Connect with us

National News

Parliamentarians from West and East African to Train at NILDS

Published

on

Parliamentarians from West and East African to Train at NILDS

By: Michael Mike

Lawmakers from West and East African regions are to benefit from capacity building at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by ECOWAS Parliament and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

This training is to enhance is to enhance the capacity of African parliamentarians and advance democracy on the continent.

The resolution was reached at a roundtable on Friday when a delegation of the regional bodies visited the institute in Abuja.

The Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Sidie Mohamed Tunis said that there should be a policy for ECOWAS member states to send their parliamentarians to the institute to build capacity.

Tunis however said that he is happy to align ECOWAS Parliament with NILDS, noting that it was better to train parliamentarians and parliamentary staff at NILDS than The National Democratic Institute (NDI) in the United States.

He said: “If we have something like this here in Nigeria, I believe it is the responsibility of us in the legislature from everywhere in the subregion to take it as our own.

“I want to confirm to you that with immediate effect, we will sign an MoU between NILDS and ECOWAS Parliament.

“We are going to ensure training of not just legislators across the sub region but also our parliamentary staff.”

Tunis added that Africa is witnessing an emergence of young people coming into the legislative field as against the usual destination, the civil service.

He said that most of the young people do not have the requisite qualifications, hence the need to build their capacity in motion bill drafting among others.

Tunis said that Africa is trying to unite and that regional bodies like the African Union must lead the initiative.

In his remarks, the Speaker of EALA, Hon. said the EALA is made up of parliamentarians from seven countries of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda.

He said that his primary aim in Nigeria was to canvass support for the Speaker of Tanzania parliament, Dr. Tulia Ackson to emerge President of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The EALA speaker said he was happy to learn about NILDS, adding that the job being done at NILDS was the best for Africa.

He said that the EALA will also sign an MoU with NILDS to build the capacity of parliamentarians and parliamentary staff for effective legislatures on the continent.

The Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman said that the institute was established to train legislators and parliamentary staff.

He said the reason was to support the arm of government which had suffered casualties over the years of military rule.

Sulaiman said that the mandate of the institute which is fully funded by the government of Nigeria and has autonomy, has been expanded to provide for support political parties and civil society organsiations among others.

He said that the institute has 11 departments out of which seven are academic while the other four provide support for the parliament.

The DG said that laws or policies made in ignorance and devoid of research will not stand the test of time saying that African democracy needed institutions like NILDS.

“This institute is involved in what ECOWAS parliament is doing, beyond that we want to expand our hand of friend to East African Parliaments.

“We are ready to enter into MoU with you, we are ready to work with you in any area you want us to, whether in the area of election, parliamentary administration, legislative studies and procedures, we are ready to work with you,” he said.

Welcoming the dignitaries, the Institute’s Director of Legislative Support, Edoba Omoregie, a professor and SAN, said NILDS is Nigeria’s think-tank for the country’s National Assembly and even state assemblies.

Mr Omoregie listed some of the mandate responsibilities of the institute, including drafting bills, analysing bills, provision of a wide array of legislative products, election monitoring and supervision, research and many more.

Parliamentarians from West and East African to Train at NILDS

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National News

Chieftaincy dispute causes chaos in Muye village in Niger

Published

on

Chieftaincy dispute causes chaos in Muye village in Niger

By: Zagazola Makama

A renewed chieftaincy tussle in Muye village, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, has sparked violent confrontations between rival supporters, prompting swift intervention by security operatives.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the crisis began around 6:20 p.m. on Thursday when the deposed village head, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulkadir Maigari II, forcefully returned to Muye and broke into the palace.

The incident provoked tension among residents, especially after supporters of the current Dakachi confronted the deposed monarch. The situation was immediately brought under control by a team of security personnel from Lapai.

However, Zagazola learnt that the situation escalated on Friday morning when supporters of both camps clashed again, leading to a free-for-all fight that disrupted public peace in the community.

Security sources were swiftly deployed to Muye to restore normalcy.

“The combined security teams have brought the situation under control. Monitoring and surveillance operations are ongoing to prevent further breakdown of law and order,” the source said.

