The role and functions of legislative aides
The legislator or Member of Parliament by definition is a very busy person. He or she is at once a politician, expert in Law, the country’s legal system, an expert administrator, a representative in tune with his constituency as well as a family man. He is expected to be a loyal and active member of, and official of the party. He is a member of several committees, whose activities and meetings often clash. His time, energy and ability are limited. Yet the demands of his office are daunting. The legislator needs to attend to his constituents who consult with him and require his attention at all times.
It is for this reason that aides or Special Assistants, constituency offices were created. These are usually staff who serve at the pleasure of parliamentarians.
LEGISLATIVE AIDES
1.BARR.CHUKWUEMEKA NWALA SENIOR LEG.AIDE
2.DR.OBASI OKO IGBOKWE PERSONAL ASSISTANT
3.MR.IFEANYI ADIJEH LEGISLATIVE AIDE
4.MR.HARISON OGUH LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT
5.MRS.CATHRINE NKATA ONYERINMA SECRETARY
THESE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE AIDES HANDLING AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OFFICE.
The aides of the legislator performs several functions including the following
- Relieves Legislators details which do not require their personal attention by the use of discretion, tact, and a comprehensive knowledge of County-wide procedures and policies;
- Maintains appointment calendars, schedules meetings, opens and screens regular and electronic mail and routes it with appropriate background material as necessary, answers telephone inquiries and routes calls and visitors appropriately, and performs other related clerical functions;
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Researches and drafts routine responses to constituency mail, electronic mail, requests for information, legislative certificates, proclamations, and death resolutions; types and formats correspondence, reports, and other communications; and assists with the preparation and drafting of legislation on committee items in appropriate formats;
- Handles constituency services for assigned Legislators such as: responding to requests for governmental information, answering questions regarding actions of the Board of Legislators, assisting constituents in dealing with various services or agencies, responding to FOIL requests, etc.;
- Maintains and updates detailed files, logs, and cross indexes for reference purposes;
- Maintains and updates mailing lists and assists in the coordination of special mailings or other projects;
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Tabulates responses to questionnaires developed for Legislators to assess constituency concerns on current public issues;
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Prepares committee meeting agendas, assembles supportive materials for committee members, maintains committee meeting schedules, and attends and records committee meetings, transcribing minutes of committee meetings and maintaining files thereof for future reference;
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May assist in the research, preparation, formatting, and distribution of Legislator’s newsletters, speeches, news releases, information pamphlets, bulletins and other forms of communication designed to inform the public of proposed legislative materials as well as the functions, goals, programs, and regulations of the Board of Legislators;
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Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with a variety of governmental staff at the local, county and state levels, in order to promote the interests of the county;
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Performs a variety of support tasks (including, but not limited to copying, faxing, filing, researching, proof reading), or other projects or assignments as determined by the Clerk/Chief of Staff, to insure the smooth and effective operation of the office and provides assistance and support to Legislators, Clerk/Chief of Staff, and Committees as needed;
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Assists with mock legislatures, constituent services, community meetings and special events, which may require late working hours or working on weekends;
The legislative aides also perform the following duties:
Analyzes the impacts of proposed legislation on county programs and goals, and recommends advocacy strategies or alternatives for the consideration of Legislative ;
Acts as a liaison and may confer with special interest groups, other government agencies or other officials to discuss legislative initiatives and coordinate support activities;
Answers questions for legislative committees on proposed legislation and initiatives regarding fiscal, program, and legal implications;
Advises and assists on legislative issues including coordinating press strategy with the Communications Director;
Researches and writes reports, analyses, and legislation relating to county operations, current issues, or items under consideration, including their impact upon County and/or local government and to ensure compatibility with state programs and initiatives as well as prevent duplication of services, and other projects as assigned by the Chairman, Chief of Staff or assigned Legislator;
Coordinates and assists in the development, preparation and drafting of legislative documents, as well as related reports and analysis, and monitors the progress of the legislative process to insure goals and objectives are met;
Analyzes proposed, pending and enacted legislation (both County and State), news events, constituent and special interest groups events, etc., to report the impact (including fiscal and legal) on County operations, interests and needs to Legislators and senior staff;
Coordinates the research, preparation, formatting, drafting and distribution of Legislator’s newsletters, speeches, news releases, information pamphlets, bulletins and other forms of communication designed to inform the public of proposed legislative materials and actions as well as the functions, goals, programs, and regulations of the Board of Legislators;
Performs a variety of administrative and administrative support tasks to insure the smooth and effective operation of the office and provides strategic assistance and support to Legislators, Clerk/Chief of Staff, and Committees as required;
Legislatures in the current dispensation of the National Assembly
At the beginning of the current political dispensation there was confusion on the role legislative aides should play. This situation was so bad that though aides existed and were budgeted for, they played no significant role. They were not on regular salary; their salaries were paid into the accounts of their principals some of whom did not bother to recruit. Some of those that recruited aides did not pay them as they should have been paid. Only aides of the leadership, namely, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and their deputies had staff that were paid and regarded as part of the National Assembly system.
After the inauguration of the National Assembly Service commission the process began to change. Salaries and entitlements of staff were No longer paid into the accounts of their principals. The aides received their letters of appointment from the commission following recommendations from their principals. Though they serve at the pleasure of their principals there is relative security of tenure and the expectation is that the aides would be very involved in all the activities of the legislator.
Because of the reliance of legislators on aides, in the United states determine what really becomes the law, they help their principals to set agenda. Legislatives know the process of governance and law making and have determined how issues are resolved through their in-depth research and knowledge.
What roles should Aides play?
The strength of any legislature or legislator is in the quality of the aides, which is why the National Assembly Service Commission decided to specify what qualities prospective aides need to have before they are recruited.
As matter of fact the aides are the legislators. They perform all the functions of the legislator and make them effective.
They are the brain box of the legislature and work at the pleasure of the legislator.
