Legislative institute graduates 77 masters students

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) yesterday graduated 77 masters students for 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions.

Of the total number, 18 bagged masters in Legislative Studies and four got masters in Legislative Drafting both for 2015/2016 session.

For the 2016/2017 session, 33 bagged masters in Legislative Studies, nine got their masters in Legislative Drafting and 13 bagged masters in Parliamentary Administration.

Speaking at the second convocation ceremony of NILDS/University of Benin Postgraduate Programme held at the National Assembly, Abuja, Senate President and chairman of the institute’s Governing Council, Bukola Saraki said the institute’s postgraduate programmes have come to stay.

Saraki said it was “most gratifying” that the institute has achieved remarkable success in the last few years, noting that the National Assembly and other individuals stand to benefit immensely from the institute.

On his part, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who is the alternate chairman of the NILDS Governing Council, said the National Assembly must receive priority attention in terms of capacity building in order to attain stable, strong and effective governance in Nigeria.

Dogara said in maturing democracies like Nigeria, the legislature remains the true face of democracy, adding that it serves as the stabilising force with robust constitutional powers to check-mate the executive arm from misuse and abuse of power which occasionally rears its head.