Join us for an engaging conversation exploring the merits, requirements, and challenges of conducting Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) by sub-national parliaments and assemblies.
As regional governments increasingly shoulder critical legislative responsibilities, the ability to evaluate whether laws are achieving their intended outcomes has never been more important. Due to its proximity to citizens, PLS at the sub-national level allows for richer data collection and engagement with civil society and stakeholders.
This PLS Clinic brings together expert voices from sub-national legislatures in Kenya, Nigeria, Nepal, and Australia.
The panel will explore how PLS enables sub-national assemblies to verify whether legislation, often designed centrally or nationally, fits regional needs and has the intended impact on diverse communities. They will share practical insights into institutional requirements and resources.
Panellists
Rajeev Bikram Shah, Karnali Provincial Assembly member and Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning.
Rajeev Bikram Shah is the Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning of Karnali Province in Nepal. Shah brings decades of experience in both the private and public sectors. A former Member of the Constituent Assembly, Shah played a key role in drafting Nepal’s Constitution and has been actively involved in shaping national policy through various parliamentary committees. The Karnali Provincial Assembly conducted its first-ever PLS inquiry on the Health Service Act through the Social Development Committee, where Rajeev Bikram Shah served as a member before transitioning to his current role as government minister in Karnali Province, one of the seven provinces in Nepal.
Mercy Murero, legislative and procedural officer, Nairobi City County Assembly, Kenya.
Mercy Murero is a legislative and procedural officer with the Nairobi City County Assembly. She is passionate about institutionalizing PLS at the sub-national level and strengthening evidence-based policymaking through stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships. Through articles on post-legislative analysis, she contributed to a national discourse on effective legislative oversight. With over 10 years of experience in legislative affairs, she successfully led the Nairobi Country Assembly’s PLS Task Force and played a pivotal role in the PLS Mashinani pilot project.
Sam Hastings, Clerk of Legislative Council and Clerk of the Parliaments of Western Australia.
Sam Hastings is the Clerk of the Legislative Council and Clerk of the Parliaments of Western Australia. As Clerk, Mr Hastings is the principal advisor to the President and Members and an expert on parliamentary law, practice and procedure. He holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Economics. He is currently undertaking research with the University of Adelaide (Australia) to examine the theory and practice of PLS in a modern democracy, particularly in sub-national parliaments.
Percy Terfa Gbahabo, research fellow, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Nigeria.
Percy Terfa Gbahabo, PhD is a research fellow at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Nigeria. He is a policy researcher with expertise in democratic governance. He co-authored Nigeria’s first handbook on PLS and played a key role in its institutionalisation at the Oyo State House of Assembly. Terfa has provided technical support and training on PLS to legislators, staff, and the Ministry of Justice officials. He obtained a PhD in Political Science from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and degrees from Monash University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and Arrupe Jesuit University (Zimbabwe).