Opinion
Walking a tight rope: How the CNA balances political demands and bureaucratic realities
By Emmah Uhieneh
The office of the Clerk to the National Assembly is not designed for comfort. It is designed for balance. Balance between urgency and procedure, between political will and administrative law, between the impatience of elected power and the slow discipline of institutions that must endure long after headlines fade.
For Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., who marks one year in office this February, that balance has been less a theoretical challenge than a daily, practical test of judgement. As he noted during the induction of 785 new staff members, “Working in the National Assembly is more than a routine service; it is a calling that requires deep knowledge of legislative practice and procedures, high moral standards, and personal discipline.”
As head of the National Assembly bureaucracy, the Clerk occupies a uniquely sensitive space. He answers to the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, each with its own rhythms, priorities and pressures.
At the same time, he presides over a bureaucracy that must function predictably, lawfully and fairly, regardless of political mood. His first year has therefore been an exercise in calibration rather than command.
One of the clearest arenas in which this balance has played out is the management of legislative operations. In a Parliament often criticised for delays or inefficiency, administrative bottlenecks quickly become political liabilities.
Ogunlana’s response has not been cosmetic fixes, but structural adjustments. Financial administration has been standardised, ensuring that standing imprest is disbursed equitably to directors and heads of departments. This seemingly technical intervention has had tangible effects. Committees function with fewer delays, directorates plan with greater certainty, and lawmakers receive more consistent administrative support.
Crucially, transparency and accountability have been elevated. Checks and balances have been strengthened across contract awards, procurements, postings, promotions and salary payments, all in strict adherence to the Public Procurement Act and public service rules.
Without a doubt, this is where bureaucracy quietly earns its right to exist: not by competing with politics, but by enabling it to work.
The same logic underpins Ogunlana’s push for parliamentary autonomy, particularly in relation to the ownership and management of the National Assembly complexes in Abuja and Lagos. While the issue is often framed as a political demand, it is equally a bureaucratic necessity. An institution that does not control its own assets struggles to fully control its operations.
By pursuing legislative reforms to vest these complexes in the National Assembly Management, Ogunlana has aligned political aspiration with administrative efficiency, reinforcing the legislature’s status as a truly co-equal arm of government. This effort builds on his broader call for reviewing the National Assembly Service Act to promote efficiency, while recognising the vital role of his management team in sustaining institutional progress.
It must be acknowledged that staff welfare has been another delicate frontier. In a Service shaped by years of constrained budgets, morale is not sustained by rhetoric. Under Ogunlana’s watch, salaries and allowances have been paid promptly, arrears from wage adjustments settled, and training expanded on an unprecedented scale.
Over 4,200 staff and legislative aides have been trained within the past year, many of them exposed to international best practices. Ongoing training and re-training have been prioritised to help the Service adapt to global changes, alongside the distribution of tools such as computer sets and laptops to better equip the workforce.
In reassuring over 3,000 legislative aides of job security and improved remuneration, Ogunlana has further demonstrated a commitment to staff welfare, including prompt salary payments and the settlement of outstanding allowances.
This emphasis on welfare has been paired with a consistent insistence on discipline and accountability. The message has been clear: welfare is not indulgence. It is an investment, one that must be matched by professionalism, competence and respect for institutional rules. This dual focus has helped steady the bureaucracy, preventing the drift that often follows welfare-focused reforms.
Still, the reality remains that the tension inherent in the office has not suddenly disappeared. Inadequate office space, limited budgetary allocation and outdated digital infrastructure remain stubborn constraints.
The Clerk’s acknowledgement that the digitalisation of administrative and legislative processes is long overdue is a stoic recognition of reality. A modern legislature cannot run on analogue systems, no matter how committed its leadership. To this end, Ogunlana has advanced ICT capabilities, equipping staff to become one of the most internet savvy parliamentary teams worldwide.
What distinguishes Ogunlana’s first year is not the absence of tension, but the manner in which it has been managed. Political demands have been engaged, not resisted. Bureaucratic rules have been upheld, not weaponised. Progress has been incremental, not theatrical.
To be fair, external assessments have echoed this approach. One commentary cited commendation from a senior figure associated with the United States Congress, highlighting Ogunlana’s “dedication to professionalism, competence, exemplary performance, sincerity of purpose, sense of direction, patriotic fervour, leadership focus, vigour, and fortitude.”
In the end, the strength of a democracy is not measured only by the laws it passes or the debates it broadcasts. It is also measured by the quiet competence of those who translate political intent into institutional action. As Ogunlana himself has stated, “Our democracy has continued to stabilise, with no threat of military intervention, and the National Assembly as an institution has grown stronger, more professional, and more responsive to the needs of the Nigerian people.”
One year in, the Office of the Clerk has shown that balancing political demands and bureaucratic realities is about ensuring that neither side of the equation overwhelms the system meant to serve the nation.
● Emmah Uhieneh is the Publisher of The Congresswatch magazine.
Despite recent proactive responses by the nation’s security forces to instances of insurgency and terrorism in parts of the country, Senator representing Kogi West District, Sunday Steve Karimi is convinced that the unabating trend is not unrelated to the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), last week, released the timetable for the forthcoming full-cycle polls.
While the presidential and national assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday February 20, 2027, governorship and state assembly polls will hold two weeks later on Saturday March 6, 2027. A section of the political class has raised observations about the collision between the electoral calendar as announced, and the Muslim Ramadan fast which will take place between February 7 and March 8, 2027. INEC is considering an approach to the parliament for guidance if shifts in the scheduled dates outside of the statutory provisions become imperative.
Security operations are proceeding simultaneously in Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue and Taraba states where President Bola Tinubu through the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu has deployed special battalions.
Nonetheless, kidnappers, murderers and terrorists continue to fester in parts of the country, leaving trails of anguish, blood and devastation.
Despite these concurrent security operations, a terrorist group in Kwara State at the weekend paraded about 200 captives from a recent vicious attack on Woro community in Kaiama local government area in northern Kwara State. In response to written threats by terrorist groups, residents of parts of Kwara South are migrating from their homes and farmlands.
Karimi in a statement at the weekend, posited that there is a nexus between the forthcoming general polls and the unabating insecurity in the country.
According to Karimi, certain interests and tendencies are resolved to continue to make the country ungovernable with the ultimate aim of disrupting the forthcoming general elections. His words: “The correlation is all too glaring. Against all odds, President Bola Tinubu has continued to record landmark successes across sectors. The economy is on the rebound; prices of products are lowering; government is paying university dons 40 per cent more than they previously earned; foreign reserves in less than than three years are nestling close to $50Billion; the naira has dropped below N1400 to the dollar. Despite these heartwarming developments, certain perverts remain averse to the gradual resurgence of the socioeconomy.”
Senator Karimi who is also the Chairman of the Committee on Senate Services, noted that the Tinubu administration has welcomed foreign collaboration in addressing the nation’s security challenges, alluding to the Christmas day intelligence-led bombing of parts of Sokoto State by the United States military. Detachments of US troops have also set boot on Nigerian soil, to bolster the training and intelligence-gathering capabilities of the nation’s military. The President also recently paid a state visit to Turkey during which military cooperation was one of the highpoints of engagements with his host, President Tayyip Erdogan.
All of these in addition to preexisting military operations with neighbouring countries, namely Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin Republic, to rout undesirables unsettling the country.
Karimi expressed the hope that the recent reorganisation of the nation’s military apparachik by the President and the continue rejigging of operational strategies will yield fruit sooner than later. Noted Karimi: “It is reassuring that the Minister for Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa has hinted about possible recourse to our abundant pool of retired military personnel to secure ungoverned spaces across the country. These initiatives will complement the subsisting deployment of forest guards in parts of the country, another initiative of the Tinubu administration. Mr President has also approved the recruitment of 50,000 police constables to improve the personnel strength of the Nigeria Police Force, all in response to the nation’s security realities,” Karimi observed.
Senator Karimi assured that the National Assembly will continue to support the President in his commitment to deliver good governance, tangible dividends of democracy and the quality and credibility of election in 2027, which Nigerians will be proud of.
“Our country will overcome these challenges. Our rebound within the past 32 months has been applauded by the World Bank at the level of the Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde, who commended the nation’s economic reforms as a global example of consistent and credible leadership. When a nation like Nigeria which provides the oxygen for growth in the subregion is getting it right, antagonists are not farfetched.
Nigerians should rest assured by the President’s reassurance at the recent National Economic Council, (NEC) meeting, that we shall overcome terrorism and insecurity.”
Busayo Tosin Media Officer to Senator Sunday Karimi Representing Kogi West Senatorial Zone Chairman, Senate Committee on Services
Opinion
ABARIBE DEFENDS WITHDRAWAL OF DIVISION ON ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION, CITES STRATEGIC LEGISLATIVE TIMING
By Anderson Osiebe.
Executive Director
HallowMace Foundation Africa
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has defended his decision to withdraw a call for division during Tuesday’s emergency plenary session convened by the Senate to address the controversial Clause 60 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill — the clause dealing with Electronic Transmission of Election Results.
The emergency session was called amid heightened public interest and political tension surrounding the future of electronic transmission in Nigeria’s electoral framework.
During deliberations, Senator Abaribe called for a division — a formal voting procedure used to accurately count lawmakers’ positions on a matter. However, he shortly afterward withdrew the request, a move that attracted significant criticism across media platforms.
