Key points
- The Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre and the European Union have urged 40 legislative interns to actively contribute to Nigeria’s governance.
- The selected participants were chosen from a competitive pool of over 3,000 applicants across the country.
- Interns will be embedded within various committees of the National Assembly for a duration of 10 weeks.
- The initiative focuses on exposing youth to lawmaking, promoting active citizenship, and deepening the understanding of democratic institutions.
- Stakeholders highlighted a severe lack of inclusive governance, noting that women occupy less than four per cent of seats in the 10th National Assembly.
Main Story
The Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and the European Union (EU) have called on participants of the 2026 Legislative Internship Programme to actively contribute to Nigeria’s democratic development and governance processes.
The Executive Director of PLAC, Mr Clement Nwankwo, made the call on Monday in Abuja during an orientation workshop organised for the interns with support from the EU.
Reports indicate that 40 young Nigerians were selected from over 3,000 applicants nationwide and will be attached to various committees of the National Assembly for a 10-week period.
The programme is designed to expose participants to legislative processes, deepen their understanding of democratic institutions and encourage active citizenship.
Nwankwo said the internship was not aimed at immediately producing politicians, but at helping participants understand governance systems and identify ways to contribute to national development.
He noted that while progress had been made in the country, citizens must continue to demand reforms and support efforts that improve governance outcomes.
He stressed the importance of legislative institutions, saying effective lawmaking remains essential to democratic growth and national development.
Nwankwo also said PLAC had worked closely with the National Assembly on constitutional reforms, electoral matters and other legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening governance.
He urged the interns to use the programme to understand policymaking processes and how advocacy can be translated into legislative action.
According to him, advocacy only has lasting impact when it influences policies that improve citizens’ lives.
He also expressed concern over the low representation of women in the National Assembly, describing it as a challenge to inclusive governance.
He reaffirmed support for initiatives seeking additional legislative seats for women, noting that broader representation would strengthen democratic institutions.
The EU Delegation to Nigeria’s Programme Manager for Democracy, Governance, Gender and Human Rights, Mrs Olawumi Laolu, said the EU remained committed to strengthening democratic institutions and empowering young Nigerians.
She said the internship reflects the EU’s commitment to promoting youth participation in governance and policymaking.
Laolu described Nigerian youths as a major national asset and said the EU continues to invest in programmes that enhance leadership and civic engagement.
She referenced initiatives such as the Youth Sounding Board and the Jubilee Fellowship Programme as examples of EU support for young people.
She encouraged the interns to take full advantage of the opportunity by observing legislative processes and learning from lawmakers and parliamentary staff.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Dr Kamoru Ogunlana, represented by the Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Mrs Vivian Njemanze, congratulated the 40 interns and urged them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory, also encouraged the interns to promote inclusive governance and democratic accountability.
The Issues
- Overcoming barriers to inclusive governance given that female parliamentary representation sits among the lowest globally.
- Navigating the slow pace of national reforms while keeping citizens productively engaged in demanding development.
- Ensuring absolute confidentiality and ethical conduct when young citizens handle sensitive official parliamentary data.
What’s Being Said
- Clarifying that the foundational intent of the training is structural literacy rather than immediate political ambitions, Clement Nwankwo stated: “The purpose is not for you to become senators or politicians, but to understand how democracy works and how you can contribute to the development of the country.”
- Encouraging participants to channel their worries regarding state progress into active civic duties, Nwankwo noted: “This country can be so much better. When we worry about how slowly things are improving, it means we still have something to contribute to its development.”
- Outlining the direct civic responsibility assigned to the next generation in reshaping domestic conditions, he added: “The future of the country is in your hands, and you must feel challenged enough by current realities to want to make a difference,”
- Asserting that true governance resilience depends on incorporating the youth cohort directly into statecraft, Olawumi Laolu remarked: “For us at the European Union, democracy truly thrives when young people are not just spectators but active participants in the democratic process.”
- Urging the cohort to utilize their access to the legislature to generate visible impacts, Laolu advised: “As you go into the National Assembly, learn relentlessly, contribute boldly, ask questions, engage actively and remember that you are there to make an impact,”
- Demanding strict professional and ethical compliance from the interns while they navigate parliamentary structures, Mrs Vivian Njemanze said: “As interns, you are expected to demonstrate discipline, professionalism, respect for constituted authority and a willingness to learn throughout your stay in the National Assembly.”
- Warning the participants regarding the fiduciary responsibilities tied to accessing restricted bureaucratic data, Njemanze added: “You may come across sensitive legislative documents and official information, such privilege demands a high sense of responsibility, integrity, confidentiality and ethical conduct,”
What’s Next
- The 40 selected interns will begin their 10-week attachment across various committees within the National Assembly.
- Participants will build professional networks with legislators and parliamentary officials to support future public service careers.
- Interns will examine upcoming legislative proposals and budgetary provisions to see if they adequately address vulnerable groups.
Bottom Line Seeking to deepen youth engagement in statecraft, PLAC and the EU have launched the 2026 Legislative Internship Programme, placing 40 highly competitive young Nigerians within National Assembly committees for 10 weeks to master policymaking and challenge structural barriers to inclusive governance.
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