Legislative institute trains Akwa Ibom lawmakers on law making to promote good governance

The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has charged the legislators to work towards building political parties around well-articulated ideologies rather than mere opportunistic tools for seeking elections.

He gave this charge in his remarks during the training workshop on Capacity Building organized in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), at Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resorts, in Akwa Ibom State, yesterday.

The DG who was represented by Dr Shuaibu Danwanka, said the lawmakers would brainstorm on how to share ideas on building capacity to impact positively on the people.

He said the capacity-building workshop attended by House of Assembly members from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and the Enugu States would enrich their performance, stressing that the essence of the workshop was to see how to add value to the lawmakers and make Nigeria better for its citizens.

According to him, the topics were carefully selected to respond to the specific needs of lawmakers as well as other general national issues that have a direct bearing on the legislature.

“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 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,” he said.

Sulaiman added that the institute would continue to work on its mandate to build the 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 working relationship with the State Houses of Assembly.