Functional parliament, critical to democracy – Wike

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has declared that a well-functioning parliament, with the right support systems in place, is cornerstone of democracy.
The minister made this assertion at the opening ceremony of the 9th National and States Assembly Service Commissions conference, held at the Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development, Abuja.
Mahmoud, who represented FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike, also identified the legislative bodies as the heart of democracy, stressing that dedicated individuals who support and serve within them are the lifeblood.
The Minister noted that the theme for this conference, “Excellence in Parliamentary Services: A Panacea for Good Legislation for Democratic Governance” underscores the pivotal role that parliamentary services play in the proper functioning of democracy.
“It emphasizes the need for excellence, efficiency, and effectiveness in parliamentary services to ensure that our legislative bodies can optimally fulfill their duties to the people.
“I applaud the work that you do, the sacrifices you make, and the commitment you demonstrate daily in the service of our nation”, the Minister stated.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi, revealed that the objective of the National Assembly Service Commission is to provide the platform for streamlining operational procedures and adoption of common conditions and schemes of service for parliamentary bureaucracy across the nation.
He also stated that the aim was to build excellent workforce that would provide bureaucratic support for effective legislation for good democratic governance and sustainable development of the country.
Amshi, therefore, called on states that are yet to establish State Assembly Service Commission to do so, stressing that significant achievements have been recorded with the establishment of State Assembly Service Commissions.