By Dr. Makut Simon Macham, Special Adviser (Media) to Senator Simon Bako Lalong
Abuja | October 9, 2025
Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, led by Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Madaki Isa Ajiji, have paid a working visit to Senator Simon Bako Lalong, who represents Plateau South Senatorial District, at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, the Deputy Speaker explained that the lawmakers were in Abuja to attend a capacity-building workshop on legislative practice, processes, and procedures for optimal performance at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
He said the visit to Senator Lalong, who currently serves as Chairman, Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, was to engage with him as a former Speaker, Governor, and Minister with vast political and legislative experience.
The lawmakers appreciated the audience granted them, noting that they sought to draw from Lalong’s wealth of knowledge as they continue to strengthen their legislative capacity to better serve the people of Plateau State.
Also speaking, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda, former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and member representing Pengana Constituency, commended Senator Lalong for his enduring contributions to the political and institutional development of Plateau State and Nigeria.
He recalled that during Lalong’s tenure as Speaker, he spearheaded the establishment of the Assembly Service Commission and implemented financial autonomy for the Legislature and Judiciary, reforms that positioned Plateau as one of the leading states in legislative independence and institutional capacity building.
In his remarks, Senator Lalong expressed gratitude for the visit, describing it as a recognition of his contributions to governance and democracy. He recounted the early struggles faced by legislators from 1999 in entrenching democratic principles and strengthening the doctrine of separation of powers.
The senator highlighted his role as Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Speakers, where he led a delegation to the United States to understudy their legislative system, noting that the lessons learned contributed to ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Lalong urged the lawmakers to avoid self-interest and focus on building strong democratic institutions that will outlive them and deliver lasting benefits to citizens. He commended their unity and commitment to maintaining peace in the House despite political differences, describing such maturity as vital for good governance.
He assured the delegation of his continuous support and counsel whenever required, emphasizing that a true political leader must know where to draw the line between party loyalty and patriotism.
The senator also briefed them on the ongoing electoral reform process, which he said would soon proceed to a public hearing to incorporate citizens’ views. He added that the constitutional review process was also in progress and would soon reach a stage where decisions would be transmitted to state assemblies for legislative action.
The delegation was accompanied by Dr. Samuel Mbadah from the Training Department of NILDS, who commended the lawmakers for their active participation and commitment to learning during the workshop.NILDS training Nigeria
