Perspectives on the Legislature and the Prospects of Accountability in Nigeria and South Africa

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction: Understanding the Legislature as an Instrument of Accountability

   • Omololu Fagbadebo

   Pages 1-15

3. Principles, Tradition and Power of the Branches of Government

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 17-17

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   2. An Overview of Legislative Oversight and Accountability Mechanisms in Nigeria and South Africa

      • Omololu Fagbadebo

      Pages 19-44

   3. A Perspective on the Principle of ‘Constitutionalism’ in Relation to Executive and Legislative Accountability in South Africa

      • Andile Mcineka, Nomthandazo Ntlama

      Pages 45-61

   4. A Comparative Analysis of the Roles of the Legislature in Nigeria and South Africa: The Central Legislature in focus

      • Joseph Yinka Fashagba, Abdullahi Mu’awiyya

      Pages 63-83

   5. Executive-Legislature Relationships and the Promotion of Accountability and Transparency in South Africa

      • Msuthukazi Makiva, Isioma U. Ile

      Pages 85-104

   6. Legislative-Executive Corruption and Good Governance in Nigeria: Insights from Buhari’s Administration in the Fourth Republic

      • Samuel Chukwudi Agunyai, Kayode Wakili Olawoyin

      Pages 105-119

4. Conceptualising Challenges of Legislative Accountability and Oversight

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 121-121

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   2. Integrity Deficit as an Impediment to Effective Legislative Oversight in Nigeria

      • Celestine Ojo Jombo, Omololu Fagbadebo

      Pages 123-142

   3. The Challenges of Legislative-Executive Frictions over Institutional Powers in Nigeria

      • Dhikru Adewale Yagboyaju, Ebenezer O. Oni, Olumuyiwa T. Faluyi

      Pages 143-158

   4. Playing Nollywood with Parliamentary Duties: Nigeria’s National Assembly as a Theatre of Politics of the Amusement Park

      • Olawale R. Olaopa, Victor Ojakorotu

      Pages 159-176

5. Mapping Change in Legislative Accountability and Oversight in Nigeria and South Africa

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 177-177

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   2. Constraints and Prospects for Legislative Oversight in Emerging African Democracies: The Case of South Africa

      • Koliswa M. Notshulwana, Teboho J. Lebakeng

      Pages 179-195

   3. Anti-corruption Campaigns and the Imperative for Effective Legislative Oversight

      • Dhikru Adewale Yagboyaju, Ibraheem Oladipo Muheeb

      Pages 197-216

   4. Digital Technologies, Online Engagement and Parliament-Citizen Relations in Nigeria and South Africa

      • Temitayo Isaac Odeyemi, Tunde Abioro

      Pages 217-232

   5. Public Participation in Legislative Oversight: A Review of Nature and Practice in Nigeria and South Africa

      • Innocent A. Daudu, Omololu Fagbadebo

      Pages 233-250

6. Back Matter

   Pages 251-257

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This book examines the problem of accountability in two African political systems, South Africa and Nigeria. Despite the principle of separation of powers and the doctrine of checks and balances among the institutions of governance, a burgeoning governance crisis stifles the potential of accountability and good governance. Legislative oversight in the two countries remains largely ineffective while citizens are left to face the consequences of the mismanagement of public resources by political elites. This book critically assesses how the legislative institutions in South Africa and Nigeria have been unable to harness the requisite constitutional powers to ensure accountability in government and explores the feasibility of their effectiveness. The book begins with a comparative analysis of the principles, tradition, and powers associated with legislative capability in South Africa and Nigeria. The chapters explore constitutional provisions and analyze the capacity of each legislature to function within its respective political environment. The book also examines the process and challenges associated with the various measures and mechanisms available for legislatures to ensure accountability in the two countries. Researchers, scholars and students of African politics will find this book useful in their understanding of the problems associated with the simmering governance crisis in South Africa and Nigeria.

• impeachment
• legislative oversight
• accountability
• corruption
• governance
• vote of no confidence

• School of Management, IT and Governance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

  Omololu Fagbadebo

• School of Management, IT and Governance, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban, South Africa

  Fayth Ruffin

Dr Omololu Fagbadebo

Fagbadebo holds a doctoral degree in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He has taught Political Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the School of Management, IT and Governance of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Prior to his foray into the academic, he was a journalist with practical experience in the political activities in Nigeria. He was a media correspondent at the Nigeria’s National Constitutional Conference, Abuja, 1995-1995. He also served as the Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Nigeria, 1999-2003. He was a recipient of the Study of the American Politics and Political Thought Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in June/July, 2010. He has published academic papers in journals, books; and presented papers at conferences and workshops. His area of specialisation includes comparative politics, legislative studies, governance, development studies, and African politics.

Dr Fayth Ruffin

Ruffin holds a doctoral degree in Public Affairs, with specialisation in Public Governance, of the State University of New Jersey, United States of America. She is also a Juris Doctor of Antioch School of Law, Washington, DC. She has more than 38 years of teaching and research experience at different universities in the United States, including Urban Law Institutes and Antioch School of Law, both at Washington, DC. and Rutgers University-Newark, New Jersey. She was into private law practice in New Jersey between 1990 and 2007. She is a recipient of several awards, grants and honours in universities in the United States and South Africa. She joined the services of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in May 2011 where she is the Academic Leader of the Public Governance Discipline in the School of Management, Information Technology andGovernance, since 2015. She has served in various management committees of the university where she is also a member of the Senate.  She is widely published. She specializes in African Indigenous Knowledge Systems of Governance and Justice, South African Public Governance, Global/Local Disaster Risk Management and Risk Reduction, Local/Regional Economic Development, International Relations, Global Urban Management and Development, Global Rural Management and Development, Transnational Hybrid Governance, Global/Local Network Governance, Public Administration and Management (sub-national, national, international, regional and comparative), International and Comparative Law, Global Governance and Law, Socio-legal Studies, International Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution. 

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