Legislative Oversight and Public Accountability in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

Since the return of democratic governance in May 1999, the power of the Nigerian  legislatures to conduct oversights on any matter within its legislative competence has  been an issue of discourse from many quarters.  There has been increased concern on  legislative activism in ensuring public accountability, curbing corruption and fiscal  discipline, most especially in recent years. However, in spite of the importance of  legislative oversight in contemporary democratic governance, it has been controversial  in all ramifications especially in the political scene, and has remained one of the major  sources of executive versus legislative brinkmanship, fueds and squabbles in Nigeria.  This paper examines some of the issues and challenges affecting legislative oversight  functions enshrined in section 88 (1) & (2) and section 89 (1) of 1999 Constitution of the  Federal Republic of Nigeria in ensuring public accountability in the Ministries,  Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government. The study adopted analytical and  exploratory research design using secondary information and discourse analysis of the  existing literatures. The study discovered that although the legislative oversight  committees perform the oversight functions, but have not been very effective in enhancing  public accountability, transparency and curbing corruption in Nigeria. It was revealed  that the legislators are themselves placing higher premium of personal and pecuniary  interests at the expense of the public interest in the exercise of oversights function  coupled with uncooperative relationship between executive and legislative branches  Legislative Oversight and Public Accountability in Nigeria: Challengesand Prospects  which makes it very difficult for the legislatures to summon some public officials to  account. The paper therefore recommended that in so far as public accountability and  transparency are to be achieved through legislative oversights in Nigeria, the interest  and unity development  of the country should override personal and collective interests of  the members, the legislatures should see their membership in the National Assembly as a  call to national duty which demands sacrifice and commitment to duty in all aspects of  governance and a demonstration of the true representatives of the electorates.