Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, expressed his appreciation for the exceptional contribution of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to Nigeria’s democratic society during the 2023 Democracy Day Lecture in Abuja. Abbas emphasized the importance of political stability in realizing economic improvement, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure development.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu represented Abbas and delivered a speech on the theme of the lecture, “Democracy and the State of the Nation: Towards Agenda Setting for the New Administration.” Abbas expressed his satisfaction with Nigeria’s democratic progress despite facing various challenges.

Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, the Director General of NILDS, highlighted the significance of the lecture’s theme, stating that it provided an opportunity to evaluate the nation’s democratic governance, address political and socio-economic challenges, and provide recommendations for the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the present administration’s agenda-setting mechanism.

During the lecture, esteemed individuals such as Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, former Vice Chancellor of UniAbuja; Prof. Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who moderated the discussions; and General Henry Ayoola, Rtd, former commander of the Special Task Force Operation Safe Haven, gathered to reflect on Nigeria’s democracy and the current state of the nation.

Other notable participants included Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, Prof. Rotimi Suberu, Prof. Anthonia T. Simbine, Prof. Mike Kwanashie, and Barrister Ebere Ifendu.