Legislative oversight in Nigeria: an empirical review and assessment

ABSTRACT

This article builds upon and extends the analyses presented by Fashagba (2009) and drills down on the analyses of oversight in Nigeria presented by Pelizzo and Stapenhurst (2014). It presents more nuanced findings. Based on an in-country document search and 45 personal interviews with politicians, parliamentary staff, civil society representatives and journalists, the article demonstrates that the Nigerian National Assembly possesses the tools and constitutional powers to undertake oversight; what it lacks so far is the political will of National Assembly representatives and senators to use these tools and powers effectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Legislature
• oversight
• Nigeria
• political will

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support given by Alexander Hamilton, who helped with the statistical analysis, and Benjamin Ekeyi, who set up the meetings in Abuja with the survey respondents.

Notes on contributors

Rick Stapenhurst is a Professor of Practice at both McGill University, Montreal and Laval University, Quebec City, Canada, email: [email protected]

Kerry Jacobs is a Professor at the Australian Defence Forces Academy, University of New South Wales, Australia, email: [email protected]

Oladeji Olaore is a Consultant at the World Bank, email: [email protected]

Notes

1. Presentation at McGill – NILS Executive Program for Parliamentary Staff, Abuja, August 2014.