THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN NIGERIA: A Study of the 8th National Assembly (2015-2019)
Thesis
Despite 20 years of democratic experience, Nigeria’s democracy is bequeathed with challenges with the tendency to recede just like in many African countries. The problems stem from lack of free and fair elections, insecurity, corruption and negative socio- economic factors which have permeated the geographical landscape of the country. Therefore, the specific objectives of the study were to examine the role of National Assembly on the consolidation of free and fair election, security, economic development and social rights. This is done with a view to moving beyond the ‘fallacy of electoralism’ to full democracy where dividends of democracy are provided for the citizens. The study adopted a case and correlational survey designs, using research questions to guide the investigation on each objectives. It studied the opinions of citizens on the dependent variable (democratic consolidation) and the independent variables (free and fair election, security, economic and social rights, and corruption) in the FCT, Abuja. The study, as indicated by participants in their opinions, as the mean of the responses was 2.88 which is higher than the cut-off point of 2.50 mean, agreed that the performance of 8th National Assembly had effect on free and fair election. The same thing applied to the consolidation of security. The study equally revealed that the Assembly also made positive contributions to aid economic and social rights sector. It was also indicated that the 8th Assembly made positive impacts through their interventions against corruption as the mean of the responses was 2.88, which is higher than the cut-off point of 2.50 as well. Arising from the findings above, the paper recommended that the National Assembly should use its legislative powers as enshrined in the constitution to pressure on the executive arm of government to sign and implement bills and motions on free and fair election as passed by the National Assembly. The same should apply to insecurity variable so that securities agencies are compelled to implement laws and resolution of the National Assembly. All the bills and motions passed to fight corruption must be fully implemented as well in order to give bite to anti-corruption fight. Economic and social rights require enforcement and legislative pressure in order make positive changes in the economy and social rights of citizens. This is the only way to check these problems challenging our democracy, laws made must be implemented in order to effect positive changes in our economy, security, elections and socio-economic sectors of the country and consolidate democracy in Nigeria.