PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

This study examined the legislature-executive crisis in Nigeria under the APC- led democratic governance between 2015 and 2019. The objective was to understand the factors that animated the crisis and its implication on good governance. To achieve this, the study relied on the descriptive qualitative approach and the institutional theory of conflict to create linkage and consolidate the findings. It used mainly secondary data like textbooks, journal articles, legislature-executive documents, and the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. From the analysis, several factors emerged which included leadership interference and parliamentary oversight. Others were poor capacity building, corruption, and absence of enough communication. By implication, the result showed that between 1999 and 2015, the parliament passed 248 bills into law, but passed 213 bills between 2015 and 2019. However, information also appeared that the crisis impacted more negatively on the institutions’ relations and the political system. It disrupted the democratic ethics of accountability, transparency, and equitable distribution of resources. Public policies like lawmaking, oversight and implementation suffered greatly. Unnecessarily delayed budget proposals increased poverty, economic deprivation, and instability. Positive changes promised by the APC government were lost in the crisis and these were all against democratic ethos. Based on the ongoing, the study concluded that democracy and good governance can be strengthened when the institutions collaborate better to execute their roles, respect their institutions and the 1999 Constitution. The study would benefit the institutions, the public and researchers. Further study is also needed on the judiciary-legislature pattern of relations under Nigeria’s fourth republic democratic governance.

• Aiyede, R., & Isumonah, V. A. (2002). Towards democratic consolidation in Nigeria: Executive-legislative relations and the budgetary process. Development Policy Centre.

• Ajakaye, R. (2018, May 10). Nigeria: Police hit back over chief refusing summons. Africa. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/nigeria-police-hit-back-over-chief-refusing-summons/1141307

• Albert, I. O. (2001). Introduction to third party interview in community conflicts peaceful transformation forum. John Arches publication.

• Andre, M. F. (1994). Methodological problems in comparative politics. Journals of Theoretical Politics, 6(3), 12-56.

• Baba, Y. T. (2019). Executive–legislature relations: Evidence from Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. In J. Y. Fashagba, O. M. Ajayi, & C. Nwankwo (Eds.), The Nigerian National Assembly (pp. 143-164). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11905-8_9

• Barash, B., & Webel, C. (2013). Peace and conflict studies. Sage Publications Inc.

• Bills Buhari has refused to sign, and why. (2019, April 6). Daily Trust, 1.

• Chima, E., Bello, M. B., Okoroafor, F. O., & Obilor, O. I. (2018). Conflict management in inter-governmental relations in Nigeria: Issues and prospects. GNOSI: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Human Theory and Praxis, 1(1), 17-24.

• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach. Sage.

• Egbefo, D. O. (2015). Accountability and good governance at the grassroots level in Nigeria: Option for rural poverty alleviation. Journal of Research in National Development, 13(1), 10-20.

• Egobueze, A., Ogele, E. P., & Ajunwo, D. (2020). Legislative conflicts and democratic consolidation in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: An interrogation of the National Assembly. American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 6(1), 1-16.

• Egwu, E. M. (2020). Managing legislature-executive relationship and conflict in the Nigerian presidential democracy. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 10(7), 339-349. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1.2020.107.339.349

• Egwu, E. M., Alabi, J. O., & Sule, J. G. (2020). An exploration of legislative-executive conflicts from the perspective of human relations in Nigeria. International Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences, 5(1), 16-29. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.136.2020.51.16.29

• Elaigwu, J. I. (2014). Democracy and democratic deficits. In J. I. Elaigwu (Ed.), Federalism and democracy in Nigeria: Fifty years after (pp. 242-256). Institute of Governance and Social Research (IGSR).

• Eme, O. I., & Asadu, I. (2017). Exploring the factors responsible for executive-legislative conflict in Nigeria. Journal of Security Studies and Global Politics, 2(1), 49-59.

• Fagbadebo, O. M. (2016). Exploring the politics of impeachment in Nigeria’s Presidential System: Insights from selected states in the Fourth Republic, 1999–2007 [Unpublished doctoral dissertation], University of KwaZulu-Natal.

