By EricJames Ochigbo

The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has urged members of the academia bring their wealth of knowledge into politics for speedy national development.

Sulaiman made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a symposium on “Women in Leadership: Harnessing the Potentials of Women Academies for Political Participation in Nigeria.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the symposium was organised by NILDS, in collaboration with University of Abuja and other partners.

Sulaiman said that it was time to move out of the academic environment into politics so that the country does not fall into the hands of ‘shenanigans’.

According to him, whatever the politicians say will become policy and law the guide the nation, adding, however, that not many of them are as knowledgeable as the academics.

The director-general said that the insecurity bedevliling the country could not be addressed via military approach alone, saying that an in-depth research was required.

He said that such research could only be best done by the academics, with the competence and capacity to do so.

“Look at the arrays of our politicians, with due respect. Look at our parliament, at the state and national level, look at our governance, look at the ministers, with due respect to them, how many of them have the kind of knowledge and skill we have?

“The academic must step out from the academia. We must step out, if not, this country will fall in the hands of shenanigans, and whether we like it or not, they administer us.

“Whatever they say is law, whatever they say is policy, whatever they say becomes an act,” he said.

Sulaiman, who is a former Minister of National Planning, warned that there would be stiff resistance by politicians, urging the academics, therefore, to be resilient in their pursuit of inclusion.

He also stressed the need for them to hold their integrity high so as not to be messed up by the politicians in the field.

In her remarks, the acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja, Prof. Patricia Lar, noted that the female gender was highly under-represented in almost every sphere, except for agriculture, the domestic home front as well as education and health sectors.

According to her, when it comes to leadership, research has shown that women are highly under-represented, even when they have high potential and capacity.

Lar, who said that Nigeria was still battling with 35 per cent affirmative action, encouraged women to stand up for their rights.

“Let this meeting strengthen the drives toward encouraging her, the female gender, to take her place.

“Let the chambers have at least 20 to 35 per cent; the political parties need to be committed to deliberately keeping spaces for women, not just the women leader and treasurers, but let them be secretaries and even leaders.

“The world needs women. Women are fairer. Women can work with their enemies. Yes, women are more tolerant of opposition and Nigeria needs it.

“The interest of men that are promoted in the night when no one sees, women will stand in daylight, and they will walk with even the enemies. Nigeria needs this. We need tolerance, and I want to encourage us that the time has come,” she said.

In her remarks, Rep. Blessing Amadi (PDP-Ricers) urged young girls to spend more time working hard and developing themselves for the future, as against facial “make up.”

Amadi said that young girls must desist from exposing their body parts, describing their body as their pride as African women.

The lawmaker advised young girls to avoid making excuses but to passionate do their jobs wherever they might find themselves.

She also urged women to participate in political and gender activities, stressing that inclusion could only be easy with their high level of participation and turnout. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

By EricJames Ochigbo

The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has rated the performance of the 10th National Assembly highly in terms of bills, motions, and parliamentary conduct.

Sulaiman made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja during a news conference marking the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and his own sixth anniversary as D-G of NILDS.

Responding to questions from journalists, he said Nigeria’s democracy and parliament had shown notable progress, although there remained room for improvement, especially regarding security and economic growth.

“The assessment of the National Assembly in the context of our democratic journey has been positive.

“When you compare where we were in the 1960s and in 1999 to where we are today, the progress is clear. While challenges persist, the ethical conduct of the National Assembly has improved significantly.

“Considering the various instabilities we have faced since 1999, the level of accommodation for parliamentary views and the conduct of parliamentarians in both chambers show that the National Assembly has performed well.

“In terms of the quality and quantity of bills and motions, and the harmony within the chambers, the current performance is unmatched by previous assemblies.

“Their awareness of national issues and the legislative responses to these challenges have been commendable,” he added.

Speaking on the achievements of NILDS over the past six years, Sulaiman said that upon his appointment in May 2019, he prioritised staff welfare, addressing stagnation and revising the institute’s education policy to promote academic advancement for all staff.

He noted that the institute’s academic board was reconstituted to ensure inclusivity and elevate academic standards.

“Another milestone under his leadership was the move to the institute’s permanent site, completed in 2023, which includes a 300-seat capacity hall.

“To support staff career progression, the operational manual of NILDS was enhanced with the expansion of departments.

“Welfare initiatives also included the launch of a crèche for pregnant and nursing staff, reflecting the institute’s commitment to gender inclusivity.”

Sulaiman highlighted NILDS’s establishment of a Gender Unit and the hosting of a national conference on Women in Governance to promote inclusive governance.

According to him, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while many institutions saw a decline in output, NILDS introduced e-platforms to maintain continuous operations and prepared the country for post-pandemic reopening.

He also spoke about the creation of Democracy Radio (104.9 FM) to extend democratic awareness and grassroots engagement across Nigeria.

“To bolster security efforts, NILDS established the Legislative Centre for Security Analysis, which supports non-kinetic approaches through research and intellectual engagement.”

Sulaiman also shared that the NILDS annual quiz competition, previously limited to the Federal Capital Territory, had expanded nationwide to all 36 states to deepen secondary school students’ knowledge of legislative and democratic processes.

“The institute also launched the Distinguished Parliamentary Lecture Series to enhance public understanding of the legislature through scholarly presentations.

“To improve legislative quality, NILDS introduced a mentorship programme for legislative drafters and expanded partnerships with democratic institutions to strengthen gender-related legislative engagement at the subnational level.”

The D-G noted NILDS’s active role in observing the 2023 general elections, which contributed valuable insights to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“In addition, NILDS published a book commemorating 25 years of democratic governance in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.”

