Legislative-Executive Conflict in Nigeria's Fourth Republic: Implications for Democratic Consolidation
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Date
2019-04-24
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Department of Political Science, University of Jos, Jos
Abstract
Modern democracy can only be made possible through the instrumentality of representation that is provided by the legislature. Presidentlalism however offers to a very large extent the full operation of principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. In the course of these arms of government performing their constitutional functions, chances are high that conflict would arise especially between the legislature and the executive. The Nigerias Fourth Republic experience has being dotted with series of inter-arm conflict between the executive and the legislature. This phenomenon has not provided the needed grounds for the consolidation of Nigerias democracy. It is against the backdrop that this paper investigated the causes of conflicts between the executive and legislature; and the impacts of such conflicts on democratic consolidation of Nigerias Forth Republic. The study relied on secondary sources of data for review. The study however discovered that harmonious and peaceful working relationships between the executive and legislature is but most necessary factor for democratic consolidation. It concluded by emphasizing the importance of legislative- executive cordiality as the most important factor to ensure the engendering of good governance, democratic dividends as well as consolidating the nascent Nigerias democracy. It went further by offering as suggestions for the strengthening of democratic institutions and structures as well as continuous capacity building and training for members of both arms as possible escape route for damaging inter arm conflict in Nigeria Forth Republic democratic experiment.
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Keywords
Democracy, Consolidation, Executive, Legislature, Conflict