In 1960, Nigeria declared its independence from Britain, signalling a positive shift towards a bright future. But military actions from 1966 to 1970 and later halted this advancement, inflicting deep wounds. With the restoration of elections and governmental institutions, the nation reverted to democracy in 1999. Lawmaking at the federal level is the responsibility of the National Assembly, whereas state Legislation is handled by the Houses of Assembly. Since 1999, Nigerian lawmakers at the federal and state levels have frequently shown ineptitude and a lack of decorum, occasionally as a result of executive meddling.
The most recent instance is the crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, where Mojisola Meranda took Speaker Mudashiru Obasa’s position. But Obasa is fighting his dismissal, which has caused mayhem and resulted in Security guards barring lawmakers and employees from entering the assembly premises. This occurrence is considered embarrassing, especially in light of President Bola Tinubu’s continuous attempts to solve Nigeria’s more significant issues. Rivers and Benue States have seen similar legislative disputes, which is indicative of a larger problem with legislators using disruptive rhetoric rather than responsible governance.
Lawmakers should cultivate the habit of acting like their profession.
There is a necessity for Nigerian lawmakers to act honourably and professionally, avoiding the temptation to act like “touts and truants.” In order to prevent the executive from unduly influencing the legislative, it also emphasises how crucial it is to preserve the separation of powers. Bolstering democratic institutions is essential to Nigeria’s long-term prosperity and stability. Long stretches of military rule have had a significant impact on Nigeria’s path since achieving independence in 1960, with long-lasting repercussions on its institutional and political structures.
Political instability and regional tensions characterised the early post-independence period, which ended in a military coup in 1966. This incident marked the beginning of nearly thirty years of military rule, during which time democratic institutions were steadily weakened. Military regimes were characterised by the concentration of power, which resulted in the accumulation of wealth, especially oil profits, in the hands of a small group of people. Along with encouraging corruption, this centralisation hindered the growth of strong democratic norms and institutions. These issues were made worse by the civil war, which consolidated authority among military leaders and produced a strong and frequently dishonest military elite.
Anti-corruption legislation must be strengthened and strictly enforced.
Nigeria’s ongoing problems, including as diminished state capacity, poor service delivery, and pervasive insecurity, are clear remnants of military dictatorship. Because successive administrations have had difficulty establishing accountability and transparency, the militarisation of political spaces has also contributed to the decline of popular trust in governmental institutions. Comprehensive legal reforms could be implemented in Nigeria to fight systemic Corruption and improve accountability. Anti-corruption legislation must be strengthened and strictly enforced. Malfeasance can be prevented by establishing independent monitoring organisations with the power to look into and prosecute corruption cases. Furthermore, democratic processes would be strengthened by amending electoral rules to encourage fairness and openness.
Education is essential to a healthy democracy because it empowers citizens. Greater political engagement can be fostered by implementing national civic Education programs that increase awareness of citizens’ rights and obligations. Citizens with higher levels of education are more likely to actively engage in governance and hold public leaders responsible. For efficient service delivery, governmental institutions must be strengthened. To increase efficiency, this entails implementing technology, upgrading infrastructure, and educating public employees. The required checks and balances can be provided by bolstering the independence of the legislative and judicial branches, guaranteeing that no one body has undue power.
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Additionally, there has been scrutiny of the legislative bodies’ performance in Nigeria. Research has indicated that there are problems including insufficient supervision and responsibility. Research on Osun State, for example, showed that a lack of accountability and a rise in corruption had resulted from insufficient parliamentary monitoring, eroding public confidence in government. A high committee turnover rate and lawmakers’ overall lack of interest in accountability concerns are other issues that plague the legislative committee structure. Because of these issues, the legislature’s ability to carry out its oversight duties is weakened.