Responding to the backlash, the Abia South lawmaker clarified that his decision was neither a retreat nor a compromise, but a calculated legislative strategy aimed at protecting the broader objective of securing electronic transmission within the final version of the Electoral Act.
According to Senator Abaribe, proceeding with the division at that stage would likely have resulted in defeat, given the apparent numerical disposition in the chamber. Such a loss, he argued, would have weakened the reform effort and possibly removed the provision entirely from further consideration.
He emphasized that the legislative process does not end with Senate deliberations alone.
“Essentially, because the process involves harmonization with the House of Representatives,” Abaribe explained. “It is only after the House of Representatives version is not approved, that we can bring the sledge hammer of division.”
The senator’s remarks underscore a key aspect of Nigeria’s lawmaking process. When the Senate and the House of Representatives pass different versions of a bill, both chambers must reconcile their positions through a harmonization committee. It is at that stage that contentious provisions are negotiated and finalized before being transmitted for presidential assent.
Political observers note that forcing a division prematurely could have created a recorded defeat that might weaken the Senate’s negotiating position during harmonization.
By withdrawing the division, Abaribe appears to have opted for strategic patience, preserving the opportunity to deploy what he described as the “sledge hammer” — a decisive vote — if harmonization outcomes threaten the inclusion of electronic transmission.
The controversy highlights the tension between public expectations for assertive action and the often complex, incremental nature of legislative strategy.
While critics viewed the withdrawal as backing down, supporters argue that legislative battles are sometimes won not by dramatic confrontation, but by timing and tactical restraint.
As debate continues over electoral reforms, the issue of electronic transmission remains central to Nigeria’s democratic credibility, transparency, and public trust in elections.
The coming harmonization process between the Senate and the House of Representatives will now determine the final shape of Clause 60 — and whether electronic transmission of results remains firmly embedded in the nation’s electoral law.
Opinion
THE COURT OF APPEAL JUDGEMENT AND SEPARATION OF POWERS: SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN AND THE CLERK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & 3 ORS
By
Rt Hon Eseme Eyiboh mnipr
The judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on Monday, February 9, 2026, represents a consequential affirmation of the constitutional principles that sustain Nigeria’s democratic order and the orderly functioning of its institutions.
By upholding the disciplinary actions of the Senate as lawful and procedurally sound, the Court has robustly reinforced the doctrine of separation of powers, a cornerstone of our constitutional democracy. The ruling confirms with unmistakable clarity that the authority of the Senate to regulate its internal proceedings and discipline its members is firmly rooted in the Constitution and its Standing Orders. This authority is neither incidental nor ornamental; it is an essential responsibility entrusted to the legislature to preserve order, decorum, and institutional integrity in the discharge of its duties on behalf of the Nigerian people.
The Court of Appeal has further enriched our constitutional jurisprudence by clearly delineating the proper limits of judicial intervention in the internal affairs of a co-ordinate arm of government. While reaffirming the judiciary’s vital role as guardian of fundamental rights, the judgment recognises that the legislature must retain the autonomy necessary to enforce its rules and maintain discipline, provided it acts within the province of the law. This equilibrium is indispensable to effective governance and democratic stability.
The circumstances that gave rise to this litigation are regrettable. Parliamentary democracy rests on respect for established rules, collective responsibility, and due deference to the authority of the Chair. Persistent refusal to comply with lawful directives of the Presiding Officer—including the reallocation of seating arrangements within the chamber—as well as failure to appear before the statutory Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, runs counter to the ethos of parliamentary conduct. Such actions risk undermining institutional authority and distracting from the Senate’s higher obligations of legislation, oversight, and representation in the national interest.
While the Court of Appeal set aside the contempt proceedings and the associated fine on procedural grounds, it is significant that the core findings affirming the Senate’s disciplinary powers and the validity of its actions remain undisturbed. This distinction reinforces both the primacy of due process and the legitimacy of institutional self-regulation under the Constitution.
As the Senate moves forward, it remains steadfast in its constitutional mandate to foster robust debate, exercise rigorous oversight, and enact legislation that advances the peace, order, and good government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In keeping with the spirit of reconciliation and institutional maturity that must guide democratic leadership, the Senate looks ahead with restraint, goodwill, and an abiding commitment to collective purpose rather than past grievance.
In this spirit, the Senator concerned, who has since resumed legislative duties, is expected to continue her duties with renewed adherence to parliamentary rules, mutual respect, and the shared responsibilities that bind all members of the National Assembly.
The strength of our democracy ultimately lies in the strength of its institutions, each operating responsibly within its recognised constitutional remit. The judgment of the Court of Appeal fortifies that foundation and renews the resolve to build a disciplined, stable, and forward-looking legislature in service of the Nigerian people.
The facts have spoken for themselves
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, MNIPR
Special Adviser, Media/Publicity and Official Spokesperson
to the President of the Senate
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