Recently the leadership of the National Assembly approved another term of four years in office for Professor Abubakar O. Sulaiman, as Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
In conveying the approval the Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, cited Sulaiman’s “outstanding performance” in office as the reason for the renewal.
The institute, which was created by an Act of Parliament has the mandate of deepening democracy through support to legislative houses at the federal, state and local levels and by extension, the ECOWAS sub-region.
The NILDS (Amendment) Act, 2017 expanded the institute’s mandate to include capacity development services to democratic institutions and governance in Nigeria.
One of the laudable achievements of Prof. Sulaiman’s administration is the establishment of “Democracy Radio,” which is expected to hit the airwaves in May. The radio is the first of its kind in this part of the world, and it is expected to educate the listener on government policies and the roles and responsibilities of the legislature in a democratic setting like Nigeria.
It will also serve as a veritable tool of enlightenment on the activities of the government and legislature. This will check the misrepresentation of the legislative arm, fuelled by a lack of information.
Prof. Sulaiman has also advanced the provision of support services to the legislature through bill drafting, bill analysis, publications, and other resources, which have contributed immensely to the legislative process.
To ensure the effectiveness of the research, the director general has ensured that the welfare of staff is top-notch for an increase in their level of efficiency, confidence, and professionalism.
It is believed that Prof. Sulaiman would continue to use his wealth and expertise to propel NILDS to a global standard in the foreseeable future.
Adebayo Jimoh can be reached via [email protected])
