The Role of the Nigerian National Assembly in the Economic Diplomacy of External Debt Relief; 1999-2006

Abstract

This paper examines the role of the Nigerian National Assembly in the economic diplomacy of external debt relief between 1999 and 2006. Using secondary data, the findings show that the National Assembly played a critical and complementary role to the Executive arm in attaining Nigeria’s foreign policy objective of securing external debt relief. This paid-off with the grant of US$18 billion debt relief to Nigeria by the Paris Club of Creditors in 2005. Since the 1999 Constitution provides for shared responsibility between the Executive and the National Assembly in foreign policy, the effective participation of both arms of government in foreign policy making is necessary for the development of clear and focused policy goals as well as effective coordination of domestic forces in forging a robust and effective foreign policy.