The National Assembly, through the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), has established ‘Democracy Radio’ in Abuja to propagate the activities of the legislature.
On Tuesday, NILDS Director-General, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman conducted reporters on a tour of facilities of the station in Asokoro ahead of the formal opening today.
According to him, the station is an independent body to basically educate Nigerians on legislative procedures, practices and democracy generally. “Democracy Radio, as envisioned, is to serve as a nexus between parliament and the people, and practically serves as disseminating unit to Nigerians about democracy.
“The Radio station will be independent, it will not be a quasi-establishment, and when fully operational, it will have more information than any other Radio station going by the resources and facilities that will be at its disposal, one of which is the standardised website already provided for it,” he said.
Sulaiman said a newly created Legislative Centre for Security Analysis was also domiciled in the premises of the Radio station to primarily provide solutions to myriad of security challenges facing the country.
The Centre, he explained, will synergise with security outfits in the country on threat situations and find solutions through legislation, policy formulation and implementation.
He also hinted at plans to upgrade NILDS into a full-fledged university. According to Sulaiman, the institute’s permanent site in Piwoyi District, on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road, Abuja, has structures and facilities many of the licensed private universities don’t have.
He said: “What is needed for a university is already available at the Institute. What is required now is the political will for the transformation into University for Legislative Studies”.
The don noted that the permanent site of NILDS which will be opened tomorrow will immediately be occupied by the Administrative and Finance departments, while the Library and Postgraduate Units will join later.
