https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/42 2026-08-31T02:01:22Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3561 Legislative drafting methods for alteration of Constitutions:Lessons from Nigeria and the kingdom of Lesotho 1999 to 2023 Uzoigwe, Chinwemeri Serah The conventional understanding of a Constitution, particularly a written one, is that it should be a relatively rigid document. the high frequency and broad scope of amendments in both Nigeria and Lesotho, but especially in Nigeria , challenge this notion. this observation leads to several crucial inquiries, as set out in the research questions/objectives of the study, such as the primary factors contributing to the accumulation of alterations and structural inconsistencies in the Constitutions of Nigeria and Lesotho, as well as the methodological approach of comparative law can be applied to this study that would allow for a rigorous and insightful analysis of Constitution alteration methods in both Nigeria and the kingdom of Lesotho. Given the inherently comparative nature of this research, a crucial preliminary step was determining the most effective approach to ensure the extraction of valuable lessons and identifying potential areas of convergence. this led to adopting the functional theory of comparative law. this unique approach stemmed directly from the insights gained during the comparative legislative drafting course undertaken in the second semester session of year 1 of this programme, which encouraged a deeper, more practical examination of how legal transplants could help strengthen the shortcomings of a legal system. Nigeria and the kingdom of Lesotho share a range of historical, legal and institutional similarities, stemming from their common administrative and governance experience under British colonial rule. The period from 1999 to 2023 presented a unique, compelling and rich landscape of constitution alterations in both countries. Thus, based on Jhering, Zweigert and Kotz's functionality theory, this study finds a significant lacuna in the formal alteration procedure stipulated under section 9 of the 1999 Constitution. This lacuna, which has fueled considerable legal debate and litigation, as detailed in the literature review of this study, justifies examining and potentially adopting the more effective procedure found in Section 85 of the Lesotho Constitution. It was observed that Lesotho's Constitutional Amendment Acts tend to be more subject specific, addressing specific areas of the Constitution in each Act. This contrasts sharply with the Nigerian approach, where alterations often encompass multiple subjects which are bundled into one single Bill. This dissertation distinguishes itself by being the first within the institute to apply the functionality test specifically in comparing the legislative drafting methods of Nigeria's and Lesotho's Constitution Alteration Acts in a doctrinal legal research. Not to mention the direct alignment of this research focus with the core mandate of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies. Accordingly, the Institute will find this study not only relevant but also highly valuable in advancing its mission and contributing to the broader discourse on legislative and democratic development in Nigeria. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3560 Assessment of the role of the legislature in enhancing food security in Nigeria: study of the 9th Senate Azubuike, Joy Ronke This study examined the legislative role of the Nigerian Senate in advancing food security between 2019 and 2023, with particular focus on the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. It evaluated the number and scope of food-related bills and motions, assessed the effectiveness of oversight activities, and identified key challenges affecting implementation. The study adopted a qualitative research design and is guided by Institutional Theory and Governance Theory to understand how legislative actions influenced food policy outcomes. Adopting the purposive sampling technique, the study conducted interviews on key informants selected from a population comprising members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry officials, members of the civil society, and so on. The study utilised the content analysis for the analysis of data and the thematic approach for the presentation of its findings. Findings showed that the Senate demonstrated a strong legislative interest in food security through the sponsorship of major bills such as the Food Security (Establishment, etc.) Bill and the National Food Reserve Agency Bill. These bills addressed issues including food storage, agricultural research, and market regulation. Despite this, the study found a clear gap between legislative activity and implementation. National budgetary allocations to agriculture remained below the 10% target set by the Maputo Declaration, limiting the impact of approved legislation. Interviews revealed that many executive agencies lacked either the capacity or willingness to carry out mandates outlined in the bills, leaving key laws unimplemented. It was also found that the committee carried out oversight through field visits, debates, and motions, targeting agricultural programmes such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme and food import regulations. The challenges leading to food insecurity were identified to include smuggling and trade irregularities, non-implementation of resolutions by Ministries Department and Agencies, weak inter-agency coordination, insecurity and the absence of enforcement mechanisms for oversight findings. Other challenges were poor public expenditure on agriculture and political interference in project execution. Given the challenges identified, the study made far-reaching recommendations which includes: institutionalising capacity building for legislatures and committee staff, improved synergy between the committee and executive institutions under its jurisdictions, prioritizing legislation on food security issues, strengthening oversight through digital tools and real time data, enhancing public participation through local consultation and combating predominant insecurity and insurgency in Northern Nigeria. The study concluded that although the Senate played a visible legislative role in promoting food security, poor implementation, weak enforcement capacity, and political obstacles hindered its impact. Stronger coordination between the legislature and executive arm of government is required to ensure that enacted laws result in tangible improvements in Nigeria’s food system. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3559 Improving parliamentary performance through the rules of procedure: A case study of the Nigerian Senate Standing Orders Yina, Fidelia Ngowase The study addressed the problem of inefficiency in the Nigerian Senate arising from weaknesses in its procedural rules, particularly the Standing Orders. It highlighted how unclear speaking arrangements, inadequate voting procedures, politically influenced committee structures, and punitive disciplinary measures hampered the Senate’s performance in law-making, oversight, and representation. The objectives of the study were to evaluate how reforms in speaking time allocations, voting and decision-making systems, committee composition and leadership, and disciplinary mechanisms could enhance parliamentary performance. The justification for the study lay in the urgent need to strengthen legislative processes in Nigeria in order to promote orderliness, transparency, accountability, and fairness in parliamentary practice. To achieve these objectives, the study employed doctrinal research methods, analyzing constitutional provisions, statutes, and parliamentary rules. Comparative analysis was undertaken with procedural rules from other jurisdictions to identify best practices. Content analysis of secondary materials, including academic literature and legislative reports, was also carried out to assess how procedural reforms could be effectively adapted to the Nigerian Senate context. These methods enabled a comprehensive evaluation of both theoretical and practical aspects of legislative procedure. The findings revealed that structured speaking time allocations and thematic debate sessions would promote more orderly and productive deliberations. The introduction of electronic and roll-call voting was found to foster transparency, accountability, and legitimacy in legislative decision-making. Reforms in committee composition and leadership through merit-based or secret ballot appointments were shown to reduce political interference and improve effectiveness. Furthermore, restructuring disciplinary measures to emphasize fairness, including the creation of a multi-party Senate Disciplinary Committee and replacing suspension with financial penalties, was identified as essential for safeguarding legislative integrity while preserving democratic representation. The study recommended amendments to the Standing Orders to incorporate digital timing systems for structured speaking allocations and the adoption of electronic and roll-call voting for critical legislative decisions. It further recommended that committee membership and leadership selection should be reformed through secret ballot elections to ensure impartiality. On disciplinary matters, it concluded that alternative sanctions such as fines should replace suspension to prevent denial of constituency representation. Overall, the study concluded that revising the Senate Standing Orders along these lines would significantly enhance parliamentary performance in Nigeria by improving order, transparency, accountability, and fairness. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3558 Political parties in Nigeria: A comparative analysis of APC and PDP manifestos (2013-Date) Umar, Suleiman Yakubu The study examined the role and ideological orientations of Nigeria’s two dominant political parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), through a comparative analysis of their manifestos spanning from 2013 to 2025. The core motivation stemmed from the observation that, despite their prominence, Nigerian political parties often articulate similar policy goals yet diverge in their ideological commitments and governance approaches, raising concerns about the authenticity of their ideological adherence and the implications for democratic consolidation. This concern was compounded by the persistent influence of ethnicity, religion, and patronage politics, which often overshadow ideological commitments, thereby weakening democratic accountability and policy coherence. The specific objectives of the study were to analyze and compare the manifestos of PDP and APC, identify their core ideological stances, assess their policy priorities, and evaluate the degree of adherence to these policies in practice. The study adopted a qualitative desk-review methodology and in-depth interview involving use of secondary and primary sources, including official party manifestos, scholarly articles, government and electoral reports, media commentaries, and historical documents. Thematic content analysis was employed to systematically code and classify the data into recurring themes and ideological categories. The analysis was contextualized within the theoretical framework of Elite Theory, which posits that political power remains concentrated among a small ruling elite, and the theory of Historical Materialism, emphasizing economic and social class influences on political ideologies. The key findings revealed that both PDP and APC articulated overlapping commitments to key national issues such as economic growth, security, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and anti-corruption efforts. Despite their ideological differences, both parties exhibited a pattern of pragmatic adaptation, often falling short of their ideological promises during governance, primarily due to systemic corruption, ethnic loyalties, and internal party dynamics that diluted ideological coherence. The study found notable similarities where both parties prioritized economic diversification, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation, with overlapping policy emphases on anti-corruption, job creation, and infrastructural development. Nonetheless, their strategies differed, PDP favored government-led initiatives and social welfare programs, while APC emphasized deregulation, private sector participation, and institutional reforms. The study also highlighted critical divergences in their approaches to economic policy, security strategies, and governance philosophies, reflecting their underlying ideological orientations. Based on the findings, the study recommended that Nigerian political parties should reinforce their ideological commitments through institutional reforms promoting internal democracy and accountability. Enhanced public engagement, transparency in policy implementation, and rigorous anti-corruption measures will foster ideological integrity and democratic accountability. Furthermore, fostering inclusive policies that represent marginalized groups and emphasizing evidence-based policymaking can bridge the gap between ideology and practice. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z