https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/45 MPA Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:48:33 GMT 2026-04-22T09:48:33Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/1602 Assessment of the Committee System and Legislative Functions of the 8th Senate of the Nigeria National Assembly Sholademi, Toyin Joy The study assessed the Committee System and Legislative Functions of the Senate in the 8th of the Nigeria National Assembly (2015-2019). The objectives were: to assess the roles of the Senate Committees in the 8th National Assembly; to determine the extent to which the 8th Senate used the committee system; to identify the challenges impeding the performance of the Senate committees in carrying out legislative functions of the National Assembly; and to recommend ways the Senate can use the committee system more effectively. The study adopted mixed methods: qualitative and quantitative research techniques to address the questions and objectives it intended to unravel. The population of the study was 697 staff members of Senate Committees. Data were collected from primary sources using the questionnaire, personal observation and secondary data obtained from the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, books, journals and the Internet. Explicit, qualitative and quantitative data were used for objectives one to three while only qualitative data was used for objective four. The quantitative data were presented in Charts while qualitative data were described in prose. The study found that committees in the 8th National Assembly conducted public hearings in respect of Bills and Motions, attended to petitions, screened nominees and conducted oversight functions, with positive impactful results on good governance. In fact, the 8th Senate passed a total of 172 Bills some of which drew high media attention for the pertinent issues they addressed and the overall high perception of their potential impacts on society. Further findings revealed that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions was particularly very active; the Committee concluded 139 petitions and laid 126 reports which were all considered. Findings further revealed that the Committee System was a beehive of activities as a record number of Bills were passed surpassing that of the previous Assemblies. Objective three revealed that though the Senate Committee System has a large number of senior officers with higher educational qualifications indicating that the Committee Secretariats is a vibrant one which can offer quality services, however, irregular professional training and lack of adequate funding were nagging factors that militated against the effectiveness of the Senate Committees of the 8th Assembly. Findings on objective four revealed that a high number of respondents solicits for more support from civil societies, more relevant training and re-training and more funding to carry out committee assignments. The study recommended that in respect to findings on objective one and two, despite the high number of Bills passed by the 8th Senate, it could still do better where a clearer mandate is given and necessary sanctions are prescribed for inability to deliver within the required timeframe. It is also recommended as regards objective three that regular legislative training be conducted for the leadership, membership and committee secretariat. The study concluded that there is a need to pay great attention to the composition of committees and take deliberate interest in their challenges to deal with them for greater efficiency. Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/1602 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/1594 Assessment of the Public Accounts Committees: A Case Study of the 8th Assembly Ope, Gloria Ubong Public Accounts Committees (PACs) have a significant role to play in enhancing oversight and accountability for the use of public funds. Nevertheless, like most issues in Nigeria, the PAC is faced with several challenges in the discharge of its accountability enforcement mandate one of which is the backlog of audit queries. Given this challenge, this study evaluated how the backlog of audit queries affects the performance of oversight by the Public Accounts Committees of the 8th National Assembly; examined the consequences of the backlog of audit queries on the performance of oversight by the Public Accounts Committees of the 8th National Assembly, and identified ways to enhance the performance of oversight by the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly. Given the nature of its specific objectives, the study adopted the mixed research design thus, emphasizing the quantitative (numerical) as well as qualitative (textual) methods of data collection. Data were taken from primary (key informant interviews) and secondary (the sessional reports of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, books, journal articles, newspapers, magazines, relevant materials from the internet, official government publications, etc.) sources of data. However, the purposive sampling technique was adopted for the selection of respondents for the key informant interviews. Impliedly, the quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis were used. The finding from the study showed that the backlog of audit queries results in the loss of interest in PAC activities by its members, the delay in the prosecution of corrupt cases, and the untimely legislative resolutions on accountability standards due to the backlogs of audit queries. However, the study listed the implementation of e-governance, legal review, and capacity building, among others as strategies that would resolve the issue of backlogs of audit queries. Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/1594 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/1593 An Assessment of Use of Internet Services on the Reading Culture of Post-Graduate Students: A Case Study of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, 2021-2022. Edim, Mary Francis Highlight of the study problem is on the strength of the fact that, there has been an established poor reading culture among Nigerian students. The big question is, has the advent of the internet improved reading culture or is reading culture still stagnant? In developing this assessment, the specific-objectives was to examine the reading culture of students before the advent of the internet, evaluate the effect of the internet on the reading culture of NILDS post-graduate students and to determine the possible challenges in the use of internet services. Given the inconclusive evidence on this study, the study seeks to contribute to the debate raised. The study adopted the mixed research design where primary data were taken from key informants through one-on-one interview that helped to bring out thoughts of participants on the subject matter and structured questionnaires were administered to students currently undergoing programs for a survey. Secondary data were equally gotten from library research on journals, books, publications, data-based documentations and reports on related literature. The techniques of data analysis was the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) where numerical data using tables as well as percentages were presented, while prose and descriptive methods were deployed in the analysis of data. Key findings from the study’s specific objectives pointed out the fact that reading culture in Nigeria has been relatively poor before the advent of the internet. It was also revealed that the influence of the internet to a large extent, has improve the reading culture of NILDS post-graduate students as they learn new things supported with electronic devices like zoom, power point presentation among others. Furthermore, the study identified the fact that despite some challenges associated with the use of internet services, the internet remains the most powerful medium of communication at present as it connects people and other actors across different parts of the world in just a click. Key recommendations tied to key findings were suggested to be, management of NILDS/University of Benin post-graduate program may wish to consider introducing prize awards to encourage reading culture by taking statistics of the number of times students register in the library to read. NILDS library may incorporate google classroom in addition to its adapted innovations as it might help students to follow lectures and enhance their learning experience. Lastly, NILDS management may consider stipulating the limit of utilization of the internet by installing CCTV cameras in the library as a check on student’s usage of the facility. The study concluded that the use of the internet on the reading culture of students in general and students of NILDS in particular, is positive. Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/1593 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/1589 Effects of Vote Trading on Good Governance in the 2019 Presidential Election in Federal Capital Territory: Legislative Responsiveness Towards 2023 Election Aiyenale, Jimoh Fred Vote trading is a contentious issue in contemporary political discourse and the sustainability of democratic development in Nigeria. The menace of vote buying is gradually crippling electoral processes and undermining the efforts of the electoral umpire in conducting competitive, free, fair and credible elections which is the core aspect of good governance in Nigeria. The study examined the effects of vote trading on good governance and service delivery. The specific objectives of the study were to: determine the level of vote trading on good governance in the conduct of 2019 Presidential Election in the Federal Capital Territory: Quantitative research approach was applied using survey research design. A sample of three hundred and fifty (350) respondents were randomly selected from the population to provide the information required for the study and questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The sample selection was in line with Krejcie and Morgan (1970) classification of determination of sample size (see appendix IV). The data collated was analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques through simple frequency distribution table and percentage. Findings of the study in respect of objective one: revealed that majority of the respondents believes that level of vote trading in the conduct of 2019 election in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was very high to the extent that electorate were paid to votes by various political parties and also voters were given items such as food, properties, projects, political appointments or promises of employment from the politicians before or after election. Another finding of the study on the second objective indicated that poverty, unemployment and lack of political awareness are the factors that causes vote trading among voters during the conduct of 2019 Presidential election in FCT. Study findings on the third objective added that the phenomenon of vote trading affects good governance in the country. So also, finding further indicated that there is a legislative action against the conduct of vote trading in 2019 FCT Presidential election as contain in the electoral Act 2022. The key recommendations on the findings of the study are the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to improve their strategic collaborative framework to curb vote trading, improvement of the condition of ordinary citizens with basic needs of life, political education by relevant institutions such as INEC, Civil Society Organization (CSO) and National Orientation Agency (NOA) to enlighten the electorates on how to aspire for good governance and finally, enforcement of existing electoral laws and regulations on party finance. This will no doubt reduce poverty to the minimum level to the extent that independent decision will be taken in the course of choosing a credible candidate as leaders or (representatives) without compromising to the act of vote trading. Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.nilds.gov.ng//handle/123456789/1589 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z