Senator Tejuoso Seeks NILDS Expertise in Honing The Skills Of The Health Committee In The Senate
The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Ladi Hamalai and the Management Staff on Wednesday, 15th August, 2018 played host to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Distinguished Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso who led a delegation to intimate the Director General with some of the initiatives of the Health Committee, especially the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage.
Senator Tejuoso informed on the strategic plans for the Legislative Network, particularly, facilitation of the release of and utilization of the 1% consolidated revenue fund included in the federal 20-18 fiscal budget to provide quality basic package of health services to the poor and vulnerable, especially pregnant women, children under five years of age and the elderly.
While commending the impactful role the Institute has been playing in the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage, especially the development of training modules based on best practices in legislative functions, he sought for further assistance in the area of equipping legislators with necessary skills and resources required to apply their functions and in the effective oversight of the implementation of the fund for judicious utilization and accountability.
His delegation comprised of the Chief of Arty, Health Finance and Governance Project, Dr. Gafar Alawode and the Project Coordinator, Health Finance and Governance Project, Ms. Juliana Aribo-Abude.
While responding, the Director General, Prof. Ladi Hamalai expressed appreciation to the Senator for the recognition of the Institute’s works which she said will encourage her to do more. She however proffered ways of realizing the strategic plans among which are brainstorming sessions, developing key goals that are achievable and monitoring and evaluation.
Prof. Hamalai said, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies is not only equipped with experts in every field but also poised to improve capacity of Legislators to sustain and consolidate democratic governance through deliberation and policy formulation, Improve the technical capacity of legislative staff, committee secretaries and political aides to process appropriation bills and policy oversight of the executive.
In attendance were the top echelon of management at the Institute, Director, Finance and Administration, Dr. Kabir Ahmed, Director, Research and Training, Dr. Adeyemi Fajingbesi, Director, Legislative support Services, Prof Tawfiq Ladan and the Director, Democratic Studies, Prof. Femi Ajayi.