Author: Ibraheem Oladipo Muheeb
ISBN No: 978-1-920294-07-6
Cost: 40.00
Rubber-stamp, ratifier, active, reactive, marginal, minimal, emerging, arena, and transformative are identifiable characterizations of the legislature in the literature on account of their political character and institutional content. In characterizing the legislature, an understanding of the legislative-executive relationship, available constitutional and legal powers, the political will to hold the executive accountable, the scope of parliamentary activity, the direction of power equation (fusion or separation of powers) and the legislature’s life-span (stability or instability) counts. Depending on circumstances of performance, a legislature could also exhibit features of one or more categories. The ‘first phase’ of Nigeria’s experience in representative governance in the twenty-first century offers a scholarly case study of additional variants of legislative practices in emerging federal democracies namely, Transitional and Fragmented assemblies. Against the background of a false start in 1999, the legislature contended with character swings that question the disposition of its legislative responsibilities and challenge its representative claim. During the period 1999-2003, the Fourth legislature was arguably ineffective, having been practically overshadowed by the executive. It improved subsequently in operational efficiency through the Fifth (2003-2007), Sixth (2007-2011) into the Seventh (2011-2015) legislature, necessitating distinct characterization. Institutionalization vis-à-vis separation of powers and checks and balances constitute the theoretical and conceptual framework. Reforms that would enhance institutional autonomy of the legislature must be implemented while prospective lawmakers must internalize, and play by the rules of parliamentary politics to complement the sustained reformation of the operating environment with significant progress in party politics and electioneering.
ISBN No: 978-1-920294-07-6
Cost: 40.00
Rubber-stamp, ratifier, active, reactive, marginal, minimal, emerging, arena, and transformative are identifiable characterizations of the legislature in the literature on account of their political character and institutional content. In characterizing the legislature, an understanding of the legislative-executive relationship, available constitutional and legal powers, the political will to hold the executive accountable, the scope of parliamentary activity, the direction of power equation (fusion or separation of powers) and the legislature’s life-span (stability or instability) counts. Depending on circumstances of performance, a legislature could also exhibit features of one or more categories. The ‘first phase’ of Nigeria’s experience in representative governance in the twenty-first century offers a scholarly case study of additional variants of legislative practices in emerging federal democracies namely, Transitional and Fragmented assemblies. Against the background of a false start in 1999, the legislature contended with character swings that question the disposition of its legislative responsibilities and challenge its representative claim. During the period 1999-2003, the Fourth legislature was arguably ineffective, having been practically overshadowed by the executive. It improved subsequently in operational efficiency through the Fifth (2003-2007), Sixth (2007-2011) into the Seventh (2011-2015) legislature, necessitating distinct characterization. Institutionalization vis-à-vis separation of powers and checks and balances constitute the theoretical and conceptual framework. Reforms that would enhance institutional autonomy of the legislature must be implemented while prospective lawmakers must internalize, and play by the rules of parliamentary politics to complement the sustained reformation of the operating environment with significant progress in party politics and electioneering.
