The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has emphasized the need for continuous skill enhancement for legislative staff to bolster their contributions to democratic governance.

Prof. Sulaiman made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a three-day retreat for the Niger State House of Assembly Service Commission.

The theme of the retreat was “Promoting Effective Functioning of the Niger State House of Assembly Service Commission for Optimal Legislative Performance.”

He highlighted that since the inception of democratic rule in 1999, the legislature, as the cornerstone of democracy, has been relied upon to guide good governance and accountability.

He noted that for the legislature to fulfill its constitutional roles effectively, it requires a competent and experienced workforce to support it.

“In discussing workforce operations, the Assembly Service Commission is a vital organ of any legislative assembly, as it supports its human resource management and administrative autonomy.

“It is responsible for the recruitment, selection, promotion, discipline, and performance evaluation of the legislature’s staff at sub-national levels.

“The commission also plays a crucial role in general conditions of service, career development, and providing a conducive working environment for the effective administrative functioning of the legislature in Nigeria.

“While elected representatives or legislators form the core of legislative work in terms of law-making, oversight, and representation, they cannot effectively carry out these functions without the support and guidance of the bureaucracy.

“The effectiveness of the bureaucracy largely depends on the quality of its human resources and their motivation, which are the major responsibilities of the Assembly Service Commissions,” he said.