PARTICIPATORY COMMUNICATION IN PARLIAMENT-CONSTITUENTS RELATIONS: A STUDY OF THE VOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS IN THE KADUNA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
PARTICIPATORY COMMUNICATION IN PARLIAMENT-CONSTITUENTS RELATIONS: A STUDY OF THE VOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS IN THE KADUNA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
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Date
2016-11
Authors
ONWUDE, Paul
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Abstract
Over the years scholars have researched this concept and came to an understanding that democracy is
inextricable from communication. Communication enhances democracy, facilitates interaction,
inclusiveness and participation engendering representative democracy but this is not the case with
Kaduna in particular. Therefore, this study examines the nature of the relationship between the
parliament and constituents of the Kaduna State‘s House of Assembly. It studies the communication
pattern between members of parliament and their constituents and attempts to show how the concerns
and voice of the people are articulated side-by-side the accountability mechanisms between the people
and their representatives. This research is based on the normative theory of participatory development
communication known as the multiplicity paradigm. The study was a survey research method that
made use of both quantitative and qualitative instruments namely the questionnaire and in-depth
interviews techniques. The descriptive method was employed in analyzing data in this study for easy
comprehension. In analyzing the data, SPSS version 20 was used. A theoretical mean of 3.0 was taken
as a criterion to judge the mean for the items in the structured questionnaire having five Likert format.
From the analyses of the data and information, the study found that there are participatory
communication mechanisms that could be used to enhance participatory legislation. However, the
challenge to this has been largely the exclusion of the people from this process of participation thereby
rendering the mechanism ineffective. The study recommended that, there should an increase of
inclusion and access to existing participatory communication channels in the Assembly like
constituency meetings, including other participatory communication channels like the traditional
communication channels of folklores, dances etc. This in turn would not only legitimize the legislative
process, it engenders voice and accountability but also lead to sustainable democratic development in
the long run. Thus, the study advanced the use of communication model which stirs and stimulates
representative participation in the legislative process and improves the inclusiveness of the people‘s
voices in the process and holds representatives accountable.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) DEGREE IN
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTS,
FACULTY OF ARTS
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA
Keywords
PARTICIPATORY COMMUNICATION,, PARLIAMENT-CONSTITUENTS RELATIONS,, STUDY ,, VOICE,, ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS,, KADUNA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY