In a country where importance of legislature seems to be undermined, documentations of roles played by all lawmakers may be geared towards appreciating the functions and contributions of the legislature not only as an arm of the government but also as a democratic institution. These seems to be the forerunner of the decision by th authority of the National Assembly under the leadership of the Senate President and Chairman of Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki.AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES  IN MAY 2, 2018,, HERE IS THE REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, HIS EXCELLENCY, (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, .PROTOCOL.1. It is most gratifying to be here with you all today in the service of this great country of ours, to take a step towards the realisation of a grand vision, which is the Inauguration of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Establishment and Development of the National Assembly Museum and Archives.2. Our sincere gratitude goes the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Senator Fatimat Raji-Rasaki and indeed the entire members of the committee, for their hard work, commitment and doggedness – which have brought us to this momentous day. I thank the members of the Joint Committee on the Establishment of the National Assembly Museum and Archives, and indeed all who have worked tirelessly to help advance this cause.3. We often lament about a lack of foresight, and a failure to build on the gains of the past. The proposed Museum and Archives of the National Assembly, however, demonstrates that we can indeed build on the gains of the past if we are determined.4. Some people have suggested, erroneously, that we want to establish a Museum and Archives to immortalise ourselves. But nothing could be further from the truth. This is about institution building, it is about institutional memory, it is about legacy; and most of all, it is about the greatness of Nigeria. Parliamentary libraries can be found all over the world. I remember the words of Senator Magnus Abe when we discussed the Motion on ‘The need for the establishment and preservation of [the] Museum and Archives’ on 13th February. He recalled that during a senatorial visit to India during the 7th Senate, the documentation of the Indian Parliament, even far back in time, was well preserved at a secure facility.5. In the United States, the Library of Congress was founded in 1800; in the United Kingdom, the House of Commons Library was founded exactly 200 years ago, in 1818. It is in that same tradition that we seek to establish such a venerable institution in our National Assembly. Better late than never, as they say. The journey of a thousand years begins with a single step.6.  At a National Training Workshop for Legislative Librarians here in Abuja in 2012, House of Commons librarian, John Pullinger, observed that Nigeria needs such an institution, so that: ‘the legislature will be well informed about the business that comes before it… Individual [legislators] are well informed to carry out their duties in Chamber and in their constituencies…and the public is well informed about the importance of the National Assembly in national life.’7.  We all know that information availability is critical to the functioning of democratic legislatures. Access to information is crucial to the strengthening of parliamentary oversight, and to improving the work of representatives as well as our accountability to those that elected us.8.  Museums and archives play an important role in preserving legislative records for posterity. This becomes even more critical in a fledgling democracy such as ours. It would be best if we are able to draw on the deeds and records of past National Assemblies, to enable us cross the bridge of memory that was broken by the military years. This way, we will not keep re-inventing the wheel in our quest for nationhood.9.  There is also the need for greater intellectual depth in our public life. A Museum and Archives would give a leap to intellectualism in our legislative activities. It also promises to be an invaluable repository of knowledge that would be of untold benefit to scholars, historians, students and citizens in general. Above all, it would aid our knowledge of legislative history, because as Edmund Burke said, ‘Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.’10.   It is in this vein that – noting that the NASS Museum and Archives project was first mooted during the 6th Senate and that the bulk of the work was done in the 7th Senate and comprehensive reports prepared – we are inaugurating this Ad-Hoc Committee today, to bring a fitting conclusion to these endeavours, for posterity.11.   The Committee is charged with the task of advancing our quest to establish a National Assembly Museum for the purposes of immortalisation of the proceedings, processes and procedures of making laws in Nigeria – as a means of institutionalising democracy in Nigeria. This is with a view to the realisation of a Museum and Archives which would be a national monument in its own right, and one fit for the digital age that we live in.12.   On that note, the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Establishment and Development of the National Assembly Museum and Archives is hereby inaugurated, to the glory of God and the greater development of Nigeria.Thank you.PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

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