NASS: Clerk advocates e-parliament adoption

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, says adopting digital technology in Nigeria’s legislative processes is no longer optional but a pressing necessity.

Ogunlana made this declaration on Friday at the opening of a three-day retreat organized by the National Assembly in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC.

He emphasized the urgency of embracing the e-Parliament model to modernize legislative operations and ensure resilience in the face of future disruptions.

reports that the retreat, themed: “Building an Accountable, Transparent and Resilient Parliament: The Role of the National Assembly Top Management,” was supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO.

The Clerk further stressed that the evolving nature of the National Assembly Service calls for innovative approaches and strategic planning.

“Our agenda at this retreat is not just to tackle emerging challenges but to explore team-building strategies that harness our human resources effectively,” he said.

According to him, digital integration in the parliamentary process had been hampered for years by legal constraints, particularly the now-repealed Evidence Act of 1945, which barred the use of computer-generated evidence in courts.

“With the new Evidence Act 2004 in place, that barrier is gone, and there should be no excuse for delay,” he added.

While highlighting the risks of relying solely on physical operations, the Clerk referenced the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a shutdown of parliamentary activities due to lockdowns.

He also outlined several benefits of the e-Parliament system, including reduced paperwork, remote participation and voting by lawmakers, enhanced public access to parliamentary records, and streamlined legislative tracking and documentation.

Ogunlana also raised concerns about the security of the National Assembly Complex, noting the frequent unauthorized access to the premises.