DOCSLIB.ORG

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES FEDERAL REPUBLIC of NIGERIA VOTES and PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 6 July, 2011

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES FEDERAL REPUBLIC of NIGERIA VOTES and PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 6 July, 2011 FOURm REpUBLIC 7m NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FIRsT SESSION No.8 45 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 6 July, 2011 1. The House met at 2.25 p.m. Mr Speaker read the Prayers. 2. Votes and Proceedings: Mr Speaker announced that he had examined and approved the Second Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 5 July, 2011. By unanimous consent, the Votes and Proceedings was adopted. 3. Announcements: (I) Visitors: ", Mr Speaker recognized the presence of Staff and Students of Phelish International School, Warri, Delta State who were in the Gallery. (il) Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review: Mr Speaker announced that the Leadership of the House was yet to receive nominees for membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review from the following States: Akwa Thorn, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara. He directed that the names of the nominees from the concerned States should reach the Office of the Deputy Speaker not later than today, 6 July, 2011. 4. Impending Strike Action by the Organised Labour over Non-Implementation of N18,OOO.OO National Minimum Wage: Motion made and Question proposed, The House: Notes that since the National Assembly passed the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill, 2011, which approved N18,OOO.OO for Nigerian workers and the Bill having been assented to by Mr President, there has been discordant tunes from the State Governors in implementation; Aware that the Organised Labour are threatening to embark on an industrial action unless the Governors accept to pay the new minimum wage; Conscious of the fact that such an industrial action is unhealthy for our democracy and the Nation's economy; Disturbed that unless this Honourable House takes urgent steps by mediating in the matter, the workers will carry out their threat to embark on the strike action which could paralyze the economy of the country; Resolves to: (0 Calion the Organized Labour to allow the House dialogue with the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity and other relevant Agencies on the issue; PRINTED BY NA T/ONAL ASSEMBLY PRESS, ABUJA 46 Wednesday, 6 July, 2011 No.8 (il) urge the Leadership of the House to meet with Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) with a view to resolving this crucial issue once and for all (Hon. Peace U. Nnaji - Nkanu EastlNkanu West Federal Constituency) . Debate: Amendments Proposed: (I) Insert a new Prayer (iii) as follows: - "Urge the Executive arm to initiate a new revenue allocation formula in favour of the Local Governments and States" (Hon. Munir B. Banagundi - Kumbotso Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made. put and agreed to. (il) Leave out Prayer (il) and insert a new Prayer (ii) as follows: "Urge the Federal and States governments to obey the law and seek redress through Constitution amendment" (Hon. Umar Bature - Sokoto North/Souin Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made. put and negatived. (iiI) Insert a new Prayer (iv) as follows: "Urge the House to dialogue with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to provide better solution" (Hon. Henry D. Ofongo - Southern /jaw Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made. put and negatived. (iv) Insert a new Prayer (Iv) as follows: "Urge the House to set an Ad-hoc Committee to identify States that are not capable of paying the MI8,GOO minimum wage to their workers" (Hon. Olisa Omegwu - Ndokwa EastiNdokwa WestlUkwuani Federal Constituency). ~I ~ Question that the amendment be made. put and negatived. (v) Insert a new Prayer (iv) as follows: "Urge the Leadership of the House to meet with the Organised Labour, Minister of Labour and Productivity and the Nigerian Governor's Forum (NGF) with a view to resolving the issue of payment of the national minimum wage" (Hon. Andrew Uchendu - IkwerrelEmohua Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made. put and agreed to. (vI) Leave out Prayer (i) and insert a new Prayer (i) as follows: "Urge the House to use Constitutional means in supporting the Nigerian Labour Congress to compel the State Governments to pay the MI8,OOO minimum wage to their workers" (Hon. Umar Adam Katsayal- DauralMai'adualSandamu Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made. put and negatived. (vii) Leave out Prayer (il) and insert a new Prayer (il) as follows: "Urge the Nigerian Governor's Forum to respect the law of the land and implement the MI8,OOO minimum wage" (Hon. Umar Adam Katsayal- DauralMai'adualSandamu Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made. put and negatived. (viiI) Leave out Prayer (i) and insert a new Prayer (i) as follows: "Urge the House to dialogue with the Nigerian Labour Congress, Minister of Labour and Productivity the Nigerian Governor Forum and other relevant agencies" (Hon. Chinda Kingsley - Obio-Akpor Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made. put and negatived. (ix) Insert a new Prayer (v) as follows: "Urge the Federal, States and Local Governments to pay the MI8,OOD minimum wage to their respective workers" (Hon. Yusuf Manu Swa - Balanga/Billiri, Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made. put and negatived. No.8 Wednesday, 6 July, 2011 47 (x) Insert a new Prayer (v) as follows: "Urge the States Government to employ intellectual and political resource persons to improve their internal generated revenue significantly to reduce over dependence in Federal Government funds" (Hon. Ibrahim Olafia - Oluyole Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made, put and negatived. (xl) Insert a new Prayer (v) as follows: "Urge the Federal Government to give bail out funds to the States to unable them pay the minimum - wage pending the res-structuring of the revenue formula" (Hon. Umar Buba fibril - Lokoja/Kogi/Koton-Karfi Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made, put and negatived. (xii) Insert a new Prayer (v) as follows: "CalIon States Government not to condition the payment of minimum wage on the removal of oil subsidy in order to save Nigerian from unprecedented hardship" (Hon. Abubakar Momoh - Etsako Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made, put and negatived. (xiil) Insert a new Prayer (v) as follows: "Urge the National Assembly to work with the States House of Assembly on the issue of national minimum wage" (Hon. Arua Arunsi - Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency). Question that the amendment be made, put and negatived. Main Question as amended, put and agreed to: The House: .,. Noted that since the National Assembly passed the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill, 2011, which approved N18,OOO.OO for Nigerian workers and the Bill having been assented to by Mr President, there has been discordant tunes from the State Governors in implementation; Aware that the Organised Labour are threatening to embark on an industrial action unless the Governors accept to pay the new minimum wage; Conscious of the fact that such an industrial action is unhealthy for our democracy and the Nation's economy; Disturbed that unless this Honourable House takes urgent steps by mediating in the matter, the workers will carry out their threat to embark on the strike action which could paralyze the economy of the country; Resolved to: (r) CalIon the Organized Labour to allow the House dialogue with the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity and other relevant Agencies on the issue; (iI) urge the Leadership of the House to meet with Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) with a view to resolving this crucial issue once and for all; (iiI) further urge the Executive arm to initiate a new revenue allocation formula in favour of the Local Governments and States; (iv) also urge the Leadership of the House to meet with the Organised Labour, Minister of Labour and Productivity and the Nigerian Governor's Forum (NGF) with a view to resolving the issue of payment of the national minimum wage (HR. 07/2011). s. Non Take-off of the Proposed Federal University in Ekiti State: Motion made and Question proposed, The House: " 48 Wednesday, 6 July, 2011 No.8 Notes that in November, 2010, the Federal Government declared its intent to establish six (6) new Universities in State(s) without Federal Universities across the six (6) geopolitical zones of the country with the purpose of balancing access to quality higher education in the country, among others; Further notes that the choice of Ekiti State in the Southwest geopolitical zone to site one of the proposed Federal Universities was conveyed to the Nigerian public on 22 November, 2010; Aware that following due consultations with stakeholders and recommendations of the Federal Government Visitation Panel comprising of the Minister of Education, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission among other officials, Ikole-Ekiti was announced as the location for the University; Further aware that the choice of Ikole- Ekiti was further confirmed by the Minister of Information and Communication, during a press briefmg after the Federal Executive Council meeting of 22 December, 2010; Worried that after the pronouncement of the proposed site of the University as Oye- Ekiti on 11 February, 2011, instead of Ikole- Ekiti as previously announced, violence erupted in Ikole- Ekiti which claimed about 3 lives with several persons wounded and properties destroyed including a Police van; Concerned that nothing is on ground at the moment to ensure the take-off of the university in September alongside other new Federal Universities despite the release of N1.S billion for its smooth take-off; Resolves to: (I) Urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to direct that the initial choice of Ikole-Ekiti be maintained and efforts intensified towards the take-off alongside other Universities; (il) mandate an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the inconsistencies in relation to the choice of location for the university, the remote and immediate cause(s) of the violence and other factors hindering the smooth take-off of the University, and report back to the House within two (2) weeks (Hon.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Corruption and Fiscal Federalism in Nigeria: Analysis of the Federal Budgetary Process, 1999 – 2016
    Vol. 12(10), pp. 191-207, December 2018 DOI: 10.5897/AJPSIR2018.1113 Article Number: E6B959A59410 ISSN: 1996-0832 Copyright ©2018 African Journal of Political Science and Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.academicjournals.org/AJPSIR International Relations Review Corruption and fiscal federalism in Nigeria: Analysis of the federal budgetary process, 1999 – 2016 Anthony Egobueze* and Callistus U. Ojirika Rivers State House of Assembly, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Received 21 August, 2018; Accepted 12 November, 2018 Corruption is perhaps the biggest challenge to Nigeria’s development and the integrity of the country’s fiscal monetary system. Since independence in 1960, corruption has been a destabilizing factor in the country’s progress. It however gained pronounced ascendancy during the Second Republic, forcing a greater percentage of the country’s population into serious economic hardship leading to the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). This malignant pandemic has not abetted till date. This paper interrogates corruption and fiscal federalism in Nigeria through an analysis of the federal budgetary process from 1999 to 2016. It adopts the political economy approach as the theoretical framework. The study recommends amongst others that the political elites must rise to the challenges of good governance, by waging wars against corruption through institutional strengthening and patriotism by all citizens. Key words: Budget, budgeting process, corruption, federalism, fiscal federalism. INTRODUCTION Corruption as a term may mean different things to serious economic hardship leading to the introduction of different scholars depending on the direction of the the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). Expectedly, studies. Broadly speaking, it may describe acts that are corruption accentuated during the regimes of General considered unethical, such as fraud, graft, bribery, Ibrahim Babangida and General Sani Abacha.
