The Nigerian National Assembly

This book examines the role of the legislature in the democratic governance of Nigeria. Once one of the foremost political institutions of governance established in the early days of Colonial administration in Nigeria, the legislature has had an inconsistent role since statehood, subject to repeat dissolution at the hands of various military regimes. Focusing on the Nigerian Fourth Republic’s National Assembly (1999-present), this book discusses in detail the ways in which the national assembly has handled each of its major functions, the nature of the relationship between the assembly and the legislature, and the institutional mechanism through which its internal business is facilitated and executed. Furthermore, the chapters examine the level of assertiveness of the legislature, and the degree of importance and weight attached to their contributions to governance in motions, resolutions, and law-making. This book offers a unique look into legislative studies, an area which has been historically overlooked in the research on the Nigerian government, and will be useful to students and researchers in African studies, democracy and state-building and legislative studies.

In the National Assembly Federal Republic of Nigeria: “What You Should Know and Why?” Kemdi Chino Opara explains not only the Nigerian system of government and its iterations of constitutions throughout the years, but also the current political climate in the country. He lambasts members of the National Assembly for tarnishing the values initially set forth for a prosperous government which exists to aid the people. Among his chief concerns are bribery and corruption within the government and the tendency of politicians to fatten their wallets and egos while the people of Nigeria suffer. Opara’s chief hope is that education about and open discussion of the current problems inherent in the political system will bring about change.

This book unpacks two decades of Nigeria’s National Assembly spanning 4th–8th legislative sessions. It focuses on the core areas of legislative functions – lawmaking, appropriation, oversight and representation – in examining the achievements, challenges and prospects of the legislature. This is particularly important because Nigeria being the most populous country in Africa is a crucial bastion of democratic governance in the region. Therefore, conducting deep diagnostics of the federal legislature as the custodian of popular mandate and the anchor of accountability offered immense opportunity for learning that would catalyze further institutional reforms and democratic consolidation.