Nigeria

Assistance to INEC and to Electoral Process in Nigeria. Study for Support Programme to Parliament and State Assemblies in Nigeria

BiRD-Bureau for Institutional
Reform and Democracy

Implementing Agency	Bureau for Institutional Reform and Democracy GmbH
Financing Agency	Contracted via UN-OPS, but EDF-funded
Start-Completion	01/2000 03/2000
Staff-months	3/1.5
Partner	Government of Nigeria
Project Background	After years of military dictatorship, Nigeria is undergoing a democratisation process involving the transfer of power to an elected civilian government and multi-party democracy. Following the successful inauguration of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in May 1999, the European Union lifted all sanctions as from 1st of June 1999. The Nigerian government requested assistance from the EU and other donors to strengthen democratic institutions, notably the National and State Assemblies, which are key institutions in the new Nigerian political system. The study focussed on the following issues: - to enhance the capacity to process legislation in a timely manner; - to improve the effectiveness of Parliament and State assemblies in knowing and implementing the priorities of the population; - to describe and analyse the key problems that impede the Parliament and State Assemblies from functioning properly (both technically and politically); - to consider the areas of staffing, establishment/ development of documentation centres, enhancement of buildings and equipment, definition of a communication policy and of donors co-ordination; - to gather basic documents, exchange views with the EC Delegation, other donors and Nigerian authorities, and obtain any other studies or similar papers produced on the subject by other donors and individuals - and to observe the "EC Technical Note Relating to Assistance in the Domain of the Legislature".
Project Objectives	The project intended to contribute to the development and the reinforcement of the democratic system in Nigeria, and to provide the Government of Nigeria and the EC with a financing proposal for a programme of assistance for an efficient and effective functioning of the relevant institutions. The proposal should propose the areas of support, the appropriate beneficiaries, a structure that could prepare and manage the interventions, and give an overview of both existing and foreseen interventions by the donor community.
Project Activities	Needs Assessment Project Design
Results	The study analysed all of the above issues, and the team produced a financing proposal for a two-year project with a budget of 8 Mio. Euro to focus on six selected State House Assemblies and the National Assembly. The project is currently being tendered by the EC.

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