, has initiated amendments to the NASC Act. These amendments aim to streamline the qualifications and processes for appointing key officers, thereby ensuring merit-based and transparent succession.

“Furthermore, the amendments will provide new entrants into the service with clear guidelines on career progression, eliminating controversies surrounding promotions and aligning the scheme of service with the broader vision of the Commission and the National Assembly.”

His comment comes as Sani Tambuwal would be retiring in five days while the outgoing NASC board would be working with the incoming Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, for only five days before the end of its tenure.