The Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Chief Saviour Enyiekere, has appealed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, to fast-track the implementation of the National Assembly Service Pension Scheme through the immediate inauguration of the National Assembly Service (NASS) Pension Board.
Dr Enyiekere made the appeal on Thursday, January 29, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Senate President. He stressed that the take-off of the Pension Board would significantly improve the welfare of retired staff of the National Assembly Service, many of whom, he noted, are currently experiencing severe hardship due to delays in accessing their pensions after retirement.
According to him, inaugurating the Pension Board would align the National Assembly with global best practices in parliamentary administration, staff motivation, and welfare management.
Beyond pension reforms, the NASC Chairman also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to support institutional reforms aimed at enhancing the efficiency and continuity of the federal legislature. Chief among the proposals is the establishment of a Council of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, envisioned as a think tank and repository of institutional memory.
Dr Enyiekere explained that drawing on the wealth of experience of past legislative leaders would provide strategic guidance to serving and future assemblies, ensuring continuity, stability, and professional excellence in legislative traditions.
On infrastructure, the Commission called for the reintroduction and construction of National Assembly Legislative Quarters to address accommodation challenges and growing security concerns affecting lawmakers and staff. He argued that a modern, purpose-built residential complex would enhance security, improve efficiency, and streamline legislative operations.
The visit, the first by the Commission since the inauguration of the 6th NASC on May 5, 2025, also provided an opportunity for Dr Enyiekere to brief the Senate leadership on the Commission’s activities and future plans. Among these is a comprehensive staff audit of the National Assembly Service aimed at eliminating ghost workers and improving personnel management.
In his response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the Commission for its foresight and commitment to its mandate, acknowledging the importance of the proposed reforms. He assured that the 10th National Assembly was ready to support NASC in achieving its objectives.
Senator Akpabio urged the Commission to propose ideas that would facilitate amendments to the NASS Act, 2014, to enable NASC assume full control over manpower management across all segments of the National Assembly Service.
He further disclosed that the NASS Pension Board would soon be inaugurated, noting that some anomalies in the enabling Act were currently being addressed through amendments.
However, the Senate President also advised the Commission to urgently address complaints arising from recent appointments and redeployments of senior officers within the National Assembly Service, stressing the need for fairness, transparency, and stability.
