Section 2: Functions and objectives of the Institute.

(1) Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Institute shall be charged with the responsibility of conducting quality academic and professional research, training and advocacy on democratic governance and legislative practice and procedures. In furtherance of this vision the institute shall-
(a) act as a centre of excellence for research and publication on democratic governance and legislative practice and procedures;
(b) act as a centre for continuing education on democracy and legislation;
(c) promote and disseminate among Legislative Assemblies in Nigeria the practice of science based methodologies of law-making;
(d) promote and protect constitutional due process in legislative practices;
(e) provide critical research material and policy insights as background materials for committees of the National Assembly;
(f) improve the capacity of legislators to sustain and consolidate democratic governance through deliberation and policy formulation;
(g) improve the technical capacity of legislative staff, committee secretaries and political aides to process appropriation bills and policy oversight of the executive;
(h) document and publish for public use the history and politics of the legislature in governance in Nigeria from colonial period to the present;
(i) periodic training on democratic principles for members of the Armed Forces.
(j) monitoring of elections;
(k) provide interface between democratic institutions and the civil societies;
(l) sensitise the Nigeria public to imbibe, support and defend democratic and legislative ethics; and
(m) undertake such other and incidental responsibilities relating to the development, consolidation and advancement of legislative independence and oversight of democratic governance in Nigeria.
(2) In order to realize its objectives, the Institute shall have power to-
(a) conduct periodic short and refresher courses for National and State legislators, legislative staff, committee secretaries and political aides on democracy and good governance;
(b) provide research reports for legislators for either chamber of the National Assembly, their Committees or the drafting units of the National Assembly;
(c) produce independent policy responses to legislations or policies pending before either chamber of the National Assembly;
(d) initiate and encourage legislative drafting courses in tertiary institutions in Nigeria and abroad;
(e) encourage private sector participation and collaborate with national and international organizations on research and training on issues relevant to its mandate;
(f) run and maintain quality and world class libraries and database on the legislative system and democratic governance;
(g) be involved in teaching, training and research on political culture and political development among others;
(h) develop training curricula for schools and tertiary institutions on democracy, legislative practice and procedures, political culture, civics, ethics and political development;
(i) provide training courses on democracy, legislative practice and procedures, political culture and political development;
(j) provide internship for scholars;
(k) engage visiting scholars/fellows to participate in its academic research programmes;
(l) provide endowments to enhance the training and teaching offered to its clients;
(m) initiate and execute any project that would help to generate ideas and policies for good governance; and
(n) award appropriate professional certificates and testimonials according to the training and teaching offered to its clients.
(3) The Institute shall not through its program, or policies endorse any candidate or any political party for elective office or campaign on behalf of any religious, ethnic or cultural organisation.