3rd June, 2015
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has lauded the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), for drafting 161 Bills between 2012 and 2014.
Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman of NILS Governing Council, made the commendation at the Valedictory Session of the council in Abuja.
He said the institute’s effort had assisted the National Assembly in law making.
He said the institute also drafted over 100 motions and briefs of argument, which were put forward by members of the National Assembly for deliberation in the chambers.
“Within the period under review, the institute also assisted in analysing over 100 bills and scrutinising 93 bills among other things.
“It, therefore, gives me great pleasure to say that NILS, within its few years of existence, has exceeded our expectations.
“Between 2012 and 2014, NILS implemented a total of 349 training programmes for legislators and legislative staff.
“The institute has been greatly successful in improving the technical capacity of legislators, legislative staff, committee secretaries and political aides in various aspects of legislative practice and procedure.
“The institute has also been a vanguard for strengthening democratic processes and structures such as oversight of the executive and institutions in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
Ekweremadu said the institute extended its training to a degree awarding level with the introduction of Masters and Postgraduate Diploma Programmes in affiliation with the University of Benin.
The Alternate Chairman of the council and Acting Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, commended the National Assembly for passing the Bill that necessitated the establishment of the institute.
He, however, noted that the institute, since inception, had grappled with the issue of funding, particularly with regard to the establishment of a permanent site.
The alternate chairman noted that “the leadership of the National Assembly is faced with the challenge of funding to construct such an edifice.
“The House of Representatives and the Senate came up with innovative ways of funding and secured the positive nod of the executive arm to source from supplementary budget.
“About N7.5 billion has so far been paid to Julius Berger.
“The institute was scheduled to commence operation from the permanent site by May 2015, but the contractors had to suspend work due to non-payment of outstanding N2.5 billion by the Federal Government in 2014.”
He, therefore, urged the 8th National Assembly and in-coming governing council to work assiduously to ensure the completion of the permanent site.
The Director General of NILS, Dr Ladi Hamalai, commended the governing council for its dedication to ensure that the institute achieved success.
She commended President of the Senate, David Mark and other stakeholders, for their support.
“Without your various input, we wouldn’t have been able to do much.
“I specially recognise the chairman of the governing council. I have learnt a lot from him, his zeal and attitude to work.
Hamalai promised to carry on the legacy of the out-going governing council.