    [Show full text]
  • Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S
    Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy Updated December 11, 2018 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov RL33964 SUMMARY RL33964 Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy December 11, 2018 Successive Administrations have described the U.S. relationship with Nigeria, Africa’s largest producer of oil and its largest economy, to be among the most important on the Lauren Ploch Blanchard continent. The country is Africa’s most populous, with more than 200 million people, Specialist in African Affairs roughly evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. Nigeria, which transitioned from military to civilian rule in 1999, ranked for years among the top suppliers of U.S. Tomas F. Husted oil imports, and it is a major recipient of U.S. foreign aid. The country is the United Analyst in African Affairs States’ second largest trading partner in Africa and the third-largest beneficiary of U.S. foreign direct investment on the continent. Nigerians comprise the largest African diaspora group in the United States. Nigeria is a country of significant promise, but it also faces serious social, economic, and security challenges, some of which pose threats to state and regional stability. The country has faced intermittent political turmoil and economic crises since gaining independence in 1960 from the United Kingdom. Political life has been scarred by conflict along ethnic, geographic, and religious lines, and corruption and misrule have undermined the state’s authority and legitimacy. Despite extensive petroleum resources, its human development indicators are among the world’s lowest, and a majority of the population faces extreme poverty. In the south, social unrest, criminality, and corruption in the oil-producing Niger Delta have hindered oil production and contributed to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
    [Show full text]
  • Inside NNPC Oil Sales: a Case for Reform in Nigeria
    Inside NNPC Oil Sales: A Case for Reform in Nigeria Aaron Sayne, Alexandra Gillies and Christina Katsouris August 2015 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank those who reviewed the report. Lee Bailey, Dauda Garuba, Patrick Heller, Daniel Kaufmann and several industry experts offered valuable comments. We are also grateful to various experts, industry personnel and officials who provided insights and information for this research project. Cover image by Chris Hondros, Getty Images CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 2 OVERVIEW DIAGRAM ..........................................................................................................12 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................13 OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY .............................................................................14 THE BASICS OF NNPC OIL SALES ................................................................................16 REFORM IN THE CURRENT CONTEXT .......................................................................20 TARGETING URGENT PROBLEMS WITH NNPC CRUDE SALES ..................29 Issue 1: The Domestic Crude Allocation (DCA) ................................30 Issue 2: Revenue retention by NNPC and its subsidiaries ............34 Issue 3: Oil-for-product swap agreements ........................................42 Issue 4: The abundance of middlemen ..............................................44
    [Show full text]
  • Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy
    Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy Lauren Ploch Specialist in African Affairs July 18, 2012 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33964 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy Summary The U.S. government considers its strategic relationship with Nigeria, Africa’s largest producer of oil and its second largest economy, to be among the most important on continent. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with more than 170 million people, roughly divided between Muslims and Christians. U.S. diplomatic relations with Nigeria, which is among the top five suppliers of U.S. oil imports, have improved since the country made the transition from military to civilian rule in 1999, and Nigeria is a major recipient of U.S. foreign aid. The country is an influential actor in African politics, having mediated disputes in several African countries and ranking among the top five troop contributors to U.N. peacekeeping missions. Nigeria is a country of significant promise, but it also faces serious social, economic, and security challenges that have the potential to threaten the stability of both the state and the region, and to affect global oil prices. The country has faced intermittent political turmoil and economic crises since independence. Political life has been scarred by conflict along ethnic, geographic, and religious lines, and corruption and misrule have undermined the authority and legitimacy of the state. Despite its extensive oil and natural gas resources, Nigeria’s human development indicators are among the world’s lowest, and a majority of the population suffers from extreme poverty.
