By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The need to promote good governance in Nigeria through effective legislations for the benefit of the people, topped reason for the training organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) on Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
With participants drawn fromAkwa Ibom, Enugu and Cross River states Houses of Assembly members, the exercise is hoped to enrich their performance.
The Director General of the Institute, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, in his remarks during the training on Thursday, said the capacity building workshop was organised in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) to equip the lawmakers on effective representation.
Sulaiman, who was represented by Dr. Shuaibu Danwanka, said the the lawmakers would brainstorm on how to share ideas, build capacity and impact positively on the people.
He said the essence of the workshop is to see how to add value to the lawmakers and make Nigeria better for its citizens.
The director-general said the topics were carefully selected to respond to the specific needs of lawmakers as well as other general national issues that have direct bearing on the legislature.
Sulaiman charged the legislators to work towards building political parties around well-articulated ideologies rather than as mere opportunistic tools for seeking elections.
“It is my pleasure to welcome the Speaker and members of the Enugu, Cross River and Akwa Ibom State Houses of Assembly to the first in the series of workshops planned for State Houses of Assembly in 2022 by KAS and NILDS.
“The content of this year’s workshop is as rich in content as those of the previous years and generated based on our assessment of needs arising from our engagement in 2022 as well as inputs received from presiding officers of partner State Houses of Assembly.
“It is also critical that we begin to work towards building political parties around well-articulated ideologies rather than as mere opportunistic tools for seeking elections.
“Other issues to be considered in this workshop have a direct bearing on the work you do as legislators and prepare you for the transition ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“The topics are carefully selected to respond to the specific needs of your Assembly as well as other general national issues that have a direct bearing on the work you do as legislators,” Sulaiman said.
He charged the legislators to go back to their states with hope that the information shared would add value to them and bring positive effects on the people.
The DG said that the institute would continue to work on its mandate to build capacity of legislators both state and national to enhance good governance in the country.
He commended the partner, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and its Resident Representative, Dr Vladimir Kreck, for sustaining the relationship of intervention with the State Houses of Assembly.
