Ladi Hamalai, ensuring positive and progressive growth of the National Assembly

If there is one woman from the northern part of Nigeria doing the women folk proud, then it is Ladi Hamalai, the director General of National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), Abuja. As Director General, her mandate and passion is that of ensuring positive progress to the growth and development of the National Assembly as the second arm of government through collaborated efforts of the stakeholders, as well as making the organ functional as one of the strongest that will impart positively on Nigeria and the West African sub-region. Despite her rich resume, the Associate Professor and the pioneer Project Coordinator of the Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP) at the National Assembly, holds a doctorate degree in development from the University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. She was a former director, planning, coordination and monitoring at the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as well as a member of the Vision 2020

committee. She is the recipient of many national honours including, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) bestowed by President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Woman of Distinction Award bestowed by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as one of the activities commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Nigeria as an Independent Country among others.

As an NYSC Graduate Assistant at Bayero University Kano on the special request of the Department of political science where she graduated, Ladi proceeded to University of Maiduguri as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of political science on completion in 1982 and rose to the rank of Lecturer 1 in 1996. She assumed duty on transfer of service at the Nigerian Defense Academy in 1998 as Senior Lecturer and was favourably assessed for the rank of Associate Professor with effect from October2001 before she left to assume duty as a Director in SMEDAN.

“I started work as the Director, Planning, Coordination and Monitoring in SMEDAN, The Presidency from January 2004 though I assumed responsibilities at the Agency since November 2003. I was appointed as project coordinator, Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP), National Assembly 2004-2011. After which I was appointed Director General, National Institute for Legislative Studies from 2011 till date.  I was a visiting Associate Professor at the Jubilee University Taraba State in 2009 and currently a visiting Associate Professor at the Nigerian Defense Academy Kaduna.” She reveals.

The National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) is an organ of the National Assembly established by an Act of Parliament. The Act establishing the National Institute for Legislative Studies was passed by both houses of the National Assembly and signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on March 2, 2011, NILs builds on the successes of the Policy Analysis and Research Project (PARP). “The vision of NILs is to be a world-class facility that would support the sustenance of dynamic and effective Legislature in Nigeria and the sub-region. Some of the objectives that the institute seeks to achieve include, acting as a world class multi-disciplinary institution capable of providing capacity building, research, policy analysis and extension services for the legislature at the Federal, State and Local Government levels, promoting best practices in legislative activities in Nigeria and countries in the sub-region.”  Ladi says. Sharing further on

trainings and essential services at the institute, Ladi says “some of the key services provided by NILS cover the following areas: Capacity building, teaching and research, publications etc.  In terms of capacity building the NILS organizes two types of training programmes for the legislature, national programmes and international programmes. The national courses are those organised within Nigeria and target legislators and parliamentary staff in the National and State Assemblies and Local Councils. These take the form of supply-driven open programmes and demand-driven tailored programmes.”

“The international training programmes on the other hand have three aspects: namely: programmes organised by NILS for foreign legislators and parliamentary staff; progammes arranged for NASS legislators and parliamentary staff in foreign training institutions and the internship programmes.” She explains.

Presently, the NILS has over 50 titles published on different aspects of legislative practice in Nigeria. Some of NILS’ important publications include the Nigeria Journal of Legislative Affairs. The Nigerian Journal of Legislative Affairs (NJLA) was established in 2011 with the sole aim of being at the forefront of cutting-edge research in all aspects of legislative research and development, particularly as they pertain to emerging democracies and legislatures. However, NILS maintains a close relationship with University of  Benin and Ladi tells me how “NILS is affiliated with the University Benin, Nigeria for both the Master’s Degrees and Postgraduate. NILs’ faculty members comprise in-house expert trainers, consultants and partner international institutions. It is accredited by the Nigerian National Universities Commission (NUC) to conduct Master’s and PGD programmes.  We have experienced professionals who are very good on topics relating to

the legislature, economic, social and political developments, and development management. Our in-house experts are also well schooled, professional in their own rights ready to take on any task there are given in the course of dispensing their duties. Additionally, at least 17 experienced external resource persons and consultants are also available to the institute.” She informs me.

It’s barely two years Ladi became Director General but the result speak for itself. “Thank you Kemi for the commendation. As a capacity builder, my first most important role is to build the capacity. We started off by organising seminars with the relevant bodies and a retreat held with the staff and management of NILS in addition to a weeklong orientation programme which held in May 2012 with a view to throwing more light on the vision and mission of the institute as well as on its core values. What we have done in the last two years is to ensure that we work together as a team; we have tirelessly worked to deliver on promise to ensure optimum performance of the legislature in order to meet up with the challenge of nurturing our democracy.” She says.

Speaking on the low representation of women in the National Assembly, Ladi has this to say “Women are nation builders. Although the female representatives are forthright and vocal, their low number compared to their male counterparts stalls the level of influence they wield in the House.  There is need to sensitize women on policies that will advance the course of women in the country. On women empowerment and the visibility of women in elective positions, the factors militating against women seeking elective positions would be greatly minimized if women support each other more.”

“The effort given by the political parties and by the president to women is pushing women more to the forefront.  The gender strategy for the National Assembly seeks to conduct a gender mainstreaming strategy for the National Assembly towards strengthening its responsiveness to gender and women’s rights issues while promoting the synergy between the legislature and the executive to deliver services to girls and women.” Says Ladi.

Hear Ladi give her summerised opinion on women’s representation in nation building. “Nigeria has made some improvements when it comes to appointments but the percentage has not really changed when it comes to the ratio of women to men. Presidents have different benchmark when it comes to female representation looking at the Nigerian example viz a viz other countries. In the United States for example, the story is not different as women representation is about 25 % hence it is not better than what is obtainable in Nigeria. In the Scadinavian countries, it’s up to 50 % in both legislative and the executive, it’s about 50 – 50. In Nigeria now, women representation is at 35%. In Nigeria, the legislature is less that 8% representation. The 50 – 50 ratios is the scenario that Nigeria really wants. You can see the variation from country to country.”

“Women politicians are not able to compete as well as their male counterparts or be able to maintain the positive stance within the society especially in elective positions.  Women can have a fair deal where affirmative action thrives. Affirmative action helps to ensure women gain where there is some level of   regulation. Women naturally experience certain limitations, biases and discrimination due to issues of cultural heritage.” She concludes.

Kemi Ajumobi