Agreement between NILDS and Gauteng Legislature aims to boost policy alignment, knowledge exchange, and support AfCFTA implementation.

Nigeria and South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and promote democratic governance between both countries.

The agreement was formalised at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja, bringing together Nigeria’s legislative support body and South Africa’s Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

The MoU is expected to deepen collaboration, encourage knowledge exchange, and enhance institutional capacity between the two legislative institutions. It also aligns with growing calls for stronger intra-African cooperation, particularly in harmonising legislative frameworks to support continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Speaking at the event, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe—represented by Deputy Head of Mission, Madam Lindi Mminele—described the agreement as a milestone in bilateral relations.

She noted that the partnership would strengthen existing ties between both nations and reinforce their shared commitment to development.

“Gauteng is our economic hub. For it to continue thriving in today’s volatile global economy, strong and decisive leadership must drive progressive and developmental processes,” she said.

Mminele added that the visit by the South African delegation underscores the importance of Nigeria-South Africa relations and gives practical expression to the goals of the binational commission led by Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Bola Tinubu.

The delegation emphasised that benchmarking and collaboration are critical to the successful implementation of AfCFTA, warning that without proper alignment and synchronisation of policies, the trade agreement could remain largely aspirational.

They stressed that ongoing engagements like the MoU are key to translating continental ambitions into concrete outcomes.

Director-General of NILDS and former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, said the agreement signals a new phase in legislative cooperation between the two countries.

“Your presence here today for this benchmarking visit and the signing of this MoU marks another important milestone in the growing partnership between our institutions and our two great nations,” he said.

He added that Nigeria and South Africa share a long-standing relationship rooted in a common commitment to democratic governance, constitutionalism, and Africa’s development.

Meanwhile, National Assembly leaders, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, expressed optimism that the MoU would lead to productive engagements and successful implementation.