By Maryam Hameed
The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) had trained it’s senior staff on legislative security policy and management, with emphasis on identifying and responding to security threats within democratic institutions.
The three-day capacity-building programme, which began on Thursday, November 5, ends on Monday November 9.
Speaking at the program, Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, represented by the director of Finance and Accounts Mshelia Ibrahim, said the training became necessary due to the increasingly complex security environment in which democratic institutions operate.
Professor Sulaiman said legislative security extended beyond protecting buildings to safeguard lawmakers, parliamentary staff, visitors, critical infrastructure, institutional assets and sensitive information.
He explained that security arrangements must also preserve the openness and public access required of democratic institutions while enabling them to identify, prevent and respond to emerging threats.
Also the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, represented by Chinwo Justinah, said the training was designed to improve participants’ capacity to use modern security technology, communication gadgets and equipment.
He said the programme would also equip them to identify security intrusions and cyber threats.
Ogunlana said a secure environment would enable lawmakers to perform their duties without fear, allow staff to work with confidence and help citizens engage their representatives without anxiety.
He commended NILDS management for organising the programme and the institute’s training department for its preparations, which he said had lasted nearly 10 weeks.
Edited by Julian Osamoto
