The Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, Prof. Abubakar O.Sulaiman has disclosed that the Institute has improved in its output compared to previous years.

He made this known while delivering his introductory address during the opening of the capacity-building workshop for the Institute’s academic staff.

The two-day event, a collaboration between NILDS and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, centered on enhancing NILDS’s standards and performance through evidence-based research, improving legislative effectiveness with thorough bill analysis and policy briefs, as well as research.

“Since my assumption as Director General, I have prioritized staff training and capacity building on international and national programmes. This workshop is another avenue to strengthen staff capacity in thematic areas that have been carefully selected. “Training and capacity building are inputs in human resource management and are expected to translate into qualitative output with measurable outcomes and impacts.

“A review of NILDS activities in 2023 shows clearly that staff training and capacity building have translated in enhancing staff performance. In the areas of bill analysis, bill drafting, and scrutiny, research and policy analysis, as well as stakeholder engagement with our principals and other democratic actors, NILDS has improved on all fronts. For instance, research, policy analysis, and policy briefs increased from 85 in 2022 to 151 in 2023. Drafted motions increased from 22 in 2022 to 48 in 2023, despite being an election year. Bill drafting and analysis also increased from 225 in 2022 to 312 in 2023”. He stated.

He further added that the aim of the training was to bring members of staff up to speed with developments across other democracies.

According to him, it will also to equip the staff with edge-cutting skills to continue to contribute to the growth of parliaments in Africa.