NASS Commissions Ultra-Modern Newsroom To Strengthen Transparency
The National Assembly has commissioned an ultra-modern newsroom as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency, enhance institutional efficiency, and modernise legislative communication.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, described the facility as a significant milestone that goes beyond physical infrastructure. According to him, the newsroom represents a renewed commitment to professionalism, excellence, and improved public engagement.
Ogunlana explained that the facility is a strategic investment aimed at strengthening information management, improving documentation of legislative proceedings, and positioning the National Assembly to communicate its activities with greater credibility and openness.
“In an era where communication defines credibility, this facility positions the National Assembly to carry out its responsibilities with professionalism and transparency,” he stated.
The Clerk noted that deliberate measures have been introduced under his leadership to improve service delivery and staff welfare, emphasising that the workforce remains the backbone of the institution. He added that providing modern tools and a conducive working environment would empower staff to perform more efficiently and enhance overall institutional output.
He further revealed that the newsroom is part of a broader transformation agenda designed to reposition the National Assembly as a centre of national pride and institutional excellence. Ogunlana referenced other newly commissioned and ongoing infrastructural projects within the complex as evidence of this commitment.
Stressing the importance of maintenance culture, the Clerk recalled a time when the National Assembly Printing Press ranked among the most sophisticated in the country, attracting major government printing contracts. He lamented its decline due to poor maintenance and urged stakeholders to embrace collective responsibility in preserving public facilities.
“Maintenance is not the responsibility of management alone; it is a collective duty. Preserving our facilities means preserving our progress,” he said.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Directorate of Research and Information, Dr. Alli Umoru, described the newsroom as a strategic communication hub that will enhance real-time monitoring of legislative proceedings, combat misinformation, and strengthen public trust.
Umoru added that the facility would also serve as a training centre for Information Officers, fostering professional development and intellectual engagement. He highlighted the Directorate’s contributions to institutional growth through publications such as the National Assembly Guide and the compilation of key legislative documents, including historic presidential budget speeches and stakeholder submissions on major reform bills.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by senior management staff, legislators, and invited guests, including the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, the Clerk to the Senate, the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Permanent Secretaries, and Heads of Departments.
Officials described the event as a significant milestone in the modernisation of legislative communication in Nigeria. The new facility is expected to enhance the image of the National Assembly and strengthen its engagement with citizens through accurate, timely, and professional dissemination of information.
