The Senior Legislative Aide to Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu, the Member representing Enugu North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Ekwe Okwudiri, has emerged as the Chairman of the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASLAF) Enugu State Chapter.
Dr. Ekwe emerged on Friday at the National Assembly, Abuja, following weeks of consensus-building and endorsement by critical stakeholders of NASLAF’s National leadership, South East Zonal leadership, Central Working Committee members, Senior Legislative Aides, and other Aides in the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives.
According to reports, Enugu State has about 85 Commissioned Legislative Aides attached to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 360 Members of the House of Representatives, and 109 Senators. This is in addition to over 350 Non-Commissioned Aides attached to all the Federal Lawmakers from Enugu State.
Reacting shortly after the consensus was reached on Friday, the new Chairman of Enugu State NASLAF, Dr. Ekwe Okwudiri, appreciated God Almighty for His grace in being found worthy by his colleagues to serve in that capacity.
He stated that he was humbled by the overwhelming support he secured from his National and Zonal leaderships.
According to Ekwe, “I am humbled by the unwavering support I got from my highly respected senior colleagues at both the National level, led by High Chief Nwala, and at the South East caucus, led by Barr. Emeka Ofor. I am also very grateful to Hon Engr. Emmanuel Okoro Ajah, who represents Enugu State at the CWC of NASLAF, Chief Barr. Stanley Akano, Barr. Mike Anibueze, Hon. Candy Ugwu, Engr. Ebuka Okoro, Senior Legislative Aides, and my esteemed colleagues.”
Dr. Ekwe explained that his intention is to serve Enugu State NASLAF and engineer a united front.
“This assignment is a call to service, and it is my humble promise that my team and I will lead and discharge this assignment to our people with utmost respect for the ethics and core values of service, which include probity, accountability, and most importantly, the fear of God.”
Dr. Ekwe, who is the Senior Legislative Aide and Media Consultant to the Member Representing Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu, was a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani, before his appointment at the National Assembly. His teaching career started at Samuel Adegboyega University, Edo State, where he rose through the ranks to become a Senior Lecturer and the Head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree, a Master’s, and a Doctorate Degree in Mass Communication from Enugu State University of Science and Technology and the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
The National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASLAF) is an umbrella union at both Chambers of the National Assembly, Abuja, responsible for the welfare and development of all Legislative Aides from the 360 federal constituencies and 109 senatorial zones. NASLAF, led by High Chief Emeka Nwala as the National Chairman, has six geopolitical zone leaders and thirty-six state chapters.