A bill seeking to transform the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) into a regional university dedicated to legislative studies and democratic governance has scaled first reading in the Senate.
The proposed West African University of Legislative Studies (Establishment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1087), was presented during plenary on Wednesday, marking the first legislative step towards establishing the institution.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, is sponsoring the bill, two days after announcing his intention to initiate the process at the 10th Convocation Ceremony of the NILDS–University of Benin (UNIBEN) postgraduate programmes in Abuja.
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Barau, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, had disclosed at the event that he was discussing the proposed transformation with the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Barau said the proposed university would build on NILDS’ existing infrastructure and institutional capacity to provide specialised training for legislators and other stakeholders across West Africa.
He said the institution could serve as a regional centre for legislative practice, democratic governance and institutional development, attracting participants from Nigeria and other member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Barau also cited Nigeria’s strategic position as host to key ECOWAS institutions, including the ECOWAS Parliament, ECOWAS Commission and ECOWAS Court of Justice, as a reason the country could accommodate a regional university focused on legislative capacity building.
Speaking at the convocation ceremony, the Deputy President of the Senate said the proposed institution would strengthen regional cooperation and promote closer ties among West African countries through education and legislative engagement.
“Going by the quality of infrastructure this great institute has acquired over the years, there is a need for it to be transformed into a full-fledged university,” he said.
Barau added that the institution should admit legislators from across ECOWAS member states, describing the initiative as an opportunity to extend Nigeria’s role in fostering regional unity and cooperation.
The proposed university is expected to provide specialised academic and professional training in legislative practice, democratic governance and institutional development.
Barau expressed optimism that the National Assembly would pass the bill and that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would assent to it.
The bill’s passage through first reading represents an initial stage in the legislative process. It must undergo further consideration and secure passage by the National Assembly before being presented to the President for assent.
