Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | The Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library, Rt. Hon. Henry Nwawuba, has called for stronger synergy between research and policy coordination in the National Assembly, describing both as inseparable pillars of effective legislation.
Nwawuba made the call while chairing the Maiden Retreat of the Policy and Coordinating Unit (PCU) of the Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives, where he delivered the Chairman’s opening remarks.
While Commending the Head of the PCU, Ms. Chimdi Neliaku, and her team for convening the retreat, Hon Henry Nwawuba noted that the timing was critical, given the growing demand for evidence-based policy, strategic coordination, and institutional coherence in legislative work.
According to him, sound policy cannot be built on instinct or political convenience alone, but must be anchored on rigorous research, credible data, clear analysis, and strong institutional memory. He warned that weak research leads to reactive policies, while strong research produces transformative outcomes.
Drawing from his experience as Pioneer Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, Nwawuba described libraries and research institutions as the intellectual engine rooms of legislatures. He recalled his 2023 visit to the United States Library of Congress and the Congressional Research Service, where he observed that every major legislative action is supported by non-partisan, timely, and high-quality research.
He stressed that while research institutions may not directly make policy, their input determines the depth, consistency, and effectiveness of legislative decisions. On this basis, he invited the Policy Coordination Unit to deepen collaboration with the research department of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, noting that ongoing collaborations with the Office of the Speaker should be broadened to fully integrate policy coordination and research support.
Nwawuba described the retreat as more than a routine training, but a strategic opportunity for the PCU to reassess its role as a bridge between research and policy, data and decision-making, and institutional vision and legislative outcomes.
He expressed satisfaction with the retreat’s focus on artificial intelligence, policy briefs, strategy review, and performance expectations, emphasizing that these areas reflect how modern legislative institutions must operate with efficiency, intelligence, and foresight.
“As Chair of this retreat, I encourage you to engage openly, think boldly, and remember that policy coordination is not paperwork; it is power when done right,” he said, adding that effective coordination has the power to shape laws, influence governance, and improve citizens’ lives.
He assured participants of the continued support of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund in strengthening the Policy Coordination Unit into a credible and indispensable policy institution within the National Assembly ecosystem.
The retreat marks a significant step toward enhancing policy coherence and research driven decision-making in the Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives.
