The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Abubakar Y. Suleiman (Ɗangaladiman Ningi), has reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to adopting the operational terms of the National Assembly Service Commission.
He gave the assurance during a meeting with a delegation from the Commission, led by its Executive Chairman, Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi, at the Speaker’s office in Bauchi.
The delegation, which has been in the state for two days, held interactive sessions with legislative staff to address workplace challenges and identify areas for improvement.
Engr. Amshi highlighted key issues requiring attention, urging the state to focus on effective service delivery and teamwork to advance the Assembly’s operations.
Responding to the delegation, Dr. Suleiman commended the visit, describing the interaction as crucial for closing gaps and resolving challenges.
He assured the delegation of the Bauchi State House of Assembly’s readiness to domesticate relevant documents and work towards the full implementation of a uniform, harmonized scheme of service.
“It was during my tenure that we initiated a draft on Harmonized Standing Orders for all 36 state Assemblies in Nigeria. Bauchi House of Assembly is always open to receiving and domesticating any document from the Commission,” the Speaker said.
On the issue of financial autonomy, the Speaker disclosed that although Bauchi State is yet to fully adopt financial independence for the House, efforts are underway. A committee has been established to devise and implement financial autonomy, and a comprehensive report was submitted to the Assembly in September.
Dr. Suleiman expressed optimism that once the autonomy is in place, many of the challenges raised by the delegation will be addressed, including staff placement and service schemes.
He also noted ongoing recruitment exercises within the Assembly to ensure administrative autonomy and formalize the movement of staff between the Civil Service Commission and the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
The Speaker further assured the delegation of plans to upgrade the Assembly and integrate the offices of the Assembly Service Commission chapter.
He also pledged to discuss the provision of official vehicles for legislative staff with Governor Bala Mohammed, who has shown commitment to supporting the legislative arm of the state.
Dr. Suleiman concluded by emphasizing the importance of staff training and retraining, highlighting it as a key factor in enhancing the effectiveness of the Assembly’s operations.
He urged the Commission and the Bauchi State House of Assembly to continue fostering cooperation and mutual respect as they work towards shared goals.
