***As Institute kick-off Democracy Radio
The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman has hinted that the institute
has all it takes to transform into a full fledged University in no distant time
Professor Sulaiman gave the indication in Abuja on Monday at the premises of Democracy Radio and Legislative Centre for Security Analysis, established by the Institute in Asokoro that is billed for commissioning, Wednesday this week.
He pointed out that the permanent site of the Institute sitting on 8.12 hectares (81,200m2) of land in Piwoyi District along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road, Abuja, has structures and facilities that many licensed Private Universities in the country cannot boast of.
“What are needed for a University to take off are already available at the Institute. What is required now, is the Political will for the transformation into University for Legislative Studies”, he stated.
He added that the Permanent site as seen by Journalists during the pre – commissioning inspection, will be occupied by Admin and Finance sections immediately after commissioning, while the Library and Post – Graduate Units, will join later.
According to him, the Democracy Radio established by the Institute as an independent body, is basically to educate Nigerians on Legislative Procedures, Practices and Democracy generally.
“Democracy Radio as envisioned, is to serve as nexus between Parliament and the People and practically serve as disseminating unit to Nigerians about Democracy.
“The Radio station is going to be on its own, operationally. It will not be a quasi establishment directly under another one.
“When fully operational after commissioning, it will have more information than any other Radio station in Nigeria going by the resources and facilities that will be at the disposal of the management and staff, one of which is the standardized website already provided for it “, he said.
The DG NILDS further noted that the Centre for Security Analysis established by the Institute, primarily is aimed at providing required solutions for myriads of security challenges facing the country.
The Centre he explained, will synergize with the various security outfits in the country on critical dissection of the problems at hand and lasting solutions for them by way of legislation, policy formulation and implementation.