National Assembly limits secretariat posts, introduces merit-based hiring

The National Assembly has approved the NA Secretariat Employees (Amendment) Bill 2025, introducing strict limits on staffing, regulating recruitments, and formalising hiring procedures to prevent political interference.

Under the new law, the total number of posts in the Secretariat, both permanent and temporary, cannot exceed 400 per cent of the Assembly’s membership, and existing employees must be brought within this limit within 18 months of enforcement. The amendments require Finance Committee approval for the creation of new posts, upgrades, or termination of any position, and all new positions must be officially notified in the gazette.

Recruitment rules have been revised to ensure merit-based hiring: positions in grades 15 and below will be filled on the recommendation of the Departmental Selection Committee and through open advertisements, while positions in grade 16 and above will follow Federal Public Service Commission recommendations. If the FPSC fails to advertise within six months, departmental selection may be used. The federal quota system will continue to apply to all appointments.

Deputation appointments are also redefined, with a maximum tenure of five years and no possibility of permanent absorption into the Secretariat. Officers on deputation in grade 20 and below will receive allowances based on their parent department’s last pay certificate.

The bill introduces significant legal and structural changes: Secretariat employees are now formally designated as “National Assembly Secretariat Employees,” references to “Ministry” or “Division” are replaced with “National Assembly Secretariat,” and “President” or “Prime Minister” references are replaced with “Speaker.” The post of “Secretary” is legally defined as “Secretary National Assembly Secretariat.”

Several sections of the 2018 Act, including Sections 8, 9, 10, 12–24, 26, 28, and 29, are proposed for repeal. A new Section 31 ensures that this law will prevail over any conflicting legislation. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq emphasised that the reforms aim to reduce unnecessary positions, enhance administrative efficiency, and ensure transparency and accountability in staffing within the National Assembly Secretariat.