Section 2: Functions and objectives of the Institute. (as amended by section 3 of the National Institute for Legislative Studies (Amendment) Act, 2017)

(1) Subject to the provisions of this 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.
(2) The Institute shall have powers to :
(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) promote 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 aids 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)
conduct periodic training on democratic principles for members of the Armed Forces;
(j) monitor elections;
(k) provide interface between democratic institutions and the civil societies;
(l) sensitize the Nigerian public to imbibe, support and defend democratic and legislative ethics; and
(m) undertake such other incidental responsibilities relating to the development, consolidation and advancement of legislative independence.
(3) The institute shall also have powers to :
(a) conduct periodic short and refresher courses for National and State legislators, staff, committee secretaries and political aides on democracy and legislative practice and good governance;
(b)
provide research reports for legislation for the National Assembly, their committees or the Legal Services Department of the National Assembly;
(c)
produce independent policy responses to legislation or policies pending before either Chamber of the National Assembly;
(d) initiate and encourage legislative drafting courses in tertiary and professional 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, professional and tertiary institutions on democratic, legislative practice and procedures, political culture, civics, ethics and political development;
(i) provide training courses and degrees on democracy, party politics, electoral process, legislative practice and procedures, political culture and development;
(j) engage visiting scholars and fellows to participate in its professionals and academic research programmes;
(k) provide endowments to enhance the training and teaching offered to its clients;
(l) initiate and execute any project that would help to generate ideas and policies for good governance; and
(m) award appropriate professional certificates and testimonials according to the training and teaching offered to its clients.
(n) act as the center for continuing education and advocacy on democratic processes and institution.
(4) The Institute shall not through its programme or policies endorse any candidate or any political party for elective office or campaign on behalf of any religious, ethnic or cultural organization.