On building lawmakers’ capacity
- Details
- Category: Letters
- Written by Mustapha Aliyu, Apo, Abuja.
- Hits: 2094
It is a fact that Nigerian lawmakers keep changing with most elections. So the recent establishment of the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) is a good development. It will facilitate the growth of democracy in Nigeria if the objectives for which it was set up are accomplished. NILS emerged as a successor to the Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP) which earlier served as a think tank and capacity builder for law makers in the National Assembly.
PARP, it turned out, could not cope with the huge demand for its services from all the legislative houses and even the executive arm of government. The leadership of the National Assembly must be commended for realizing the limitations of PARP and initiating the idea of transforming the project into a full blown institute via the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act 2011. This act demonstrates the commitment of not only the National Assembly but the nation’s leadership to the progress of democracy.With the main goal of the centre being the provision of training courses in democracy as well as programmes that will generally enhance legislative practice and procedures, it is hoped that the authority will promptly provide the facilities and funds needed for the smooth running of the institution.
The Director General of NILS, Dr Ladi Hamalai (MFR) has the capacity to steer the new establishment to great heights as she has a solid academic background. She served as the pioneer coordinator of the Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP) which was a huge success.
Mustapha Aliyu, Apo, Abuja.
Articles
On building lawmakers’ capacity
Category: Letters Written by Mustapha Aliyu, Apo, Abuja. Hits: 2094
It is a fact that Nigerian lawmakers keep changing with most elections. So the recent establishment of the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) is a good development. It will facilitate the growth of democracy in Nigeria if the objectives for which it was set up are accomplished. NILS emerged as a successor to the Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP) which earlier served as a think tank and capacity builder for law makers in the National Assembly.
PARP, it turned out, could not cope with the huge demand for its services from all the legislative houses and even the executive arm of government. The leadership of the National Assembly must be commended for realizing the limitations of PARP and initiating the idea of transforming the project into a full blown institute via the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act 2011. This act demonstrates the commitment of not only the National Assembly but the nation’s leadership to the progress of democracy.With the main goal of the centre being the provision of training courses in democracy as well as programmes that will generally enhance legislative practice and procedures, it is hoped that the authority will promptly provide the facilities and funds needed for the smooth running of the institution.
The Director General of NILS, Dr Ladi Hamalai (MFR) has the capacity to steer the new establishment to great heights as she has a solid academic background. She served as the pioneer coordinator of the Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP) which was a huge success.
Mustapha Aliyu, Apo, Abuja.