LEGISLATIVE-EXECUTIVE RELATIONS IN NIGERIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE 8TH AND 9TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The legislature and executive arms are the fulcrum of democracy owing to her ability to give the people the opportunity of actually taking control of their own affairs through their elected representatives. It therefore becomes imperative that the relationship between the legislature and the executive must be cordial to enhance the mutual agreement in the handling of the state and citizens affairs for development and the protection of life and property. As a representative assembly, the legislature in a democratic government enacts the general rules of society in the form of laws, the executive implement and enforced the law. This cannot be done without eliciting the views of the people regarding a proposed legislation and support from the executive. It is in keeping with this that the legislature across the world holds public hearings to ensure that citizen’s views are taken into the process of legislation, this will assist the executive, in its role to ensure that the purpose of governance will be felt by the people. This study is descriptive in nature and adopted the secondary data which have qualitative baseline orientation. The objective of this paper is to identify the nature and importance of public hearing in Nigeria as well as to identify the reasons behind the exclusion of most citizens from the process. The paper adopted the Bureaucratic organizational theory as its theoretical framework and make adequate recommendations towards ensuring mutual cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive in the country.