Legislative Oversight and Public Accountability in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects
Legislative Oversight and Public Accountability in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects
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Date
2014-01
Authors
YUSUF, Hamza Abdullahi IDRIS, Musa MOHAMMED, Mubasshiru Salisu
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Abstract
since the return of democratic governance in May 1999, the power of the Nigerian legislatures to conduct oversights on any matter within its legislative competence has been an issue of discourse from many quarters. There has been increased concern on legislative activism in ensuring public accountability, curbing corruption and fiscal discipline, most especially in recent years. However, in spite of the importance of legislative oversight in contemporary democratic governance, it has been controversial in all ramifications especially in the political scene, and has remained one of the majors source of executive versus legislative brinkmanship, fueds and squabbles in Nigeria. This paper examines some of the issues and challenges affecting legislative oversight functions enshrined in section 88 (J) & (2) and section 89 (!) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in ensuring public accountability in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government. The study adopted analytical and exploratory research design using secondary information and discourse analysis of the existing literatures. The study discovered that although the legislative oversight committees perform the oversight functions, but have not been very effective in enhancing public accountability, transparency and curbing corruption in Nigeria. It was revealed that the legislators are themselves placing higher premium of personal and pecuniary interests at the expense of the public interest in the exercise of oversights function coupled with uncooperative relationship between executive and legislative branches
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Department of Public Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.