    [Show full text]
  • Corruption and Poverty in Nigeria a Report
    Corruption and Poverty In Nigeria A Report ActionAid permits a reproduction of extracts from this publication on the condition that there is due acknowledgement of its original copyrights and a copy of the publication using the extract is sent to the address below. Published by ActionAid Nigeria Plot 477, 41 Crescent, Off Sa’adu Zungur Avenue, Gwarimpa Abuja. P.M.B. 1890, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria +234(0)812 8888 825-7 [email protected] www.actionaid.org/nigeria ActionAidNigeria ActionAidNG © 2015. All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-978-946-173-8 Table of Contents Foreword 6 Executive Summary 8 Section 1: Introduction 14 Background to the Study Corruption and Poverty Poverty in Nigeria Corruption in Nigeria Aims and Objectives of Study Methodology of Research Conceptualising Corruption Conceptualising Poverty Corruption and Poverty: A Review of Literature Section 2: Poverty In Nigeria 22 Dimensions of Poverty in Nigeria Policy Responses to Poverty An Assessment of Poverty Reduction Policies Section 3: Corruption In Nigeria 30 Manifestations and Dimensions of Corruption in Nigeria Actors and Drivers of Corruption Corruption and the Private Sector Oil and Gas Sector The Banking Sector Legal and Institutional Responses to Corruption in Nigeria Criminal Code and Penal Code Code of Conduct Bureau Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Transparency Section 4: Corruption, Poverty And Governance In Nigeria 46 Evidence from Existing Studies Measuring Corruption and Poverty Citizens’ Perception of Trend
    [Show full text]
  • The Nigerian House of Representatives and Corruption, (1999-2011)
    E-ISSN 2039-2117 Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences Vol 5 No 2 ISSN 2039-9340 MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy January 2014 The Nigerian House of Representatives and Corruption, (1999-2011) Joshua, Segun PhD Department of Political Science and International Relations, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State [email protected], [email protected] Oni, Samuel PhD Department of Political Science and International Relations, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State Doi:10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n2p561 Abstract Corruption is one of the major problems contending with the Nigerian socio-political and economic development. Unfortunately, this social ill seems to have defied all remedial measures put in place to curb its expansion. Anchored on elite theory, with heavy reliance on empirical and secondary data, the study examined the Nigerian House of Representative and corruption with a particular focus on 1999-2011. The study found that, constitutionally, the House of Representatives as one of the legislative chambers at the federal level of the Nigerian Government has the mandate to legislate for good governance which includes curbing corruption. However, activities of this chamber over the years revealed that it is indeed an accomplice as far as corrupt practices is concerned in Nigeria. The study, therefore, recommended the need for stiffer punishment for all corrupt public officers among others. Keywords: Corruption, Political Elite, House of Representatives 1. Introduction Corruption has assumed the status of a hydra- headed monster gnawing on the vitals of the Nigerian state. Its tentacles have permeated every facet of the economy. It is interesting to note however, that corruption is not limited to Nigeria.
