Abuja: The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament and Commission to embrace evidence-based research. The institute emphasized the importance of using research as a foundation for policymaking and legislation to effectively address the sub-region's challenges.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, NILDS Director-General, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, highlighted this need during the closing ceremony of a two-week workshop for some members of staff of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja. The workshop, titled 'Enhancing Evidence-Based Parliamentary Practice and Procedure Through Sound Research Techniques, Diplomacy, Stakeholder Engagement and Modern Data-Driven Decision Making,' aimed to bridge the gap between research and policymaking.
Sulaiman stressed the necessity for West African leaders to implement sustainable solutions to persistent regional crises such as insecurity, political instability, climate change, and economic hardship. He called for the rejuvenation of the commission's research department to meet the sub-region's current demands, noting that the recent military coups in three countries indicated the need for improved policy and legislative actions.
The Director-General emphasized that ECOWAS leaders should base major decisions on sound, evidence-based research. He argued that research output is crucial for navigating Africa's challenges, including climate change, economic issues, and security concerns. He highlighted the training session as a significant step towards integrating academic insight into regional governance processes, thereby building a more stable and proactive West African legislative system.
Sulaiman, a former Minister of National Planning, asserted that Africa's needs and challenges could be addressed internally without reliance on Western countries. He criticized the underutilization of Africa's human and natural resources and advocated for local capacity building to conserve resources.
The Director-General urged the commission and its parliament to leverage NILDS's capabilities to deliver empirical research for the region. He also announced the upcoming inauguration of a special programme, 'Advance Educational Executive Programme,' targeted at top sectoral experts in the country.
Earlier, Mr. Dalhatu Zaidu, the Strategic Planning Officer of ECOWAS Parliament, praised the institute for the workshop. He compared it favorably to international workshops and highlighted its practical and rich content. Zaidu emphasized the importance of increased engagement and cooperation with national, regional, and global stakeholders through regular consultations and information sharing.
He underscored the need for enhanced parliamentary diplomatic engagements and the utilization of existing research capacities for data collection and analysis. This approach would inform evidence-based parliamentary decision-making at both the technical and political levels of the ECOWAS Parliament. Zaidu also advocated for the use of modern data analysis applications and artificial intelligence to support ECOWAS Parliamentarians in their regional integration and development efforts.