Abuja: Some stakeholders are urging the 10th National Assembly to enhance its oversight functions in order to boost public confidence in democratic institutions. They made this call during a roundtable discussion on ‘Best Practices and Strategies for Strengthening Legislative Oversight in Nigeria’, held in Abuja. The event was organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Nicholas Ossai presented a paper titled ‘Identifying and Overcoming Key Challenges in Legislative Oversight in Nigeria with Emphasis on the 10th Assembly’. Ossai highlighted that the 10th National Assembly is at a crucial juncture in Nigeria’s democratic development. He identified several factors hindering effective oversight, including institutional and structural issues, weak enforcement, poor follow-up mechanisms, and excessive Executive Influence.
Ossai, who served in the 7th, 8th, and 9th national assemblies, attributed poor oversight functions to capacity and resource constraints, corruption, integrity issues, and low public engagement and transparency. He recommended enhancing institutional and technical capacity, safeguarding oversight independence, and promoting transparency and public participation.
He emphasized that by acknowledging the complex challenges historically constraining oversight effectiveness and implementing targeted reforms, the assembly can progress. He advocated for strengthening the legal framework, introducing effective follow-up mechanisms, and enhancing legislative independence. Additionally, he called for improving technical capacity and resources, combating corruption, fostering bipartisan cooperation, strengthening committee systems, and increasing public engagement and transparency.
Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of NILDS, remarked on the constitutional sections empowering the legislature to conduct investigations and oversight. He pointed out concerns regarding the efficiency, focus, and outcomes of oversight processes, noting instances of weak application and poor coordination.
Sulaiman stressed the importance of grounding oversight in law, guided by evidence, and implemented through well-trained committees. He linked it to the budget process, performance reviews, audit reports, and citizen feedback. The DG reiterated NILDS’s commitment to enhancing legislators’ capacity through training, research support, and technical assistance to ensure legislative oversight contributes to improved governance, public trust, and national development.
Sen. Ita Enag, a former National Assembly member, attributed the state of the economy to poor legislative oversight. He noted that if the legislature ensures proper implementation and adherence to the law, the country would fare better. He emphasized the need for the legislature to hold entities like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation Ltd. (NNPCL) accountable to improve the economy.