ASSESSMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRACTICES OF KADUNA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN PUBLIC POLICY LAW MAKING

Abstract

The legislature is responsible for collation of the needs, interests, goals, problems and ideas of the  citizens through the public policy process. However, there is a growing pessimism about the  effectiveness of public policies in many of the Nigerian States as most of the policies have not  translated into progress as these States including Kaduna State are faced with myriad of problems  such as insecurity, poverty, unemployment, low standard of living among others. Therefore, the  study examined the Assessment of the Legislative Practices of Kaduna State House of Assembly  in Public Policy Law Making. Research questions and hypotheses were also in line with the  research objectives. The study utilised Survey instruments. 167 copies of questionnaires were  administered across Members of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Ministries, Departments and  Agencies, (MDAs), and Civil Society Organizations in some selected Local Governments out of  the three senatorial zones in Kaduna State. Structural functional theory was used to underpin the  study. The hypothesis of the study was tested using Spearman rank Correlation analysis with the  aid of SPSS version 20. The study established that effective legislative practice by Kaduna State  House of Assembly correlates with Law Making by 28.7% which signifies fair and low  relationship. Therefore, the study recommend that the legislature in Kaduna State should strategize  how to survey the opinion of the members of constituencies through operating constituency’s  offices that can serve as a vital link between the elected members and the constituency they  represents, this in order to avoid a disconnection between the activities of the elected members and  expectation of the constituencies.