Clerk Ogunlana Launches Cutting-Edge Newsroom in NASS, Signaling New Era of Institutional Reform

Clerk Ogunlana Launches Cutting-Edge Newsroom in NASS, Signaling New Era of Institutional Reform

By Raphael Ekpang

Nigeria’s National Assembly has commissioned an ultra-modern newsroom as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency, improve institutional efficiency and modernize legislative communication.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, described the facility as more than just a structural development, stressing that it represents a renewed commitment to excellence, professionalism and improved public engagement.

According to him, the editorial office is a strategic investment intended to strengthen information management, improve the documentation of legislative proceedings and enable the National Assembly to communicate its activities with greater credibility and transparency.

“In an age where communication defines credibility, this structure enables the National Assembly to carry out its responsibilities with professionalism and openness,” Ogunlana said.

He explained that under his administration, deliberate measures have been taken to improve service delivery and staff wellbeing, stressing that the workforce remains the backbone of the institution.

The Chancellor noted that providing modern tools and a conducive working environment enables staff to perform optimally and improves institutional outcomes.

Ogunlana further said the new editorial team is part of a larger plan to reposition the National Assembly as a center of national pride and institutional excellence.

He referred to other recent developments within the complex, including newly commissioned and ongoing infrastructure projects, as part of a wider transformation programme.

Highlighting the importance of maintenance culture, Ogunlana recalled a time when the National Assembly printing press was considered one of the most sophisticated in the country, attracting major government printing jobs.

He lamented the decline caused by poor maintenance and called on all stakeholders to adopt a strong culture of conservation and collective responsibility to safeguard public assets.

“Maintenance is not the sole responsibility of management. It is a collective duty. Preserving our facilities means preserving our progress,” he said.

In his welcome speech, the Permanent Secretary of the Directorate of Research and Information, Dr. Alli Umoru, described the newsroom as a strategic communications hub that will enhance real-time monitoring of legislative proceedings, combat disinformation, strengthen public trust and serve as a center for archiving and documentation.

Umuro added that the facility will also function as a training center for information managers, promoting professional development and intellectual engagement.

The Directorate, he noted, has played a critical role in institutional development through publications such as the National Assembly Guide and the compilation of key legislative documents, including historic presidential budget speeches and stakeholder proposals on major reform bills.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by senior leaders, legislators and invited guests, marking what officials described as a significant milestone in the modernization of legislative communication in Nigeria.

The new structure is expected to improve the image of the National Assembly and strengthen its engagement with citizens by ensuring accurate, timely and professional dissemination of information.

Present at the ceremony were, among others, the Vice-Chancellor of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, permanent secretaries, heads of departments.