National Assembly Clerk Opposes Proposed Infrastructure Development Agency Bill

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Clerk of the National Assembly, CAN, Kamorudeen Ogunlana, on Monday expressed strong reservations about a proposed bill seeking to create a new agency to manage legislative infrastructure.

He warned that the bill to establish the National Assembly Infrastructure and Property Agency may be unnecessary and could contradict efforts to reduce the cost of governance.

Speaking during a stakeholder’s engagement on the bill, Ogunlana who has served in the legislature for over three decades questioned the need for duplicating functions already handled by the existing Directorate of Estate and Works within the National Assembly.

“If you are creating an agency to perform the same work as the National Assembly’s existing structures, I am concerned,” he stated.

“The Works Directorate is already staffed with professionals and technical experts, headed by a secretary with sectoral knowledge. We already have 13 directorates and over 4,000 staff.”

He stressed that the proposed agency would be performing “reciprocal functions” to the directorate and raised questions about the chain of command and structural overlap that could result from its creation.

He also highlighted past incidents that underscore the need for clearer legislative control over infrastructure — such as the situation in the Lagos legislative complex, where renovation efforts were obstructed by non-legislative occupants.

While commending the intent behind the bill to ensure legislative independence and efficient infrastructure management, Ogunlana called for a review and refinement of the proposal to avoid bureaucratic duplication and waste.

Declaring the hearing opening, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, described the proposed bill as a major step in strengthening the institution’s independence.

Represented by the minority whip, Ali-Isa J.C, he noted that the legislation is both timely and necessary to safeguard the fiscal and structural integrity of National Assembly facilities across the country.

He said the proposed legislation seeks to transfer the responsibilities previously handled by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to the National Assembly itself — a shift he described as critical for ensuring prompt, professional, and cost-effective maintenance of legislative infrastructure.

“This marks a major step in strengthening the National Assembly’s institutional independence through the establishment of a dedicated agency to manage our infrastructure and property,” the Speaker said.

“The bill does not seek to neglect the existing Directorate of Estate and Works, but rather aims to place control where it belongs — within the institution that uses and maintains these facilities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the committee on House Services, Rep Amos Daniel, acknowledged the past contributions of the FCDA in supporting the National Assembly’s infrastructure, emphasizing that it is time for a transition like is obtainable in South-Africa, Kenya, U.S.A and the UK.

“In South Africa, the Parliament Services Administration handles all facilities and administrative support. In the U.S., the Architect of the Capitol performs a similar function. These examples prove that democracies thrive when legislatures control their own space,” he noted.

Rep. Amos also highlighted the inclusive nature of the legislative process, thanking civil society actors, government agencies, professional bodies, and development partners for participating in the public hearing.