ABUJA – The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, has said that Hansard and verbatim reporters remain indispensable despite advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and transcription technologies.
Ogunlana made the assertion at the Annual National Delegates Conference of the Association of Hansard/Verbatim Reporters of Nigeria, held at the National Assembly. He was represented by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Dan-Zaria.
He recalled that Hansard reporters had long ensured parliamentary business was accurately captured in the official votes and proceedings.
“Every time there’s a dispute over who said what, it’s the Hansard reporters that provide clarity,” he said.
According to him, AI-based transcription tools still fall short, especially in multi-lingual environments like Nigeria.
He cited British parliamentary experience where automation exists but human input remains essential.
“Machines can transcribe, yes, but when it comes to local dialects and Nigeria’s linguistic diversity, technology alone cannot deliver,” he said.
Ogunlana added that Hansard reporters remain irreplaceable until systems can fully understand local languages.
The CNA described Hansard professionals as “the heartbeats of the parliament,” noting that ECOWAS often seeks their expertise. He stressed that no AI system can yet match the nuance of Nigeria’s complex linguistic and legislative setting.
The National President of the Association, Mr Gobina Drisu, described Hansard reporters as “the silent architects of Nigeria’s democratic history.”
He said they preserve the essence of legislative debates and decisions.
Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF), Mr Henry Nwawuba, represented by Mr Ameh Moses, said that Hansard reporters and the Assembly Library were custodians of institutional memory.
He urged them to uphold transparency, accountability and public trust.
