THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE IN POLICY MAKING PROCESS
THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE IN POLICY MAKING PROCESS
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Date
2008-09
Authors
MAIGADI, KOGI MARCUS
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Abstract
Long Military Rule in Nigeria, has made the Legislature, an infant arm of
government compared to the executive and the judiciary which were
functional even under the Military regimes for about three decades since
independence in 1960. The Legislature therefore, is a symbol of
democracy, serves as the most salient dimension of democracy, and will be
the litmus test for strength, sustainability and vitality of democratic
governance in Nigeria.
The main aim of the study was to find out the level of involvement of
the Legislature in policy making process. In particular, it intended to find out
the level of the involvement of the Legislature in budget making process, a
case study of Kaduna State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2003,
considering the infancy nature of the Legislature in Nigeria and its
constitutional responsibility of controlling public funds and expenditures for
the general development and wellbeing of the country and citizenry. The
result of the study was expected to reveal the level of involvement of the
Legislature in budgetary process and recommendations to be proffered on
how to improve the level of involvement of the Legislature in budgetary
process in the Nigerian democratic environment.
In undertaking this study, and based on stated objectives, two
hypotheses were formulated, questionnaire constructed, and data collected
through administration of questionnaires to 34 Legislators and 20 relevant
supportive Staff from the Departments of Legislative Matters and Budget
and Planning, respectively of the House.
Results of the two hypotheses tested, proved that the level of
involvement of the Legislature in budget making process in Kaduna State is
generally low as discussed in chapter four of this study, due to the infancy
nature of the Legislature, inexperience, inadequate facilities, knowledge
and training on the part of both Legislators and relevant supportive Staff on
budgetary process, during the period of study.
It was therefore, concluded that the low level of involvement of the
Kaduna State House of Assembly in budgetary process within the period of
study, could be a general picture of what was and is still obtainable in other
Legislative Houses in Nigeria, considering the Federal status of the
Nigerian State, the general infancy nature of the Legislature in Nigeria, and
the fact that the country and the component states are governed by the
same constitution.
Arising from the results, it was suggested that continuity of
democracy in Nigeria in spite of the crises being experienced in trying to
plant it, capacity building for both the Legislators and relevant supportive
Staff on budgetary process, equipping of the legislative Library with
relevant books, journals and internet facilities, would go a long way in
improving the level of the Legislature in budgetary process in Nigeria.
Description
A thesis submitted to Post Graduate School, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award
of a Degree of Masters of Public Administration (MPA)
SEPTEMBER 2008
Keywords
ROLE,, LEGISLATURE,, POLICY MAKING PROCESS