• Fagbadebo, O., & Ruffin, F. (Eds.). (2019). Perspectives on the Legislature and the Prospects of Accountability in Nigeria and South Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93509-6

• Fashagba, J. Y. (2019). Exploring the Nigerian central legislative institution. In J. Fashagba, O. R. Ajayi, & C. Nwankwor (Eds.), The Nigerian National Assembly (pp. 1-13). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11905-8_1

• Fashagba, J. Y., Ajayi, O. R. M., & Nwankwor, C. (Eds.). (2019). The Nigerian National Assembly. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11905-8

• Fatile, J. O., & Adejuwon, K. O. (2016). Legislative-executive conflicts and democratic governance in Nigeria’s fourth republic. International Journal of Innovation Research in Social Science and Management Techniques, 3(1), 91-110.

• Garuba, R. O., & Salawu, I. O. (2020). Adversarial executive-legislative relations on governance in Nigeria: Insights from Buhari’s presidency (2015-2019). KIU Journal of Humanities, 5(2), 137-144.

• Godswealth, I. C., Ahmad, Z. B., & Jawan, J. (2016). Factors influencing the executive and legislative conflict in Nigeria political development. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 21(8), 20-25.

• Heywood, A. (2007). Politics (3rd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan’s.

• Holme, R. (2007). Relations between the executive, the judiciary and parliament. The Stationery Office Limited.

• Igbokwe-Ibeto, C. J., & Anazodo, R. O. (2015). Managing executive–legislature relationship for good governance and service delivery in Nigeria. Review of Public Administration and Management, 4(8),13-24.

• Imobighe, T. A. (2013). Governance and Nigeria’s national security. In T. A. Imobighe & S. I. Ebohon (Eds.), Themes and issues in Nigerian governance and politics (pp. 265-292). National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

• Isma’ila, Y. (2016). Malpractices in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic elections: Challenges of democratic governance [Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Utara Malaysia]. http://etd.uum.edu.my/6418/2/s95431_02.pdf

• Isma’ila, Y., & Othman, Z. (2016). Globalization and democratization in Nigeria’s quest for democratic governance in the Fourth Republic. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 7(1), 386-386. http://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n1p386

• Jombo, O. C. (2019). Examining the peculiarities of executive-legislative relations in Nigeria’s presidential system: Insights from selected states in the Fourth Republic, 1999-2015. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Kwazulu-Natal]. https://ukzn-dspace.ukzn.ac.za/handle/10413/16503

• Kopecký, P. (2004). Power to the executive! the changing executive–legislative relations in eastern Europe. The Journal of Legislative Studies, 10(2/3), 142-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/1357233042000322274

• Laski, H. J. (1992). A grammar of politics. George Allen and Unwin.

• Lewis, P. M. (2011). Nigeria country report.  University of Cape Town Centre for Social Science Report.

• Lijphart, A. (2004). Constitutional design for divided societies. Journal of Democracy, 15(2), 96-109. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2004.0029

• Magilvy, J. K. (2003). Qualitative designs. In K. S. Oman, M. Krugman, & R. Fink (Eds.), Nursing research secrets (pp. 123-128). Hanley & Belfus, Inc.

• Momodu, A. J. (2012). Legislature and good governance in Nigeria’s democratic system: Implications on delivering dividends of democracy. Journal of Pedagogical Thought, 8180(8), 39-56.

• Momodu, A. J., & Matudi, G. I. (2013). The implications of executive-legislative conflicts on good governance in Nigeria. Public Policy and Administration Research, 3(8), 30-42.

• Muheeb, I. O. (2019). The trajectory of the legislature, lawmaking, and legislation in Nigeria. In J. Fashagba, O. R. Ajayi & C. Nwankwo, (Eds.), The Nigerian National Assembly (pp. 33-56). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11905-8_3

• Muktar, U. M. (2018, August 31). APC’s defection: A chance to seize opportunity from crisis. The News. https://www.Thenewsnigeria.Com.Ng/2018/08/31/Apcs-Defections-A-Chance-To-Seize-Opportunity-From-Crisis/

• Nwagwu, E. J. (2014). Legislative oversight in Nigeria: A watchdog or a hunting dog? Journal of Law, Policy & Globalization, (22), 16-24.

• Ogbo, U. S., & Avidime, S. S. (2016). Assessing democratic governance in the Nigerian Fourth Republic, 1999-2014. European Scientific Journal, 12(29), 142-155. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2016.v12n29p142

• Ogbonnaya, U. M., Omoju, O. E., & Udefuna, N. P. (2012). The challenges of democratic governance in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 3(11), 685-693.

