Legislative Committees: Windows for Parliamentary Openness and Public Participation
Thesis
This study investigated the level of openness in the 8th National Assembly, the level of public participation, challenges of the Nigerian 8th National Assembly and recommended practicable solutions to the challenges identified. This study is significant because: It will increase legitimacy of parliamentary institutions and building trust and cordial relationships between the parliament and the citizens, Strengthen citizens’ knowledge of the duties of Parliamentary Committees, Encourage the parliament and her support institutions on engaging the citizens and introduce practicable methods of modern citizens’ engagement in parliamentary activities, Educate the public on how their diverse interests could be articulated and communicated to the Parliament, etc. The study which was conducted in the city of Abuja, designed specific methodology for each specific objective and used purposive sampling of 80 key stakeholders (spread amongst the Media/Press, Public and National Assembly staff) from a target population of approximately 1 million residents. These key stakeholders were identified purposively as they were adjudged to possess the requisite knowledge of the legislative process. The level of openness in the 8th NASS was found using the Declaration of Parliamentary Openness, as a measuring tool. The level of participation in the 8th NASS was determined through a combination of primary and secondary data (questionnaire and reports). The challenges was identified using primary and secondary data, through Interview of key stakeholders from the NASS, Media/Press, and the Public. The practicable solutions to the challenges identified were gotten using primary and secondary data, through Key stakeholders’ interview and other relevant Parliamentary openness declarations. The study found that the Nigerian 8th National Assembly was not entirely closed to the public. But had a low level of public participation in its various activities. This was because there was low information sharing, low civic education, compounded by faulty processes and designs of the participation processes used by the assembly. The study also found that the level of public participation in the 8th NASS was average. The study further found some the challenges of the Parliament, and they included poor funding, lack of skilled staff, lack of space, corruption, non-functional constituency offices, etc. Finally, the study found some of the major challenges and they included poor stakeholder engagement, limited resources, insufficient meeting space, insufficient technical knowledge amongst legislators and legislative staff, low citizen participation and lack of political will, etc. The study recommended that: the introduction of mechanisms for openness, to enable a more open Parliament, which could increase public trust and enhance citizen participation. the NASS take a step forward to be more open and committed to being more engaging and sharing of parliamentary information with the public, the public should be intensely sensitized, on the functions of the parliament, the roles they can play to assist the Parliament effectively carry out their constitutional functions, constituency offices should be strengthened, and legislators and staff equipped with adequate skills, to enable them be effective in legislative process.