They are not lawmakers. They are not ministers. But in the corridors of the National Assembly (NASS), legislative aides write the bills, answer the calls, and explain government to angry constituents. On Tuesday, hundreds of them stepped out of the shadows to launch the All Progressives Congress (APC) NASS Legislative Aides Support Group, (ANALAG), and declared themselves the foot soldiers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka Our Managing Editor was there.
The launch, held under the theme “Together We Can,” brought together aides from the Senate and House of Representatives in what organisers called “a defining moment” for the group.
National Coordinator, Ambassador Ayoola Ronke Fakunle, set the tone. “We are the bridge between the aspirations of the Nigerian people and the legislative wisdom of our distinguished Senators and honourable Members,” she told the gathering.
Her message was simple: policy cannot work if no one explains it. And no one, she argued, is better placed to do that than the aides who work directly with lawmakers daily.
Fakunle described ANALAG members as “champions of progressive legislation” and “unwavering defenders of a prosperous future.” The language was deliberate — positioning aides as political actors, not just administrative staff.
The group pledged total commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda. “We are committing our intellect, our energy, and our solidarity to ensure that it succeeds, delivers, and impacts every home,” Fakunle said.
National Secretary Mike Anibueze Esq reinforced the point, saying aides must move beyond office work to become advocates in their communities.
The timing is significant. Two years into the Tinubu administration, Nigerians are still grappling with economic reforms. Subsidy removal, inflation, and insecurity dominate conversations at the grassroots.
ANALAG’s pitch is that aides can help close that gap. Because they see “the challenges” and “understand the complexities,” they can translate federal policy into language people understand.
But the group also made a case for itself. By calling aides “partners in progress,” ANALAG is asking the party and lawmakers to give them more responsibility and recognition.
The emphasis on unity was repeated throughout. “The road ahead requires unity. It requires resilience. And above all, it requires us to lock arms,” Fakunle said.
That call for unity may also be directed inward. Legislative aides often work across party lines and under different principals. Holding them together under one APC banner will require constant coordination.
Observers say the real test will be in the constituencies. Can ANALAG members turn town halls, social media, and community meetings into platforms for explaining government policy?
If they succeed, ANALAG could become the APC’s most direct line to the people. If they fail, the group risks being dismissed as another Abuja-based support group.
For now, the message from the National Assembly is clear. “No single individual holds all the answers, but together, we have the strength to build the Nigeria of our dreams. Together, we can secure our collective destiny. Let the work begin.”
