Coming soon4 Nov 2026
One of the world’s premier parliamentary academic and research institutions, NILDS supports the sustenance of dynamic and effective legislature in Nigeria — at Federal, State and Local levels — and the ECOWAS sub-region.
NILDS DG
The Institute
About National Institute for Legislative & Democratic Studies
One of the world’s premier academic and research institutions, NILDS supports the sustenance of dynamic and effective Legislature in Nigeria — at Federal, State and Local level — and the ECOWAS sub-region.
The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) is an organ of the National Assembly established by an Act of Parliament. President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act 2011 on March 2nd 2011 following the passage of the same by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
In 2016, the Institute’s Governing Council approved the establishment of a new department of Democratic Studies as well as a Department for Post Graduate Studies. On January 26th, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Institute for Legislative Studies (Amendment) Act, 2017 — enabling the Institute to provide capacity development services to democratic institutions and governance in Nigeria.
2011
Founded by Act of Parliament, 2 March
2017
Amendment Act extends the mandate
ECOWAS
Service to the sub-regional parliament
What we do
Core areas of work
01
Legislative Support Services
To ensure the quality and effectiveness of laws, NILDS is actively involved in Legislative Drafting, Drafting of motions and Resolutions, Bill Analysis and Scrutiny, Support for committees and more.
02
Teaching & Research
The Institute recognizes that individuals respond to different teaching and learning styles. It adopts pedagogic approaches which enable participants to be actively involved in the learning process.
03
Training
Through its training programmes, NILDS enhances the capacities of legislators and staff to become more effective in carrying out their mandate.
04
Policy Analysis
An important objective of NILDS is the dissemination of research output and designing or analysing policies that could be translated into legislation or imputed into the policymaking process.
05
Legislative Centre for Security Analysis
LeCeSA is the peace and security research arm of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, under the National Assembly of Nigeria.
Calendar
Programmes & events
Featured programme
The Quiz State Competition
The state quiz state competition across the 36 states, scheduled for 29th September, 2026.
View event10
Nov 2026
Training · NILDS, Airport Road, Abuja
A 3-Day Capacity Building Programme on Effective Security Management in the Legislature for Serjeant-At-Arms, Chamber Assistants, Other Paramilitary Personnel and Legislative Aides (Protocol) of Katsina State House of Assembly
Capacity building programme, 10th – 12th November 2026.
10
Nov 2026
Training · NILDS, Airport Road, Abuja
A 3-Day Capacity Building Programme on Strengthening the Legislative Bureaucracy in Providing Effective Technical and Administrative Support for Optimal Performance of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.
Capacity building programme, 10th – 12th November 2026.
10
Nov 2026
CAPACITY BUILDING · NILDS Meeting Room, First Floor
3 Day Capacity Building Workshop on Strengthening Inter-Agency Collaboration, Legislative, Policy and Law Enforcement Capacity for Effective Drug Control and International Cooperation in Nigeria
17
Nov 2026
Training · NILDS, Airport Road, Abuja
A 3-Day Capacity Building Programme on Leadership Development and Innovative Management Skills for Effective Performance and Implementation of Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria for Clerks and Legislative Councillors of Taraba State
Capacity building programme, 17th – 19th November 2026.
Newsroom
Latest news
News4 Nov 2026
NILDS DG, Sulaiman, Hails First Lady’s Golf Legacy Initiative, Says AACT 2026 Will Advance Women’s Empowerment, African Unity
The Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, Professor Abubakar O. Sulaiman, has commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her commitment…
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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION4 Nov 2026
NILDS Receives Nigerian-Malta Parliamentary Friendship Group, Pledges Collaboration
National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has received members of the Nigerian-Malta Parliamentary Friendship Group of the House of Representatives on a courtesy visit to explore…
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Scholarship & access
Resource centre
Library
Four major sections — Technical, Reader Services, ICT and Archives — supporting your research and information needs.
Legislative Archive
Preserves and makes available to the public the historical records of the National Assembly and the research records of the Institute.
Institutional Repository
Open access to the Institute’s research output in digital form, including articles and the Institute’s publications.
OPAC
A user-friendly digital platform providing access to the resources available in the library.
Gallery & film
Media
▶
Film · NILDS Permanent Site
NILDS Permanent Site
Through the development of its infrastructure the Institute targets to be an internationally recognized research outfit that facilitates the development and sustenance of dynamic and effective legislature and democracy in not only Nigeria but the sub-region and the entire African continent.
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Enquiries
Contact Us
Get in touch — we’d like to hear from you. At NILDS we’re passionate about your feedback and enquiries, and it shows in the level of service we provide. We’re more than happy to answer your questions and resolve any problems you may have.
Find us
NILDS Permanent Site, Piwoyi
No 2 Abubakar Sulaiman Avenue, Cadastral Zone COO, off Umaru Musa Yar’adua Expressway, Abuja.
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