Sulaiman emphasised that all academic departments now had their own journals alongside the flagship Nigerian Journal for Legislative Affairs (NJLA).

Looking ahead, he expressed his vision for NILDS to become a university dedicated to advancing Nigeria’s democracy through knowledge and research.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Wale Sadeeq

By EricJames Ochigbo

Director-General of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has stressed the need for continuous training of legislators for speedy delivery of democratic gains in the country.

He stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day workshop organised by NILDS for members of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was titled ‘Ethics, Privileges, Practice and Procedures for Effective Legislative Performance’.

According to the director-general, effective legislatures are built not only on laws and infrastructure but on the capacity and commitment of the lawmakers and staff members to deliver on constitutional mandate effectively.

He said that the topics for the workshop were carefully selected and were central to the overall performance of any legislature.

Sulaiman said that a firm grasp of Standing Orders, for instance, would enable members to navigate debates, motions and other legislative procedure effectively.

“Understanding the scope and limits of legislative privileges helps protect the sanctity of the institution, while avoiding abuse.

“Likewise, oversight and committee management are fundamental to ensuring accountability and transparency in governance.

“Let me emphasise that ethics and privileges are not merely matters of procedure, but are also matters of principle, as they define the moral compass of the legislature and shape public perception of democratic governance.

“Therefore, your participation in this workshop is not just a statutory responsibility, it is a moral duty; there is no doubt that the legislature remains the fulcrum of democracy.

“Its strength lies in its processes, credibility in its ethics and its compliance in adherence to due procedure,” he said.

The director-general, therefore, urged the legislators to make the most of this opportunity to deepen your knowledge, sharpen your skills and strengthen your capacity for impactful legislative work,” he said.

He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment in supporting state houses of assembly across Nigeria through training, research, technical assistance and institutional partnerships.

Earlier in his remarks, the Speaker of Akwa Ibom house of assembly, Mr Udeme Otong, said that across all cultures and traditions, the importance of knowledge was universally emphasised, hence in secular terms, ‘knowledge is power’.

He quoted the book of Proverbs 4:7 which states that “wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” as alluding to the importance of knowledge.

The speaker said that the thematic areas includes parliamentary business and the legislative process including personal etiquette.

This, he said, also included promoting legislative-executive relations; bill process and analysis, with a focus on judicial review of legislation as well budget and the appropriation process, among other Issues.

Otong said the workshop would improve awareness on ethical standards, privileges and responsibilities of legislators.

He said it would also enhance capacity to enforce ethical compliance and uphold legislative integrity while strengthening oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency and good governance.

The speaker said that the workshop would also improve capacity to enforce ethical compliance and legislative integrity.

He said that it offered a strategic opportunity to bridge existing gaps and build the capacity of lawmakers to fulfill their mandates more effectively.

Otong urged the participants to take advantage of the unique learning opportunity and make the very best use of it. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/’Wale Sadeeq

By EricJames Ochigbo

Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), has called for effective oversight of private security companies in the country.

Sulaiman made the call at the opening of a workshop on Private Security Governance and Legislative Oversight in Nigeria

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that workshop was organised by NILDS, in partnership with African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) and Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF)

NAN also reports that the workshop was organised for chairmen and clerks of security- related committees in the National Assembly.

Sulaiman said that the role of the private security sector in Nigeria had become increasingly crucial in augmenting public security and ensuring the safety of lives and property.

He said that private security industry in Nigeria had witnessed exponential growth in recent years, with well over 1,500 registered companies providing security services.

According to him, their services now go beyond the traditional guarding, to include more technical services like private surveillance and investigative services.

He said that while the growth presented opportunities to improve national security and job creation, it also gave rise to a new set of governance challenges, which required effective oversight by the legislature.

Sulaiman said that with the evolving security landscape, driven by complex and emerging threats such as insurgency, banditry, cyber threats and transnational crimes, it was imperative to strengthen the governance and oversight of private security operations in the country.

“As chairmen and clerks of security-related committees, your roles in enacting effective legislation and ensuring diligent oversight cannot be overstated.

“Robust legislative oversight is fundamental to ensuring that the private security sector operates within the framework of national laws, adheres to international best practices and complements the efforts of state security agencies in maintaining peace and order,” he said.

The director-general stressed the need for urgently amending the Private Guard Companies Act, 1986 which is the primary law regulating private security companies in the country.

He said that the law was crafted without consideration to the current private security landscape or evolving threats.

Sulaiman further stated that the workshop would provide an opportunity to examine international experiences, best practices and key legislative interventions that could be applied to enhance the effectiveness, accountability and professionalism of the sector.

In her remarks, the Programme Manager of DCAF, Ms Gabrielle Prinklopilova, said that the centre, established in 2000, was an initiative of Swiss Government.

Prinklopilova also said that the organisation, governed by a foundation council of 40 member-states, offered support to states, international organisations and civil society organisations to build effective, inclusive and accountable security institutions, guided by international norms and practices.

“We help states regulate private military and security companies and to ensure that the operations align with legal standards, human rights and public security needs.

“We also develop national regulatory frameworks and we are here with our esteemed partner, to work with them to strengthen regulatory frameworks in Nigeria,” she said.

Chairmen of House of Representatives Committees on Police Affairs and Army, expressed their willingness to champion the amendments of relevant laws regulating the sector.

The Chairman of the Committee on Army, Rep. Aminu Balele (APC-Katsina), represented by Rep. David Ogewu (APC-Benue), said that every Nigerian had a role to play in the security of the country.

He said that the national assembly had been very committed to security matters, as seen in the budgetary allocation to the sector.

The lawmaker said that the committee was looking forward to the outcome of the workshop, as its own contribution to legislative and policy formulation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq