A bill aimed at transforming the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) into a regional university focused on legislative training and democratic governance has successfully passed its first reading in the Senate.
This development comes just two days after Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin announced the initiative.
The proposed legislation, known as the West African University of Legislative Studies (Establishment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1087), was introduced during Wednesday’s Senate session, marking a significant step towards converting the institute into a fully operational university that will serve Nigeria and other nations within the West African region.
Barau, who also holds the position of First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, revealed his proposal on Monday at the 10th Convocation Ceremony for NILDS–University of Benin postgraduate programmes in Abuja.
He mentioned ongoing discussions with NILDS Director-General, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, regarding the potential transformation.
In a statement released on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, it was noted that the proposed institution would build upon NILDS’ existing infrastructure and institutional capabilities to deliver specialized education in legislative practices, democratic governance, and institutional development.
Barau emphasized that this initiative aims to enhance Nigeria’s role in regional integration by establishing a platform where legislators and stakeholders from West Africa can acquire specialized knowledge and skills.
He asserted that the institute’s current facilities and expertise in legislative studies lay a solid foundation for its transition into a university with an expanded regional scope.
The Deputy Senate President also highlighted Nigeria’s role as host to significant ECOWAS institutions, including the ECOWAS Parliament, Commission, and Court of Justice, as a strategic advantage for the establishment of a regional center for legislative capacity building.
He indicated that the proposed university would provide legislators from Nigeria and other ECOWAS member states with opportunities to deepen their understanding of lawmaking, democratic institutions, and governance.
Barau expressed confidence that the National Assembly would approve the bill and that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would endorse it.
However, it is important to note that this proposal is still in its early legislative phase, having only passed its first reading in the Senate.
Further parliamentary review is necessary before it can be enacted into law.
