National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) is an organ of the National Assembly established by an Act of Parliament. President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the National Institute for Legislative Studies Act 2011 on March 2nd 2011 following the passage of the same by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

NILDS builds on the successes of the Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP), established in 2003 as a capacity building institution of the National Assembly with the financial support of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). For over 7 years PARP has helped to strengthen the capacities of legislators and ensure that the positions and proposals advanced by the National Assembly are informed by requisite research and analytical support.

In 2016, the Institute’s Governing Council approved the establishment of new department of Democratic Studies as well as a Department for Post Graduate Studies. On January 26th, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the National Institute for Legislative Studies (Amendment) Act, 2017. This expansion will enable the Institute to provide capacity development services to democratic Institutions and governance in Nigeria.