Oversight functions of the legislature: An instrument for nation building

Abstract

The legislature is an institution which represents the common and collective interests of the citizens through the enactment of laws and the exercise of oversight functions on the activities of the executive arm of government. The legislature in a democracy exists as an independent institution which deepens democracy and ultimately strengthens the polity.¹ Nation building that will be likely to contribute to stable and sustainable international peace requires building the society, economy and polity so as to meet the basic needs of the people. It means not only producing the formal institutions of democracy but building a common identity for the people. It means development of education, human rights, (political, civil, economic, social and the rule of law). It allows participation of the civil society in developing democratic state institutions that promote welfare.¹ In the quest for nation building in a democratic set up like Nigeria, the exercise of effective legislative oversight function remains crucial. Its purpose is to provide a powerful check on the executive authority, enhancing accountability where a dominant executive branch might operate with impunity². It also aims at ensuring that all relevant societal groups are included in and benefit from the nation building and development exercise and that government policies and budgets are implemented in an effective, efficient, transparent and accountable manner.³ The power of oversight is conferred on the Nigerian legislature by the Constitution⁴ to enable the National Assembly to expose corruption, inefficiency, or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement and administration of funds appropriated by the Acts.⁵ Nigeria, being a developing country, the legislature’s capacity to carry out its oversight functions remains weak because legislative role and culture is at its infancy⁶ and therefore often confronted by many challenges. The focus of this paper is to examine the important role that oversight play towards nation building and make recommendations on how the capacity of oversight can be strengthened so as to curtail the impediments.