    [Show full text]
  • An Appraisal of the Legal Framework for Combating Terrorism in Nigeria
    AN APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR COMBATING TERRORISM IN NIGERIA BY Innocent Nkemjika EZEUGO LL.M/LAW/6253/2009-2010 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF LAWS DEGREE - LL.M DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LAW, FACULTY OF LAW, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA. FEBRUARY, 2016. i DECLARATION I declare that thework in this dissertation entitled “An Appraisal of the Legal Framework for Combating Terrorism in Nigeria” has been carried out by me in the Department of Public Law. The information derived from the literature has been duly acknowledged in the text and a list of references provided. No part of this thesis was previously presentedfor another degree or diploma at this or any other institution. ___________________ _________________ Innocent Nkemjika EZEUGO Signature Date LL.M/LAW/6253/2009-2010 ii CERTIFICATION This dissertation entitled: AN APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR COMBATING TERRORISM IN NIGERIA by Innocent Nkemjika EZEUGO meets the regulations governing the award of the degree of Master of Laws- LL.M of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and is approved for its contribution to knowledge and literary presentation. ________________________________ __________________ Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Date Chairman Supervisory Committee _________________________________ __________________ Dr. A.I. Bappah Date Member, Supervisory Committee _____________________________ __________________ Dr. K. M. Danladi Date Head, Department of Public Law Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria ______________________________ __________________ Prof. K. Bala Date Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria iii DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis to the victims of terrorism in Nigeria and the world at large.
    [Show full text]
  • Nigeria and the Paris Club [Long Version]
    Working Paper Anatomy of a 2005 Debt Deal: Nigeria and the Paris Club [Long Version] Professor Thomas M. Callaghy Department of Political Science University of Pennsylvania [email protected] January 16, 2009 ****Not for citation or any other use without written permission of the author**** **Comments most welcome** Anatomy of a 2005 Debt Deal: Nigeria and the Paris Club Professor Thomas M. Callaghy “The road is hard and long… No one can guarantee that we‟ll get debt relief. We might make all the efforts and still not get it. But there is no reason why we shouldn‟t try our very best to qualify and then leave the rest in God‟s hands!” Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala It is easy to be cynical about Nigeria, often with very good reason, but, as we shall see, not always. This paper is about a period when things started to go right in Nigeria. It took a while to really gather momentum, but that it did so at all is a stunning achievement. Nigeria‟s October 2005 Paris Club debt reduction deal was an important event that generated very little attention at the time in part because of two events that closely preceded it – the Paris Club deal for Iraq in late 2004 and the Group of 8‟s (G-8) creation of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) in mid 2005 to help some poor countries with their multilateral debt. The October 2005 debt deal was an exit from the Paris Club for Nigeria, Africa‟s largest debtor, the first such exit for an African country and the second largest Paris Club debt deal ever after Iraq.
    [Show full text]
  • HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES FEDERAL REPUBLIC of NIGERIA VOTES and PROCEEDINGS Tuesday, 24 April, 2012 1
    , • • FOURTH REPUBLIC 7TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FIRST SESSION No. 94 781 • HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS Tuesday, 24 April, 2012 1. The House met at 11.50 a.m, Mr Speaker read the Prayers. 2. Votes and Proceedings: • Mr Speaker announced that he had examined and approved the Second Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 19 April, 2012. By unanimous consent, the Votes and Proceedings was adopted. 3. Annonncement: (I) Bereavement: Mr Speaker read a communication from Hon. Christopher Omo Isu (Ajikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency) informing the House of the demise of Hon. Sam Oko Alu (Afikpo Federal Constituency), a former Member of the House of Representatives (1979 - 1983) on Thursday, 2 February, 2012. A minute's silence was observed in honour of the deceased. (i.) Appreciation: Mr Speaker read a letter of appreciation from the Minister of FInance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the support of the House of Representatives for her candidacy for the post of the President of the World Bank. 4. Presentatlon of Report: Committees on Interior, and National Planning and Economic Development: Motion made and Question proposed, "That this House do receive the Report on the Committees on Interior, and National Planning and Economic Development on the Urgent Need to Investigate the Federal Government's 30 Billion Naira National Identity Card Scheme Project" (Hon. Umar Bature - Sokoto NonhlSokoto South Federal Constituency). Question pur and agreed to. Report laid. 5. Mr Speaker's Remarks on the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Monitoring of Subsidy Regime: We shall not waver My fellow Col/eagues, You will recall that on Sunday, January 8, we had to cut short our r;cess in response to a national crisis as a result of the sudden removal of fuel subsidy iJ)' the Executive Arm of Government.
