By Joshua Egbodo
National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) has disclosed that it was partnering with the Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) to boost the capacity of lawmakers to ensure effective discharge of their responsibilities.
According to NILS, its partnership with the DGD, an affiliate of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in the training, which, it explained, would involve their supporting staff would enhance the lawmakers’ performance in lawmaking and oversight of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
Director-General of the Institute, Dr Ladi Hamalia, while justifying the planned training, said: “The Nigerian legislature has faced with challenges including lack of experience on the part of the legislators; Inadequately trained legislative staff, lack of high quality technical/professional support, poor oversight capability and poor public perception as well as lack of understanding of the work of the National Assembly.
“Sustainable democratic development does not end in successfully completed free and fair elections. Such elections are rather the beginning, a critical nonetheless preliminary step on the road towards democratic maturity. “
He added: “It requires long-term and comprehensive efforts to build up and consolidate representative and well-functioning parliaments, able to ensure sound implementation of its law-making and oversight powers.
“As rightly stated by the Speakers of the EU Parliament at the Copenhagen Conference on June 30, 2006, the development of parliamentary institutions is synonymous with democratisation, and their sound functioning is a fundamental requirement of democracy.”
The targeted Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives for the training for which no specific date has been announced include;
Rules and Business, Ethics and Privileges, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Donor Agencies, Constitution Review, Women in Parliament/Women Affairs, and Electoral Matters.