Stay Away From Political Influences, Acting NASS Clerk Tells BSHAC
Daily Metro News NG
The acting Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Arc. Olatunde Ojo, has called on the chairman and members of the Benue State House of Assembly Commission (BSHAC) to insulate the body from political influences in order for it to thrive and stand the test of time.
Ojo gave the advice when the chairman of the BSHAC, Dr. Sylvester Atachin, led other members of the Commission on a visit to the management of the National Assembly, in Abuja.
The CNA said that the setting up of the BSHAC showed that the nation’s democracy was fast developing while congratulating the Commission members on their appointment and inauguration by the governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom.
He added that the management of the National Assembly would support the BSHAC to succeed in its assignment whenever the need arises.
“Your principal role as a Commission is to appoint, promote and discipline the staff of the Benue State House of Assembly because where there is no discipline, there is no orderliness.
“Also very important is for you to strive to insulate the Service from political influences because in the discharge of your duties, the political forces will come.
“But while taking cognisance of their importance, you have to try as much as possible to make sure that the Service you are building is properly insulated from political influences as much as possible, so that the Commission can stay and stand the test of time.
“All you have to do is to sustain democracy, therefore you have to render service to the State Assembly as it is required.
“When you bring all these together, definitely, you would have covered a lot of ground. So to this extent, I welcome you to the National Assembly and we are very available to support you in ways that you may require,” Ojo said.
Earlier, the chairman of the BSHAC, Dr. Atachin, said that the visit was to familiarise members of the Commission with the National Assembly and to draw lessons on how to effectively carry out their assignment.
“We are new in office as a Commission and we need to take bearing from existing institutions that could impact positively on us, so that we can take off and work for Benue State and for Nigeria.
“The National Assembly is first among equals and it is the citadel of democracy, so if we start our journey here, I think we have done the right thing,” Atachin explained.
Other members of the delegation included Rt. Hon. Avinze Agbom, Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Aduji, Hon. Benjamin Dowgo, Mr. Benjamin Iwan, who is the Secretary to the Commission, and member representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Mzondu.