The Policy Legal and Advocacy Centre (PLAC) has unveiled three digital platforms aimed at granting citizens access to legislative activities
Unveiled in Abuja, the platforms are designed to track the performance of the National Assembly, monitor the progress of bills, and provide the public with open access to laws and legislative records. The initiative comes amid growing public concern over government opacity, poor legislative oversight, and weak public accountability.
Executive Director of PLAC, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, speaking at the event, stressed that democracy cannot function effectively without a legislature that is transparent and responsive to the people it represents.
“The legislature is the backbone of any democracy. The difference between a free state and a dictatorship is the legislature’s ability to debate, exercise oversight, and represent citizens in the open,” Nwankwo said.
The event drew attendance from key National Assembly members, including Hon. Victor Peruzza — who represented the Speaker of the House — Hon. Bani Dele Salah, Hon. Victor Slavery, and international partners like the U.S. Embassy, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and civil society leaders.
The platforms launched include:
- Legislative Agenda Tracker — monitors the National Assembly’s delivery on its legislative priorities.
- Legislative Resource Repository — an archive of laws from 1999 to date, offering easy access to legislation and amendments.
- Flag-Base Track — a bill-tracking tool that follows the journey of legislation from proposal to passage, providing bill sponsors’ details, analysis, and opportunities for public feedback.
The project coordinator noted that these tools are designed not just for lawmakers, but for the Nigerian public, empowering them to demand accountability and actively participate in governance.
Mr. Chris Okeke of the British High Commission’s Governance Team, in a goodwill message, said the initiative reflects longstanding collaboration between civil society and the National Assembly and will help improve legislative oversight and citizen participation.
The initiative was praised for complementing the Freedom of Information Act, by giving Nigerians the tools to monitor government actions, track lawmakers’ decisions, and demand results.
The event closed with a live demonstration of the platforms, as stakeholders were urged to use them actively, hold leaders accountable, and shape the country’s democratic future.
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