Jemma Kumba, speaker of South Sudan’s transitional national legislative assembly
Jemma Kumba, speaker of South Sudan’s transitional national legislative assembly, says Africa cannot build strong democracies without empowering legislative aides.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the maiden African legislative aides conference (ALAC 2025), Kumba described aides as “the quiet custodians of democracy” who sustain the legislative process across the continent.
She said parliaments rely on clerks, researchers, analysts, administrators and technical staff who should be recognised as core players in lawmaking and oversight.
“Parliament is only as strong as its support system,” she said.
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Kumba said speakers, presidents of parliament and lawmakers cannot function effectively without a skilled support structure that provides research depth, committee coordination and procedural guidance.
She warned that no parliament can outrun the quality of its aides.
“When political cycles shift, aides remain,” she said.
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“They preserve records, guide lawmakers and uphold procedure. They are the unseen weight-bearers of democracy.”
Kumba said Africa’s democratic stability, especially amid political instability in some countries, depends on professional legislative work backed by research and technology.
She called for immediate investment in digital tools for aides.
“Without digital empowerment, we cannot empower aides — and without empowering aides, we cannot strengthen democracy,” she said.
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Emeka Nwala, chairman of the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum, said the gathering was to deepen professionalism and standardise support work across Africa.
While noting that empowering aides is essential, Nwala said, “legislative aides are the powerhouse that drives parliament.”
The conference, which hosted delegates from multiple African legislatures, was the first coordinated attempt to organise aides continent-wide.
The African Legislative Aides Association was inaugurated at the event with Nwala as the continental chairman.
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