No casualties or arrests have been officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

Chieftaincy dispute causes chaos in Muye village in Niger

Continue Reading

National News

Eid-el-Kabir: IPCR Calls on Nigerians to Peace, Harmony

Published

on

Eid-el-Kabir: IPCR Calls on Nigerians to Peace, Harmony

By: Michael Mike

Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has called on Nigerians to promote peace and harmony in their communities, recognizing that peace is essential to national development and progress.

The advice was given by the Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, in his message on Eid-el-Kabir.

The Institute, while extending warm greetings to Nigerians, wished them a joyous and peaceful celebration, marked by love, compassion, and unity.

The Institute while noting that Sallah is a significant occasion in the Islamic calendar, symbolizing the values of sacrifice, gratitude, and community, emphasized that the spirit of Sallah should guide Nigerians in their interactions with one another, fostering a culture of peace, tolerance, and understanding.

The IPCR urged Nigerians to promote peace and harmony in their communities, recognizing that peace is essential to national development and progress, while
encouraging individuals to embrace the values of Sallah, including forgiveness, empathy, and kindness, in their daily lives.

According to IPCR, peace is critical to promoting national stability and cohesion.

The Institute also urged Nigerians to use this period of Sallah celebration to address conflicts and promote dialogue, which could help to build trust and understanding among Nigerians and also contribute to a more peaceful society.

It recognized that the country’s many ethnic and religious groups can work together to build a more harmonious society, celebrating their differences and promoting a culture of tolerance.
End

Continue Reading

National News

Community Leader Seeks Tinubu’s Urgent Intervention in Incessant Plateau Killing

Published

on

Community Leader Seeks Tinubu’s Urgent Intervention in Incessant Plateau Killing

By: Michael Mike

A community leader and the Waziri Mushere of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, Chief Yohana Margif has expressed dismay over the incessant killing of innocent citizens of the community.

Margif made this known in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Abuja.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene to halt what he described as genocide against the people, which he said was being perpetrated by suspected herdsmen.

Margif also called on Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, and other security chiefs in the country, to rein in the alleged culprits.

He said: “I would like to draw the attention of the topmost leadership in Nigeria to the deteriorating dire security situation in Plateau, particularly in Mushere Chiefdom of Bokkos LGA.

“I urge President Tinubu to take immediate decisive action to halt these endless and senseless killings, protect lives and properties, and secure the future of the Mushere people, and other victims of obvious genocide against the people.

“Herdsmen are killing our innocent people, burning their homes, looting their foodstuff, property, livestock, and taking over their ancestral lands,” he said.

According to the Abuja-based real estate mogul, the attacks and attendant killings have intensified recently since the onset of this year’s farming season.

Margif further said that the people had been displaced from their villages and ancestral homes and were forced to become internally displaced persons in the country.

He emphasised that the situation required immediate intervention by all stakeholders in order to prevent further escalation and inflict an irredeemable harm by wiping out the entire community from the surface of the earth.

He lamented that: “Since President Tinubu’s administration began, Plateau State has witnessed an unprecedented escalation of violence and loss of lives.

“This is the current sad reality. Our people are constantly under the threat of the enemy’s bullets and can’t sleep with two eyes closed due to the perpetual unleashing of violence against them by external forces.

“Something urgent must be done to stem the tide of violence and end this war against the people in order not to
harm this administration’s reputation,” Margif said.

In the past couple of days, suspected herdsmen militia killed no fewer than 35 people in the localities of Hokk, Pangkap, Fokoldep, Kopmur, Margif, Horop, Mbor, Mushere and Kwahas localities in Mushere Chiefdom.

Chairman, Bokkos Community Peace Observers, Kefas Mallai, who confirmed the killings to newsmen, said the victims included a 70-year-old Pastor of COCIN LCC Kwakas-Mushere, Mimang Lekyil, who was attacked and killed in the church.

He said that the pastor’s wife was also shot in the leg and was admitted at the Jos University Teaching Hospital for treatment, he said.

“Bokkos has never been this insecure, with the people being butchered as we are currently witnessing,” Lilian Madaki, from the Mushere community told journalists.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Emmanuel Adesina, also confirmed the incident in a statement saying security forces including police and military personnel, had been deployed in the affected communities.

Community Leader Seeks Tinubu’s Urgent Intervention in Incessant Plateau Killing

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights