President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the Senate seeking to repeal the law establishing the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) and replace it with a new institution, the National School of Government, Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that the bill, titled the National School of Government Bill 2026, was conveyed to the Senate in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.
In the letter, Tinubu said the proposed legislation would repeal the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria Act, A-4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and provide a legal framework for establishing the new institution.
The president said the proposed school would serve as a national centre for leadership development, policy delivery and executive capacity building.
He also urged the Senate to give the bill expeditious consideration.
“Pursuant to Section 58 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, I forward herewith the National School of Government Bill 2026 for the kind consideration of the Senate,” the letter reads.
Following the presentation, Akpabio informed lawmakers that the bill’s clauses and provisions had been attached to the president’s communication for consideration.
The bill was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
ASCON was established in 1972 and is located in Topo, Badagry, Lagos State. The institution provides management training, conducts research and offers consultancy services to strengthen administrative capacity in Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
The proposed replacement would establish a new institutional framework focused on developing leadership skills and improving the ability of public officials to implement government policies.
The move follows a 2022 recommendation by a House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating duplication of functions among ministries, departments and agencies. The committee recommended merging ASCON with the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), citing similarities in their responsibilities.
Victor Danzaria, who chaired the committee, had questioned the need to continue funding institutions performing overlapping functions.
The proposed legislation will now undergo further consideration by the Senate before any decision is taken on its passage into law.