    [Show full text]
  • Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S
    Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy Lauren Ploch Blanchard Specialist in African Affairs November 5, 2014 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33964 c11173008 . Nigeria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy Summary The U.S. government considers its relationship with Nigeria, Africa’s largest producer of oil and its largest economy, to be among the most important on the continent. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with almost 180 million people, roughly divided between Muslims and Christians. U.S. diplomatic relations with Nigeria have improved since the country made the transition from military to civilian rule in 1999, and Nigeria, which ranked until recently among the top suppliers of U.S. oil imports, is a major recipient of U.S. foreign aid. The country is an influential actor in African politics and a top troop contributor to U.N. peacekeeping missions. Nigeria is a country of significant promise, but it also faces serious social, economic, and security challenges that have the potential to threaten both state and regional stability, and to affect global oil prices. The country has faced intermittent political turmoil and economic crises since independence. Political life has been scarred by conflict along ethnic, geographic, and religious lines, and corruption and misrule have undermined the state’s authority and legitimacy. Despite extensive petroleum resources, Nigeria’s human development indicators are among the world’s lowest, and a majority of the population faces extreme poverty. Thousands have been killed in periodic ethno-religious clashes in the past decade. Years of social unrest, criminality, and corruption in the oil-producing Niger Delta have hindered oil production, delayed the southern region’s economic development, and contributed to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
    [Show full text]
  • DCS-Vol.8 No.8 2018
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) Vol.8, No.8, 2018 Analysis of the Challenges of Legislative Oversight on Good Governance in Nigeria Aliyu, M. Kolawole, PhD, Ikedinma Hope Amoge, PhD Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria Bello M. Ayodele Department of Public Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria Abstract This study examined the constitutional provisions of the National Assembly to use oversight function and also discussed cases of lack of transparency, accountability and effectiveness in the discharge of legislative-oversight in Nigeria. The study equally identified challenges of the National Assembly in carrying out oversight function in the study area. These were with the view to providing information on the impact of legislative oversight on good governance in the country. Data were collected through secondary source from relevant books, 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, journals, National Assembly hanzard and media articles, and were content analyzed. The study showed that relevant provisions of the 1999 constitution empowered the National Assembly to undertake effective oversight in Nigeria. The study equally found that oversight function of the legislature has not been transparent and effective because it has been abused overtime. The study equally found that the National Assembly oversight function is hampered by a number of challenges such as corruption, party politics, self-serving behavior, absence of trust, and flexing of muscle for supremacy with the executive organ of government.
    [Show full text]
  • Corruption and Legislative Functions in Nigeria Usman D. Umaru, Ph.D
    IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance (IOSR-JEF) e-ISSN: 2321-5933, p-ISSN: 2321-5925.Volume 8, Issue 1 Ver. I (Jan-Feb. 2017), PP 01-08 www.iosrjournals.org Corruption and Legislative Functions in Nigeria Usman D. Umaru, Ph.D Department of Public Administration, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria Abstract: The Legislature is an important institution of government in a democratic system of government as Nigeria, especially the bicameral legislature, made up of the Senate and the House of Representative. It was against this background that this study is on the impact of corruption on the function of the legislature. The study adopted content analysis. Documentary ideas as expressed in text books, journal articles, magazines, Internet and Newspapers was analyzed and utilized. Its objective is to identify how corruption scuttled proper democratic representation in the National Assembly in Nigeria. The study discovered that the members of the National Assembly, i.e. Senate and the House of Representative were only concerned with their personal interest and not the interest of the public that voted them into the various houses to represent them. In conclusion, the study identifies corruption as the reason why the National Assembly was not able to do proper legislation. It was therefore recommended that the legislature should be operated on a part-time basis and the number of sittings and the membership at both the lower and upper chambers should be drastically reduced. Keywords: Representative system of government, Legislature and Corruption. I. Introduction The Nigerian State is made up of three arms of government. These are the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.
    [Show full text]