• Ogundipe, S. (2017). Why I will not appear before Nigerian Senate, Hameed Ali. Premium Times. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/226777-i-will-not-appear-nigerian-senate-hameed-ali.html

• Ojibara, I. I. (2017). A governing party in disarray: Executive-legislative relations under APC government. Global Journal of Human-Social Science, 17(1), 40-50.

• Okakwu, E. (2018). Senate right to reject Magu as EFCC chairman, Court rules. Premium Times. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/257349-updated-senate-right-to-reject-magu-as-efcc-chairman-court-rules.html

• Okon, B. A., Abia, R. P., Ekok, O. C., & Antigha, B. U. (2013). An examination of causes and consequences of conflict between legislature and executive in Cross River State, Nigeria. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(1), 179-187. http://doi.org/10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n1p179

• Okpe, V. V., & Othman, M. F. (2020). Assessment of legislature-executive pattern of relations in Nigeria’s democratic governance of the Fourth Republic: Prospects and challenges. Pertanika Journal of Social Science & Humanities, 28(4), 2844-2860. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.28.4.19

• Okpe, V. V., & Taya, S. (2018). Institutional perspective: Legislative-executive relations under Nigeria’s democratic dispensation. International Journal of Research, 5(22), 828- 851.

• Okpeh, O. (2014): Foreword to history of executive-legislature relation in Nigeria, 1914-2007. University of Ibadan Press.

• Omotoso, F., & Oladeji, O. (2019). Legislative oversight in the Nigerian Fourth Republic. In J. Y. Fashagba, O. R. Ajayi, & C. Nwankwo, (Eds.), The Nigerian National Assembly (pp. 57-72). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11905-8_4

• Oni, S. (2014). Governance and legislature-executive relations at the state government level of Nigeria´s presidential system. Politické vedy, 17(4), 142-156.

• Oni, S., Olanrewaju, F., & Deinde-Adedeji, O. (2019). The legislature and law making in Nigeria: Interrogating the National Assembly (1999–2018). In J. Fashagba, O. R. Ajayi & C. Nwankwor (Eds.), The Nigerian National Assembly (pp. 15-31). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11905-8_2

• Oni, S. O. (2013). Legislature-executive relations in the presidential system: A study of Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria, 1999-2011 [Doctoral dissertation, Covenant University]. http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/1462/

• Osakede, K. O., Ijimakinwa, S. O., Adesanya, T. O., & Oshineye, A. A. (2017). Executive-legislative face-off in Nigerian democracy and its implication on good governance. Review of Public Administration and Management, 6(12), 60-68.

• Pelizzo, R., & Stapenhurst, R. (2013). Parliamentary oversight tools: A comparative analysis. Routledge.

• Peter, A. M., & Peterside, Z. B. (2019). The roadmap to the 2019 general elections: Challenges of legislation and the future of electoral democracy in Nigeria [Poster presentation]. Political Conference 2019, Department of Political Science, Federal University, Lokoja, Nigeria.

• Schmidt, V. (2006). Institutionalism. In C. Hay, M. Irster & D, Marsh (Eds.), The State; theories and issues (Political Analysis) (pp. 98-118). Palgrave Macmillan.

• Sears, A. (2008). A good book in theory: A guide to theoretical thinking. Higher Education University.

• Taiwo, O. (2014, June 3). Nigerian assembly can summon oil minister without presidential consent. Africa Check. https://africacheck.org/reports/nigerian-assembly-can-summon-oil-minister-without-presidential-consent/

• Umoru, H. (2018, July 8). Buhari government sent 12 bills to National Assembly in 3 years. Vanguard. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/buhari-govt-sent-12-bills-to-national-assembly-in-3-years/

• Wolff, S. (2006). Ethnic conflict: A global perspective. Oxford University Press.

• Wright, J. G., & McKeever, P. (2000). Qualitative research: Its role in clinical research. Annals of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, 33, 275-280.

• Yusuf, A. Y. (2018). The legislative functions and democratic consolidation in Nigeria ‘s Fourth Republic, 1999-2015 [Unpublished doctoral dissertation], Universiti Utara Malaysia.