| dc.description.abstract | This study addressed the persistent challenges in legislative drafting within the National
Assembly, where weak institutional structures, inadequate expertise, and limited
stakeholder consultation have frequently resulted in ambiguous, inconsistent, and difficult
to-implement laws. The research specifically aimed to (i) identify the established stages in
effective legislative drafting, (ii) assess the extent of the National Assembly’s compliance
with these stages, (iii) determine how non-compliance affects the drafting process, and (iv)
identify best practices for improving compliance and effectiveness. The study was justified
by the urgent need to improve the clarity, coherence, and enforceability of legislation in
Nigeria and to align domestic practices with global drafting standards.
A doctrinal research method was adopted, supported by comparative legal analysis.
Literature, statutes, and selected judicial decisions from Nigeria, Ghana, and the United
States were reviewed to address the first and second objectives. For the third objective,
content analysis of legislative instruments was conducted to evaluate the practical impact
of non-compliance on legislative quality. The fourth objective was achieved through the
examination of documented best practices from comparative jurisdictions and the
identification of reform strategies adaptable to the Nigerian context. Data were synthesised
to provide an integrated evaluation of the legislative drafting process.
Findings revealed that the main stages of legislative drafting in the Nigerian National
Assembly included policy formulation, instructions to drafters, drafting design,
composition, scrutiny, and approval. However, these stages were often unstructured,
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leading to quality gaps in draft laws. Compliance with established drafting stages was
found to be inconsistent, hindered by poor coordination, inadequate training, and limited
stakeholder participation. Non-compliance resulted in vague provisions, inconsistent
language, and laws that were prone to misinterpretation and enforcement delays.
Comparative analysis showed that countries like Ghana and the United States benefited
from structured drafting frameworks, digital drafting tools, and systematic stakeholder
consultations, which Nigeria largely lacked.
Based on these findings, the study recommended the adoption of a structured and well
documented drafting framework, improved training and capacity-building for legislative
drafters, and the institutionalisation of broad-based stakeholder consultation at all stages.
The integration of modern digital drafting tools and consistent language standards was also
proposed to enhance clarity and reduce ambiguity. Strengthening institutional review
mechanisms and fostering inter-agency coordination were further advised. The study
concluded that reforming the drafting stages, particularly instruction, analysis, design,
composition, and scrutiny is essential to producing clear, coherent, and enforceable Acts
that can effectively address societal needs and stand the test of judicial interpretation. | en_US |
