Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, has reassured Hansard and Verbatim reporters of the legislature of adequate working tools to enhance their performance.
Represented by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahya Dan-Zaria, Mr. Ogunlana gave the assurance at the association’s annual conference held at the National Assembly Trust Fund Library, Abuja.
Dr. Yahya noted that, going forward, the National Assembly Commission had recruited about 50 new staff in its last employment exercise due to the critical role Hansard and Verbatim reporters play in the operations of the Assembly, particularly during plenary sessions.
He added that their functions and work as well as importance is not only restricted to the chamber itself, it include committee meetings, assembly coverages and public hearings, etc.,
Dan- Zaria believes that Hansard/varbatim reporters are being used not only in parliamentary activities but also in courts and ECOWAS parliamentary proceedings, saying their work help in reporting contributions of members verbatim without any hitches.
Dr Yahya explained that even with the coming of technological development these people are being used even in the advanced countries such as Europe
Earlier in his speech Dr Yahya Dan- Zaria stressed the importance of Hansard/Verbatim reporters as the official record of parliamentary proceedings, plays a critical role in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance.
It provides a permanent record of debates, discussions, and decisions made by our honourable and distinguished lawmakers.
The Hansard reporters are the custodians of this critical information and your work requires that the proceedings of the National Assembly are accurately captured and preserved for posterity.
He argued that the Official Report of parliamentary proceedings is important in so many ways: it serves as reference materials; it keeps the institution memory of parliaments; it reveals the intendment of the laws; it aids the interpretations of the laws; create awareness on the workings of parliament and parliamentary activities etc.
He however, urged them to continue striving for excellence in your work and that can be enhanced through dedication to professionalism, objectivity and precision, which are essential to maintaining the integrity of the Hansard.
Also in his welcome address the National president of the Association Gobina Drisu believes that Hansard reporters are the silent architects of the nation’s democratic history going by their statutory functions of capturing the actual spoken words and transform it into permanent verifiable records.
Gobina said their work is not merely the task of transcribing debates; it is the preservation of the very essence of our legislative processes, saying every word uttered on the floors of our legislative chambers from passionate debates to critical amendments, all become building blocks for the laws and policies that shape Nigeria.
The National president argued that without Hansard, much of our legislative history would be lost and the progression of our democracy would remain undocumented.
He further explained Hansard provides an accurate reference point it enable lawmakers to track legislative intent, understand the history behind bills and ensure consistency in lawmaking
For the judiciary, Hansard serves as an authoritative guide to interpreting laws. Courts often rely on it to ascertain legislative intent when resolving ambiguities in statutes, thereby strengthening the delivery of justice and safeguarding the rule of law.
Meanwhile, for academics, it remains an invaluable primary source for studying governance, political trends and the evolution of national policy. Indeed, our department frequently receives requests from scholars seeking debates relevant to their fields of study.
For the public, Hansard promotes transparency and accountability. It opens the legislative process to citizens, allowing them to assess how their representatives deliberate and vote on issues that affect their lives.
Cov/Bashir M
