LEGISLATIVE EFFECTIVENESS AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Since Nigeria returned to democratic system of government in 1999 after years of military dictatorship, the operations of the legislature have often been in the spotlight for several reasons. Expectedly, the question of the cost of maintaining the two chambers of the National Assembly where there are 109 Senators and 360 House of Representatives members has often overshadowed other critical issues such as the assessment of the effectiveness of the legislators towards the development of the country. Specifically, the perceived high remuneration of the Nigerian lawmakers which is believed to be enormous even when compared to the earnings of lawmakers in other advanced democracies is often a matter of debate. However, this study deviates from this path and focuses on providing an insight into the performance of the legislature as regards national development. Particularly, the emphasis is to examine the effectiveness of the individual legislators with a view to shedding light on their ability to provide appropriate representation for their respective constituencies in particular and the nation in general.

Democracy is all about ensuring popular participation and control of the process of government with the role purpose of improving the lives of the populace. Since all the people cannot participate and individually control their government at the same time, they entrust these rights and duties to an elected few among them known as legislators. The legislature is one of the basic structures of any political system. It is known by a variety of names in different countries. Some states identify their legislature as Congress, Parliament, Duma or Knesset. Others designate it as Soviet, Diet, Assembly, etc (Laxmikanth, 2006). The legislature is ubiquitous in every system of government to perform legislative functions. The law making process is an interesting chain of activities, which involves passing of motions into resolutions and bills into laws which depending on certain circumstances contribute in one way or the other to national development. In every nation, the legislature as the accredited representatives of the people has the duty of promoting national development through its chain of activities. In Nigeria, legislature has the mandate and is under obligation to initiate debate and show concern on matters affecting the generality of people in the country. Expectedly such activities should be directed toward reversing declining economy, stabilizing the polity and integrating society with overall aim of enhancing national development. In spite of the criticality of the legislature to national development, it is clear from Nigerian experience that some legislatures fail to play such role with expected level of success. Comments, observations, and experiences have proved that Nigerian legislature have failed to live up to its constitutional responsibility of being harbinger of national development as it is struggling to overcome the executive interference, crippling internal conflict, inexperience, corruption and materialistic obsession.

STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL PROBLEM

The poor development of the country has been a cause for major concern as it has resulted to a lot of crises ranging from economic crises to social crises and other forms of crises and agitations across the country which has ultimately led the country to her recession in over three decades. Most school of thoughts has fingered the legislative arm of government for not living up to their responsibilities in ensuring an effective legislative arm of the country through the creation of effective and far reaching laws and policies that would be a catalyst for speedy development.

This current poor development of the country has a lot to do with the nature and pattern of policies in the country.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to examine legislative effectiveness on development in Nigeria. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. To examine the developmental level of Nigeria.
2. To study the major functions/role of legislation in ensuring development.
3. To examine the relationship between legislative effectiveness and development in Nigeria.
4. To determine the input of legislation over the years as regards the current developmental level of the country.
5. To recommend ways of ensuring better legislative effectiveness in Nigeria.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the developmental level of Nigeria?
2. What the major functions/role of legislation in ensuring development?
3. What is the relationship between legislative effectiveness and development in Nigeria?
4. What is the input of legislation over the years as regards the current developmental level of the country?
5. What are the ways of ensuring better legislative effectiveness in Nigeria?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H01: Legislative effectiveness has no impact on national development.

H02: There is no significant relationship between legislative effectiveness and National development.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study would greatly improve the development of country as relevant recommendations would proffer solutions towards that effect. This study would also benefit students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing further studies on the subject matter through the provision of relevant literatures.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study is restricted to the impact of legislative effectiveness on development in Nigeria.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.