Full text of remarks by the Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker, House of Rep. at the capacity building programme for staff

REMARKS BY THE RT. HON. ABBAS TAJUDEEN, PHD, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT THE OPENING OF A CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME FOR STAFF OF THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER AT THE PEARL LAKE HOTEL JABI, ABUJA ON THURSDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2023
PROTOCOL
I am delighted to welcome you to this important training programme ,which is the first one in the 10th House of Representatives under my leadership as Speaker for Staff. I want to deeply appreciate the sponsors, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), for this and many other interventions they have rendered to the House of Representatives and the National Assembly over the years. The 10th House is ready to engage with development partners to provide targeted capacity programmes for Members and staff.
2. Capacity building is a major motivation for productivity in any establishment. It is my avowed commitment to ensure that capacity building is a major hallmark of my tenure as Speaker not only for staff but also for members of the House of the Representatives.
3. I want to take this opportunity to urge you to take every opportunity for training very seriously. The success of any establishment is dependent on the capacity and output of the drivers of that office. Today, you are the face of the Speaker’s office. You are the ONES that Members and visitors interface with in the office of the Speaker. Your conduct, your disposition, your relationship with PEOPLE, and the way you attend to the public represents the image of the office of the Speaker. Therefore, you must continuously learn the code of ethics and public service rules in engaging yourselves in the course of discharging your responsibilities.
4. You must show DISCIPLINE, understanding, control and capacity to drive the vision of the office of the Speaker. You have to respect ONE ANOTHER in line of authority, show capacity in the position that you find yourself to justify that you are qualified to hold the position. You must protect the office and be positive and focused.
5. I strongly urge you to seize this opportunity to bond with ONE. ANOTHER, build friendships across cultural barriers, interpersonal relationships, conflict resolution, and maintain strategic communication skills. These soft skills are required for effective interpersonal and organisational development as you serve in the Office of the Speaker and the National Assembly at large. Therefore, I challenge you to make the most of this training to become more capable and resourceful professionals in your legislative roles.
6. I hope that this training will strengthen your capacity for improved productivity and effective service delivery on your various desks. I expect that you will be attentive and stay focused as the key sessions are being facilitated.
7. Once again, I want to express my appreciation to PLAC for this opportunity as I look for more training programmes as we progress. Thank you and God bless.