Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) in collaboration with the National Assembly, with support from the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) held a retreat for Clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on 22nd and 23rd September 2022, in Abuja. The retreat had the theme, “Improving the Effectiveness of Legislative Committee Administration”.
The purpose of the retreat was to strengthen the capacity of Committee Clerks with a view to enhancing their effectiveness in carrying out their mandate and improving budgetary skills in the preparation and finalisation of budget documents. It was organised with a view to improving the co-operation between the Clerks and their political principles, civil society organisations (CSOs), and also to assist them with documenting their efforts in the 9th National Assembly.
In his remarks, Executive Director of PLAC, Clement Nwankwo noted the importance of the role of Clerks as an essential part of the National Assembly bureaucracy and providing support to the work of legislators. Nwankwo encouraged Committee Clerks to improve legislative relationship with civil society by partnering with CSOs that work with the legislature and building their collection of resources using publications and other relevant materials from such CSOs. Clerk of the National Assembly, Ojo Olatunde Amos delivered the opening remarks., in which he expressed enthusiasm that the retreat will be useful towards improving the performance of Committee clerks in their day-to-day activities.