National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has commenced a specialised capacity-building programme for members and principal officers of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, aimed at strengthening legislative practice, effective constituency representation, and oversight.
The programme brought together the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley, the Majority Leader, Hon. Kate Mamuno Raymond, other principal officers, and members of the Assembly, as well as senior officials and resource persons from NILDS.
The Director General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, was represented by the Director of Studies, Dr. Asimiyu Abiola.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General, Dr. Asimiyu welcomed the Adamawa lawmakers and highlighted NILDS commitment to strengthening the capacity of legislative institutions through continuous training, research, and technical support.
He noted that the effectiveness of democratic governance depends largely on the competence and professionalism of legislators, stressing that state legislatures occupy a critical position in lawmaking, representation and executive oversight.
He emphasised the five key responsibilities of legislators to their constituents to see, hear, feel, think and speak for the people noting that effective representation requires legislators to remain sufficiently informed and responsive to the needs of their constituents.
He further stressed the importance of strong legislative oversight, noting that weak oversight can undermine accountability and effective governance. He encouraged the lawmakers to take full advantage of the expertise of the resource persons and translate the knowledge gained into practical improvements in their legislative responsibilities.
The Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley, in his remarks, underscored the importance of continuous capacity development for legislators, particularly in view of the increasing complexity of governance and citizens’ expectations. He urged participants to approach the training with commitment and ensure that the knowledge acquired translates into improved legislative performance.
The workshop covers key areas including legislative practice and procedure, constituency representation, motions and resolutions, budget processes, legislative oversight and project monitoring.
The programme reflects NILDS continued commitment, under the leadership of Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, to strengthening legislative capacity and supporting more effective, accountable and responsive democratic institutions across Nigeria.
