Supporting Legislatures Strengthening the Role of Parliamentary Staff, Committee Clerks and Technical Advisers in Nigeria

Overview The modern democratic function of the legislature demands considerable technical and professional knowledge and expertise. Support officials, therefore, have an important role to play if Parliament is to advise, facilitate, coordinate, and oversee the work of the executive effectively. This programme is focused on improving the role and performance of the various officials that support the work of the legislative institution in Nigeria. Its design recognises the multidisciplinary nature of this support function, which is emerging in many jurisdictions as a distinct professional field. Incidentally, focused developmental programmes for this emerging field are few and far between. The programme will variously explore the respective roles of professional and managerial support as well as middle and lower-level staff in the legislative process. It will examine the qualities and competencies that individuals who discharge these relevant functions must possess, and help participants understand and develop them further. Target The programme is directed at senior, middle and other lower-level officials who provide essential technical, professional and administrative support services to the National Assembly. The programme will be delivered in modules of 1 week or 2 weeks according to the preference of the clients. Similarly, the venue/location of training will be as advised by the client. Objectives and Benefits The main benefits of the proposed programme for participants and by implications the Nigerian legislative institution are:
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1) Deepen participants core competencies in delivering the diverse roles and functions essential to the work of a modern legislature; 2) Increase awareness and understanding of the role of the legislature in a modern democracy, with particular reference to the situation of Nigeria and other developing countries; 3) Provide participants with an opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from international best practices in the performance of their respective roles; 4) Enhance the capacity of participants to organise and deliver the institutional support required for effective legislative performance; 5) Bring participants abreast with relevant modern technology and use in the discharge of the work of the institution; 6) Help participants identify, analyse and resolve specific issues and challenges facing their organisation at home; and 7) Assist participants to formulate relevant individual action plans, which they will implement upon their return to the office. Methodology The programme will be delivered in a highly interactive and practical manner. It will be delivered through a combination of lectures, case studies and field visits. Among other things, participants will be required to give short presentations on the situation in their workplaces and subsequently work in groups to identify and find solutions to current and future challenges. Each will also be required to develop an Improvement Plan that they would implementation on return to their respective offices. Fees One-week Module International - 1,675 (per participants) (inclusive of training materials, tuition and lunch) Local N65,000 (per participants) (inclusive of training materials, tuition and lunch) Two-week Module International - 2,675 (per participants) (inclusive of training materials, tuition and lunch) Local N105,000 (per participants) (inclusive of training materials, tuition and lunch) Dates and Venue According to the preference of client
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Indicative Programme Outline The programme content will consist of a selection of topics from the following list based on a pre-training needs assessment of prospective participants: Nature and role of the legislature in comparative perspective Working of Parliament and the Committee System Staffing and Managing Parliament Implementing Core Competencies Supporting and meeting the needs of new MPs Impact of New Public Management Relations with the higher civil service and interest groups Managing Facilities for MPs Managing Procurement for Parliament Special interests - Enhancing personal effectiveness - Managing Teams and Subordinates - Managing Upward - Managing Conflicts in the Workplace - Writing and Presenting Reports - Dealing with Underperformance - Managing Creatively Use of modern information technology Developing Service Excellence Field Visits (International) Individual Action Planning

Submitted by: Governance and Management Services International Suite 7, Jamaica Wharf 2 Shad Thames Tower Bridge London, SE1 2YU United Kingdom August 2013