DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE IN NIGERIA: ANALYSIS THE PAST AND PROGNOSIS OF THE FUTURE

ABSTRACT: This article examined the development of the legislature in Nigeria from the pre-colonial era to the present constitutional order. It argued that although the modern legislatures are products of written constitutions, Nigeria has had various indigenous consultative, deliberative, advisory, and even representative bodies before colonial rule, which performed functions similar to modern representation, law making, and constituency accountability. The article traced the various epochs of legislative development; from Lugard’s to Clifford’s, Richard’s, Macpherson’s and Lyttleton’s of the colonial era; to the Independence and Republican constitutional era of the first republic, under the parliamentary system, the presidential era of the second republic, the military era that engineered the still born 1989 and 1995 constitutions and the abortive third republic, and the constitutional order of the extant fourth republic. It further analyzed the structure, powers, achievements, challenges, and prospects of the Nigerian Legislature. The paper found the development of the legislature followed Nigeria’s constitutional development as each constitution, except that of 1999, introduced both structural and jurisdictional changes to the legislature; instructively that the Military while departing from the political scene in 1979, decreed a presidential constitution with a legislature that differed from the parliamentary arrangements it overthrew. The article concluded that the legislature has grown from consultative and advisory colonial councils into a constitutionally entrenched representative institution, but that its effectiveness will continue to depend on independence, public confidence, internal capacity, responsible leadership and respect for constitutionalism. Keywords: Legislature, Constitutional Development, Nigeria, Parliament, National Assembly, Democracy, Law-Making