NILDS Showcases Legislative Expertise, Infrastructure to Visiting Zimbabwean Lawmakers

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has reaffirmed its position as Nigeria’s foremost center for legislative research, capacity building, and policy analysis, presenting its cutting-edge infrastructure, technical expertise, and training programs to a visiting delegation of Zimbabwean parliamentarians.

During an interactive session in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman—represented by the Director of Legal Services, Professor Shuibu Danwanka—highlighted the institute’s extensive contributions to Nigeria’s legislative process.

These include the production of annual budget analysis reports that guide National Assembly deliberations and specialized training for lawmakers, parliamentary committees, and legislative support staff.

Professor Danwanka explained that NILDS conducts rigorous ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of budget proposals, identifying redundancies and inefficiencies while offering actionable recommendations to strengthen fiscal oversight.

“Our budget analysis reports have become essential tools for lawmakers during the appropriation process,” he noted, adding that the institute organizes annual budget retreats for key parliamentary committees to enhance budget scrutiny and decision-making.

He also showcased NILDS’ modern e-library, which boasts more than 12,000 books, 6,800 journals, and over 1,200 archival resources—all accessible online to lawmakers within and outside Nigeria.

The center’s data facilities, ICT infrastructure, and the Center for Legislative Security Analysis were cited as further proof of NILDS’ commitment to strengthening democratic institutions through research and policy advisory services.

On training, the director noted that NILDS runs national induction programs for new legislators after every election cycle, offers Higher National Diploma (HND) and PhD programs in parliamentary administration and legislative studies, and conducts specialized capacity-building sessions for committees on finance, public accounts, and anti-corruption.

The institute also undertakes election monitoring across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, organizes the annual Distinguished Parliamentarians Lecture Series, and collaborates with international partners on gender mainstreaming and inclusivity programs.

Earlier, the 10-man Zimbabwean lawmakers commended NILDS for its role in deepening Nigeria’s democracy, describing its model as one that could transform parliamentary research, training, and legislative capacity in Zimbabwe and across Africa.

Chairman of Zimbabwe’s Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance, Hon. Dr. Mutodi Energy, called on African nations to embrace Education 5.0—a modern learning approach prioritizing innovation, industrialization, and intellectual property protection.

“In Zimbabwe, we are now implementing Education 5.0,” he explained. “It focuses on innovation, producing tangible results, and ensuring Africa can invent new knowledge and protect its intellectual property so it is not exploited by others.”

He stressed that African countries must develop education systems that produce solutions tailored to local challenges rather than relying entirely on external expertise.

“This is about making sure our inventions benefit our people first,” he added. “We must not allow others to take what we have developed and use it as if it were theirs.”

The meeting concluded with a training session on Nigeria’s budget enactment process and a guided tour of the NILDS facility, marking a significant step in strengthening Nigeria-Zimbabwe legislative collaboration and knowledge exchange.