NILDS urges Sergeant-at-Arms personnel to uphold professionalism

‌‌‍‌The Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abubakar Sulaiman, has urged Sergeant-at-Arms personnel to uphold discipline and professionalism in protecting the National Assembly.

Mr Sulaiman, a professor, gave the advice at the closing ceremony of a three-day training programme on Effective Legislative Security Policy: A Management Strategy for Safety and Protection of the National Assembly, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The training was organised by NILDS in collaboration with the National Assembly.

Mr Sulaiman said securing the National Assembly goes beyond protecting buildings, emphasising that it involves safeguarding democracy, constitutional order, and the integrity of the legislature.

According to him, the Sergeant-at-Arms’ responsibilities extend beyond conventional security duties to maintaining order, protecting lawmakers, staff and visitors, and enforcing parliamentary authority.

He said the responsibilities required discipline, emotional intelligence, sound judgment, restraint, loyalty and professionalism, rather than physical strength and the authority to enforce instructions.

“You must be custodians of order, not champions of disorder; protectors of institutional dignity, not contributors to its erosion,” he said.

The director-general said the security of an institution depended not only on its physical infrastructure but also on the character, discipline and commitment of personnel entrusted with its protection.

He reiterated NILDS’ commitment to strengthening the capacity of parliamentarians, legislative staff and the wider National Assembly bureaucracy through research, training and institutional support.

Mr Sulaiman said that more than 300 National Assembly staff had benefited from the institute’s supported master’s and doctoral programmes on a pro bono basis.

He described the initiative as a significant investment in human capital development, adding that a stronger National Assembly required a more competent workforce.

He said NILDS had evolved into a world-class legislative capacity-building institution that had attracted attention from parliaments and legislative institutions across Africa.

The director-general, however, expressed disappointment over the alleged unruly behaviour of some participants following a temporary power interruption experienced on the first day of the training.

He said although participants had the right to express grievances, the manner of communicating concerns must reflect the discipline and professionalism expected of public officers.

“Social media is a powerful communication platform, but it comes with responsibility.

“The unruly behaviour, inappropriate comments and social media posts by some participants were inconsistent with the professionalism expected of officers entrusted with sensitive security responsibilities.

“It was contradictory for personnel responsible for maintaining order and protecting the National Assembly to engage in conduct capable of generating disorder and embarrassing the institution,” he said.

According to him, public officers must understand that their conduct, comments and social media engagements have implications for the institutions they represent.

The director general urged participants to become ambassadors of institutional discipline, professionalism and positive change, ensuring that lessons acquired are reflected in their conduct and operational decisions.

Also speaking, the Secretary of Human Resources and Staff Development, Essien Essien, who represented the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, urged participants to demonstrate the knowledge acquired through improved workplace performance.

Mr Ogunlana said the success of the programme would be measured by participants’ ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in discharging their responsibilities.

Quoting John Maxwell, he said: “Training ends, but the impact begins the moment the trainee returns to his desk.”

He commended the NILDS Director-General for facilitating the training programme.

The Clerk also urged participants to exercise their rights responsibly, emphasising that grievances should be communicated through appropriate channels and with respect for constituted authorities.

He said staff had the right to question decisions, seek clarification, and demand accountability, but such rights must be exercised responsibly and fairly.

He consequently directed participants to stand up and apologise to the NILDS Director-General over their alleged unruly conduct during the programme, which they did.

He said the training had achieved its objectives and equipped participants with the knowledge needed to discharge their duties effectively.