THE ROLE OF LEGISLATURE ARM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC

THE ROLE OF LEGISLATURE ARM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC

TABLE OF CONTENT

1.1 INTRODUCTION

1.2 CONCEPTUAL PERSPECTIVE AND ISSUES IN CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

1.3 DIMENSIONS OF CORRUPT PRACTICES IN NIGERIA

1.4 INSTITUTIONAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION

1.5 ASSESSING LEGISLATURE’S PERFORMANCE IN ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADE IN NIGERIA

1.6 EXPLAINING THE LEGISLATURE’S INEFFECTIVENESS

1.7 CONCLUSION

1.1 INTRODUCTION

One major challenge to Nigeria’s rummage around for enduring socio-economic, political
and technological development yet as economical and productive utilization of allotted
resources within the new millennium is that the pervasive corrupt practices within the polity. The
serious effects of corruption within the country have manifested in lopsided distribution of
wealth, malfunctioned or decayed infrastructure and degrading standard of living conditions among agreat number of the people. These have compact negatively on all aspects of the
developmental agenda. The country cannot however so answer eachdomestic and
international pressures to confront corruption with all attainable methodsoffered.
Ironically, the institutional mechanism offered by the Constitution for the fight against
corrupt practices is itself not immune from the plague. Indeed, the creation of another legislative
institutions together with the tasks of fighting corruption is itself associate degree indictment
of the constitutional framework and a pointer to the wide gulf of distinctionbetween theconstitutional prescriptions and also the sensible realities in associate degreerising democracy preceded
by long years of military rule marked by large corruption and rule with freedom.
For reason not unconnected with the damaging impact of corruption on any nation
where it is deeply rooted and the limitation imposed on international bodies by
observance of rule of national sovereignty, the fight against corruption has often been
domesticated. Thus, while international institutions like the World Bank and International
Parliamentary Association (IPA) have continued to champion the need to combat
corruption, such efforts could only serve as catalyst for domestic institutions to confront
corruption. It serves no guarantee that national institutions so saddled with the task would
perform their duties at all or as required.

Although, a broad-based coalition of actors, especially comprising the executive, legislature and the judiciary is needed if any progress will be made in curbing corruption (Leautier, 2006), the role of the legislature particularly appears all encompassing and very important (Wolffowitz, 2006). For one, the legislature as the accredited representatives of the people has the duty of protecting public funds and other resources. As the controller of the purse, it has the additional duty of serving as the guardian of the public treasury. Moreover, appropriation of funds for public expenditures requires the legislature to monitor the use of such funds to ensure judicious utilization for the overall benefit of the people. It occupies a vantage position in the making and unmaking of all laws, including those pertaining to the eradication/reduction of corrupt practices in public and private life. There, indeed, appears to be a convergence of views not only among the World bank and the IPA, but also among other commentators on corruption that nationalrepresentative assemblies stand in good stead to curb corruption (Stapenhurst, Ulrich and Strohal (2006).

THE ROLE OF LEGISLATURE ARM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC