https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/24 DLSS Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:28:55 GMT 2026-04-22T01:28:55Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3490 From Crafting Laws to Evaluating Impact: An Analysis of the Role of the Legislative Drafter in Post-Legislative Scrutiny Amali, Mohammed Onyilokwu; Andemi, Shalom Danlami Post-legislative scrutiny (PLS) has emerged as a critical mechanism for assessing the effectiveness, relevance, and impact of enacted laws. This paper examines the evolving role of the legislative drafter in PLS, challenging the traditional view that drafters’ contributions end at enactment. Drawing on doctrinal analysis and comparative insights, the paper posits that drafters are pivotal in ensuring laws are not only well-written but also operationally effective. The paper finds that drafters facilitate PLS by clarifying legislative intent, interpreting statutory provisions, advising oversight committees on implementation gaps, and embedding evaluative mechanisms that enhance accountability, measurability, and adaptability. The paper also finds that despite their potential, drafters’ engagement in PLS is often constrained by institutional and capacity limitations, including limited staffing, insufficient training in monitoring and evaluation, weak interdepartmental coordination, and restricted access to implementation data. The paper recommends institutional reforms to formalize drafters’ PLS roles, targeted capacity-building programs, strengthened collaboration between drafting offices, legislative committees, and research institutions, robust knowledge management systems, and a cultural shift towards continuous, adaptive law-making. By integrating these measures, drafters can bridge the gap between legal drafting and societal impact, reinforce policy coherence, enhance democratic accountability, and strengthen transparency. The positions the legislative drafter as a central agent in translating statutory craftsmanship into tangible social, economic, and governance outcomes, demonstrating that effective law-making is a continuous process that extends from conception to post-enactment evaluation. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3490 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3349 Interrogating the Theories of Punishment under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 Amali, Mohammed; Andemi, Shalom Danlami Theories of punishment provide the philosophical foundation upon which criminal sanctions are justified, ranging from retribution and deterrence to rehabilitation and restorative justice. In Nigeria, the enactment of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 (VAPP Act) marked a watershed moment in the criminal justice landscape by codifying offences relating to gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices, and other forms of abuse. This article interrogates the theories of punishment underpinning the VAPP Act, examining whether its penal provisions reflect retributive, deterrent, rehabilitative, or restorative philosophies, or a hybrid of these models. The article argues that the reliance of the Act on retributive and deterrent theories of punishment, while offering limited mechanisms for rehabilitation of offenders or restoration of victims, occasions a disconnect between its intention and the reality of the sanctions its provides. The article also argues that the gap between the Act's transformative rhetoric and its largely punitive penal Orientation undermines its long-term effectiveness in addressing structural violence and entrenched cultural practices. The paper recommends a more deliberate recalibration of the Act towards stronger restorative and rehabilitative mechanisms in order to align its provisions with the stated objectives of victim protection and social tranformation. Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3349 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3348 Suspension of Legislators: Legislative Autonomy and the Limits of Suspension Powers Amali, Mohammed Onyilokwu; Andemi, Shalom Danlami The suspension of legislators by their respective legislatures remain one of the most contested intersections between legislative autonomy and democratic accountability. While the power to discipline members is inherent in the legislature’s right to regulate its internal affairs, its exercise often raises profound constitutional and democratic questions. This article examines the delicate balance between legislative autonomy, democratic representation, and the limits of suspension powers with particular reference to the Nigerian experience and comparative commonwealth jurisdictions. Drawing from constitutional provisions, judicial precedents, and normative democratic theory, the paper argues that the suspension power, although justifiable on grounds such as maintenance of order, protection of institutional integrity, and enforcement of ethical standards, must operate within the boundaries of proportionality, fairness, and respect for the right of representation. Unchecked autonomy, the paper contends, produces a paradox of the legislature’s quest to preserve its independence which may, in practice, subvert the very principles of representation and accountability upon which its legitimacy rests. The paper finds that the true measure of a legislature’s autonomy lies not in its immunity from review, but in its fidelity to democratic values, constitutional restraint, and the enduring right of the people to be represented through their elected voices. The paper recommends clearer procedural safeguards, and codified disciplinary frameworks in order to prevent abuse Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3348 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3347 The Sound of Democracy: Legal and Procedural Examination of the Voice Vote in the Senate of the Nigerian National Assembly Amali, Mohammed; Andemi, Shalom The voice-vote remains one of the most enduring decision-making procedures in legislatures, symbolizing both the simplicity and immediacy of parliamentary democracy. Notwithstanding, its continued use raises important questions about transparency, accuracy, and democratic accountability in contemporary law-making. This article offers a detailed legal and procedural examination of the voice vote in the Nigerian Senate, interrogating how it is initiated, conducted, and ruled upon, the discretionary power it accords the Presiding Officer, and its normative foundation within practice. The study finds that while the voice vote is efficient for disposing uncontested matters, routine motions, and procedural questions, its reliance on auditory estimation introduces significant risks of partisan manipulation, and the suppression of minority voices. The article further finds that systemic challenges, including the absence of objective thresholds for determining “majority,” limited opportunities for Members to demand division, and insufficient technological support for verification, are structural barriers to participation and quorum visibility. These weaknesses undermine legislative credibility and public trust, particularly during contentious deliberations where precision is essential. The article argues that for the Nigerian Senate to embody the ideals of democratic decision-making, voice voting must be complemented, and in some contexts replaced by more transparent, verifiable, and participatory voting procedures. Drawing on comparative analysis from two jurisdictions- the United Kingdom and Canada, the article proposes reforms such as expanding electronic voting infrastructure, tightening the procedural conditions for voice-vote rulings, strengthening safeguards for calling divisions, and enhancing transparency measures such as audio archiving and recorded voting. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/3347 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z