“Digital Integration No Longer Optional” – National Assembly Clerk Pushes For E-Parliament

The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Kamoru Ogunlana, has declared that adopting digital technology in Nigeria’s legislative processes is no longer optional but a pressing necessity.

Speaking 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), Ogunlana underscored the urgency of embracing the e-Parliament model to modernize legislative operations and ensure resilience in the face of future disruptions.

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).

Ogunlana 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.

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digital integration in the parliamentary process had been hampered for years by legal constraints, particularly the now-repealed Evidence Act of 1945, which barred the use of computer-generated evidence in courts.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

Highlighting the risks of relying solely on physical operations, Ogunlana referenced the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a shutdown of parliamentary activities due to lockdowns. “Failure to integrate digital technology exposes us to future shutdowns. We must be intentional in adopting the e-Parliament model.”

He 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. “We must deliberate on cost-effective strategies for implementing this transformation,” he added.

Ogunlana also raised concerns about the security of the National Assembly Complex, noting the frequent unauthorized access to the premises. “This is unacceptable. Parliaments globally manage their own security through in-house outfits like the Sergeant-at-Arms. I urge you to devise mechanisms to regulate access and strengthen identification processes to safeguard the complex.”

In his remarks, the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Engr. Bashir Yero, echoed Ogunlana’s call for reform. “The world is evolving, and the National Assembly must not be left behind. We need to explore best practices, tackle existing challenges, and find innovative solutions to enhance accountability, transparency, and resilience.”

The retreat brings together top management of the National Assembly and key stakeholders in the legislative process to map out a digital transformation strategy that aligns with global standards.