| dc.description.abstract | The legislative arm of government in Nigeria has been criticized for a series of unethical behaviours and widespread misconduct ranging from bribery and corruption, poor accountability, certificate scandals, misuse of power, budget padding, consistent absent from sittings, handling of public issues, mismanagement of public spaces, powers and resources which had become major issue eroding public support and trust in the parliaments and legislatures. Undoubtedly, these misconducts have been attributed to the failure of the code of ethics and the ethical standard enforcement mechanism. Ethical standards and codes of conduct are the foundational framework for regulating the behaviour of public officials and fostering accountability. However, there exists a pressing issue surrounding the process and administration of ethical codes emanating from the weak enforcement mechanism and structure within the legislature, which impacts on legislators' behaviour. This study investigated the causes and consequences of ethical breaches in Nigeria's 9th House of Representatives. Drawing from the postulations of Institutional Theory, and survey research design involving 358 participants (questionnaires) and 14 critical stakeholders for Key Informant Interview, the study shows that, among others, that the enforcement of the code of ethics among the members of the 9 House of Representatives was largely ineffective due to weak enforcement and dependent institutional mechanisms, selective enforcement, political interference, and lack of transparency in handling ethical breaches. The study then recommended, among others, that the National Assembly should establish 'Independent Ethical Standard Compliance Commission (ESCC) for Legislators, with its membership drawn from the CSOs, and other professional bodies which operate outside the legislative body to ensure impartiality and effectiveness. | en_US |
