Nigerian Senate advances bill to create West African legislative university

The Nigerian Senate has passed the first reading of the West African University of Legislative Studies (Establishment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1087). The legislation seeks to transform the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) into a full-fledged regional university.

Sponsored by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau I. Jibrin, the bill aims to serve Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region. The proposed institution, to be known as the West African University of Legislative Studies (WAULS), is intended to strengthen legislative practice, democratic governance, and regional integration across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Senator Barau, who also serves as the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, noted that Nigeria’s role in hosting key ECOWAS institutions positions the country to host a regional center for legislative capacity building and democratic development.