Westminster Foundation for Democracy says it is working with the Delta State House of Assembly to establish a functional Post-Legislative Scrutiny Unit within its legislative and administrative structure.
Mr. Adeboeale Olorunmola, Country Director of Westminister Foundation for Democracy Nigeria stated this in Asaba at a workshop organized by the foundation on Post Legislative Scrutiny for the Speaker and members of the Delta State House of Assembly ,
He described Post Legislative Scrutiny as an essential democratic mechanism for assessing the implementation and impact of laws.
Olorunmola stated further, ”By embedding it into the legislative process, Westminister Foundation for Democracy aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and public trust in governance.”
”The move follows the successful establishment of Nigeria’s first dedicated Post Legislative Scrutiny Unit at the Oyo State House of Assembly , a pioneering project that has since become a model for institutionalising Post Legislative Scrutiny across the country’s legislative framework”
He reaffirmed commitment of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy to strengthening legislative accountability and evidence-based governance in Nigeria with the extension of its Post-Legislative Scrutiny initiative to the Delta State House of Assembly.
“Our work in Delta State represents another important milestone in deepening democratic accountability at the sub-national level. By equipping lawmakers and staff with the skills to conduct Post-Legislative Scrutiny, we are helping to ensure that laws are not just passed, but that they deliver real results for citizens.
The initiative, titled “Enhancing the Impact of Sub-National Assemblies through Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS)”, seeks to strengthen the Assembly’s capacity to review and assess the effectiveness of laws, policies, and their impact on citizens”
”Between November 2021 and February 2022, WFD, in collaboration with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), launched the PLS Academy, which trained staff from NILDS and the National Assembly on global best practices in PLS. The training produced a position paper on institutionalising PLS in Nigeria—now widely disseminated and serving as a strategic foundation for future interventions”
“The project’s objectives include assessing current knowledge of Post Legislative Scrutiny among lawmakers and staff of the Delta State Housr of Assrmbly and the State Ministry of Justice, organising tailored training sessions, and piloting the creation of a dedicated Post Legislative Scrutiny Unit. The initiative also aims to build synergy between the legislature and the executive to ensure more coordinated and impactful law implementation”, Olorunmola added.
In a keynote address, the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor said establishing a culture of Post Legislative Scrutiny would enhance the quality of lawmaking, promote evidence-based policymaking, and deepen people’s ’ trust in the legislative institution.
While thanking the Westminster Foundation for Democracy for organizing the workshop and for the unique partnership with the Delta State House of Assembly, the Speaker said the Delta State House of Assembly had passed many progressive laws covering sectors such as health, education, environment, social welfare, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
He noted that without mechanisms for post legislative evaluation, it becomes difficult to measure their real impact or to identify challenges in implementation.
Guwor said, ”As legislators, our constitutional responsibility does not end with the passage of a bill. We must ensure that the laws we enact serve the people’s interests, remain relevant in a changing society, and are implemented faithfully by the executive arm of government”
”That is why this workshop is both timely and necessary. Across the world, especially in advanced democracies such as the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth jurisdictions, Post Legislative Scrutiny has become an established practice. It allows parliaments to monitor implementation, engage stakeholders, and make amendments where necessary”
”The Delta State House of Assembly is poised to join this league and to become the second in the country , after Oyo State House of Assembly and the first Legislature in the South-South region. We will not stop merely as number two in the country but will strive to become a leading example of how subnational legislatures can innovate to serve their people better”
Guwor affirmed the commitment of the 8th Delta State House of Assembly to institutionalizing Post Legislative Scrutiny as a key component of our legislative processes.
He highlighted the strategies to adopt to include building capacity of the staff to undertake evidence-based scrutiny ; collaborating with civil society, academia, and the media to ensure openness and inclusiveness; and working closely with the Executive to ensure recommendations from Post Legislative Scrutiny are implemented effectively.
The workshop was also organized for senior officials of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, permanent secretaries, legal drafters, and representatives from NILDS and other development partners.
