Ogunlana assumes office as N’Assembly clerk

Kamorudeen Ogunlana has officially resumed as the ninth Clerk to the National Assembly, taking over from Sani Tambuwal.

The handover ceremony took place on Saturday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, attended by management staff and other dignitaries.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the National Assembly’s information directorate, Tambuwal said, “I formally handover this document on the National Assembly to Kamorudeen Ogunlana.”

In his remarks, Ogunlana commended his predecessor’s leadership and patriotism, describing the occasion as historic.

“It is not just to complete it; you completed it with your reputation intact,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of his new role, Ogunlana noted that the Clerk to the National Assembly is more than just an administrative head, likening the position to that of a Head of Service.

He stated, “Within the National Assembly Service, apart from the Public Complaint Commission, it is only the Clerk to the National Assembly that is mentioned. Now, that position is not just cosmetic. We all know the role of the Clerk to the National Assembly and that role is actually evolving.

“Today, when I look at the Clerk, I see the equivalent of Head of Service. Some of you feel that the Clerk is an equivalent of Permanent Secretary but we have moved beyond that.

“It doesn’t just end there. We are talking of somebody who is managing over 4,000 staff within this confined space. We are talking about a person who manages over 7,000 legislative aides, not to talk of the VIPs – the lawmakers.

“Within this space, we have the number three and the number four citizens.

“Do you know what it means for the president of this country to come to your domain? Do you know what it takes to host the President? Anytime they say the President is coming, for us it’s like a one-month affair. We don’t sleep! But this man was able to navigate those terrains successfully.”

The new CNA also applauded Tambuwal for passing the second test of leadership, saying, “No matter how good you are, if you don’t groom your successor, you are a failure in the area. This man actually groomed his successor.”

While reeling out his agenda, Ogunlana pledged to “democratise” just as he urged the management team to work harmoniously.

“I have the legal and the legislative background, but I can’t claim to be an expert when it comes to financial issues, and that is where he (Tambuwal) comes in. I’m very happy that even though he’s leaving; he is not really leaving,” he said.