RuralPro, FES Nigeria, NILDS train LGA workers on grassroots legislation

The Foundation for Rural Proletariat and Community Advancement (RuralPro), in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Nigeria and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), concluded a two-day workshop on 23 May 2023 in Abuja.

The workshop, themed “Transforming Citizens’ Shared Priorities into Effective Legislation,” aimed to enhance the legislative knowledge and skills of local government legislators.

The workshop specifically targeted 10 local council members entrusted with the responsibility of translating citizens’ shared priorities into actionable laws and policies. The Founder of RuralPro, Mr Ojooluwa Ibiloye, emphasized the importance of equipping local councillors with the necessary skills and tools to foster a more inclusive legislative agenda and promote deliberative democratic processes for the benefit of the people they serve.

Dr. Daniel Mann, Resident Representation of FES Nigeria, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the incredible power of citizens when given the opportunity to shape policies, legislation, and decision-making processes. He urged participants to recognize their role as the first line of defense for democracy.

Representing NILDS, Rekiya Ibrahim Atta, Head of the Department of Training and International Cooperation, expressed their delight in partnering with RuralPro on this project. She stressed NILDS’ longstanding commitment to building the capacity of lawmakers at the local level.

The workshop featured a lecture by Dr. John Olanrewaju, former Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labor Studies (MINILS), on Local Government Systems in Nigeria. Dr. Olanrewaju shed light on the structures, functions, challenges, and prospects of local government systems, emphasising the need for local government autonomy to manage their own resources. He also called for collaboration among local government councils, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to ensure the recognition of local government as an independent tier of government.

Hon. Gado Shuaibu, the Councillor of Dobi Ward and Minority Leader of Gwagwalada Area Council, expressed his satisfaction with the training. Speaking on behalf of the participants, he acknowledged that prior to the workshop, they were unaware of some of their functions as legislators.

However, with the skills and knowledge gained from the workshop, they now feel equipped to become effective legislators and serve their constituencies better.

This workshop signifies a significant step towards building a more inclusive and participatory governance system in Nigeria. Through the collaborative efforts of RuralPro, FES Nigeria, and NILDS, local legislators in Gwagwalada-Abuja have gained crucial knowledge and skills to effectively represent their constituents and put the citizens at the centre of legislative actions.

RuralPro, a non-partisan, nongovernmental organization, remains dedicated to strengthening democratic practices rooted in citizens’ participation at the local level in Nigeria.