LEGISLATIVE POWERS UNDER THE NIGERIAN AND BRITISH CONSTITUTIONS: THE PLACE AND ROLE OF COMMITTEES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53704/zzeess07Keywords:
Constitution, Legislative Powers, Presidential System, Parliamentary System, Committee System, Bicameralism.Abstract
This paper explores Legislative Powers under Nigeria’s 1999 presidential constitution and the British parliamentary system with emphasis on the role of legislative committees in handling the increasing volume and complexity of parliamentary businesses. While Nigeria’s Constitution vide Section 62(1) empowers the National Assembly to form committees, the British system is a product of long-established and institutionally mature tradition. The papers undertook an epochal review of the historical development of the Committee system in both jurisdictions, highlighting areas of convergence and how the committees have contributed to governance in the wider system of government in place. Through doctrinal research, based on constitutional texts, statutes, case law, and scholarly literatures, the paper explores basis, types, number, composition, powers, functions and other characteristics of committees. A unique Committee identified and expounded hereof is the 1922 Committee in the British House of Commons. The study finds that committees are central to legislative businesses andthe success thereof, in both jurisdictions.
References
*Uchenna Eugene Okolocha, Ph.D, Associate Professor and Head of Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Abuja: 08033157417eugene.okolocha@uniabuja.edu.ng
**Michael Dada Aluko, Ph.D, Legal Practitioner and Parliamentary Consultant:aluko.mike@gmail.com
K. Wenibowei, ‘Committee System in Nigeria’s National Assembly: Issues and Challenges’ In F.A Aremu, A.R
Bakare, (eds) Two Decades of Legislative Politics and Governance in Nigeria’s National Assembly, Palgrave
Singapore 2021; See also, J.Y Fashagba, ‘The Roles of Committee System in Enhancing Legislative
Efficiency in Nigeria: The Case of Kwara State House of Assembly’ Journal of Sustainable Development in
Africa (2009)(10)(4).
SS 62 & 103 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,hereinafter simply referred to as the Constitution or the 1999 Constitution or the CFRN 1999.
J.S Omotola, ‘The Functions of Committees in the Nigeria National Assembly’ Journal of Legislative Studies (2010)(16)(1) 62 - 77
A. Kelso, Parliamentary Reform at Westminster (Manchester University Press 2009)
P. Norton, Parliament in British Politics (2nd ed London: Palgrave Macmillan 2013); See also UK Parliament (2009). Thirty Years of Departmental Select Committees. Retrieved from <https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/DepartmentalSelectCommittees> accessed 3rd March, 2025.
D.D Aaron, and S.B Lawal-Gambari, ‘Legislative Oversight: An Appraisal of the Law and Practice’ Benue State University Law Journal, (2023)(12)(2)
A. Kelso, ‘Parliament on Its Knees: MPs Expenses and the Crisis of Transparency’ Political Quarterly,
(2009)(80)(2)
C. Leston Bandeira, ‘Citizen Engagement and the Committee System in the UK Parliament’ Political Studies
Review (2015)(13)(1)
E.J Nwangwu, ‘Legislative Oversight in Nigeria: A Watchdog or a Hunting Dog’? Journal of Law, Policy and
Globalization, (2014)(22)
House of Commons Library, ‘Select Committees: Key Issues and Proposals for Change’, Research Briefing,
CBP-9303, (2021)
A.R Bakere, ‘Legislative Effectiveness in Nigeria’s National Assembly: An Institutional Assessment Approach’
NILDS Journal of Democratic Studies, (2020)(1)(1)
R v Secretary of State, Ex ParteHillingdon(1986) 1 WLR 192.
See E. Malemi, The Nigerian Constitutional Law, (Princeton Publishing Co. Ikeja, 2006) P. 151,
See also Abubakar v Gov of Gombe State (2002) 17 NWLR (Pt 797) 533; Gov of Akwa Ibom State v Umar
(2002) 7 NWLR (Pt. 767) 738; and Ahmed v Sokoto State House of Assembly (2002) 15 NWLR (Pt. 791) 539.
S. 62(1) & (2) CFRN 1999.
Legislative Research Series: Committees in Legislature. <https://www.ndi.org> Accessed 27 January 2024.
R. Esebagbon, The Nigerian Legislative Process (Law-Link Consults Abuja 2005)
T. I. Ojo, Nigerian Legistature: Historical Survey of Colonial Administration in Nigeria before Independence (Administrative Staff College of Nigeria 1997).
Aduba&Oguche (n.17).
L. Hamalai, ‘The Role of Committees in a Presidential System of Governance, (A Paper presented on the
occasion of the inauguration of Committees of the 9th House of Representatives National Assembly, 2nd
October 2019).
J. Akande, Introduction to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (MIJ Publishers 2000)
p.153.
NDI (n.43)
(n.58)
E.M. Joyce and K. Igweike, Introduction to the 1979 Constitution (London: Macmillarn Press, 1982) p. 151
Congressional Government: A Study in American Politics (Houghton, Mifflin and Co 1885)
The American Congress is the equivalent of Nigeria’s National Assembly and consists of two chambers: the
Senate and the House of Representatives.
Rules 96 and 98 of the Standing Rules of the Senate 2002.
Ibid Rule 98; See also SS.62 (1) & (2), 103(1) & (2) of the CFRN 1999.
ibid
SS 88 & 128 of the CFRN 1999
Rule 102 Standing Rules of the Senate 2002
Goffin v Donnelly (1881) 6 QBD 307
A. A Jimoh (note 33).
(n.58).
S. Ball, The Conservative Party since 1945 (Routledge 2013).
P. Norton, The British Polity (Routledge 2016).
T. Heppell, The Conservative Party Leadership: From Heath to Cameron (Manchester University Press
2020).
T. Bale, The Conservative Party: From Thatcher to Cameron (Polity Press 2011).
Norton, (n.7).
R. Alderman, ‘The Conservative Leadership Crisis of 1990,’ Parliamentary Affairs, (1992) (45)(2).
ibid
T.I. Ojo (note 57)
S.G. Ehindero, The Constitutional Development of Nigeria, 1849-1989 (Ehindero 1991).
E. Okpanachi and A. Garuba, ‘Federalism and Constitutional Change in Nigeria’, Federal Governance (2010)
(7)(1) Pages 1-14.
T.I Ojo (note 57).
Nigeria (Constitution) Order in Council, 1951, S. 91 (June 30, 1951), Nigeria Gazette Supplement (Jan-June
1951).
Nigeria (Constitution) Order in Council, 1954, S. 51.
1960-1966.
Section 58 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979
J.I. Elaigwu, The Politics of Federalism in Nigeria (Jos: AHA Publishing House, 2005).
ibid
R. Suberu (note 91)
C.A. Ogbonnia, Banana Peel:The Burden of Legislature in Nigeria (Catholic Institute for Development,
Justice and Peace 2009).
T.A. Jenkins, Parliament, Party and Politics in Victorian Britain ( Manchester University Press, 1996).
G.R. Elton, The Tudor Revolution in Government: Administrative Changes in the Reign of Henry VIII
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1953).
P. Cowley, The British General Election of 2010 (Palgrave Macmillan 2012).
C. Turpin, and A. Tomkins, British Government and the Constitution: Text and Materials (7thedn. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press 2011).
A. Kelso (note 7).
Ibid. In order to enhance effectiveness, the British Parliament has introduced procedural reforms, such as electing committee chairpersons by secret ballot, increasing media coverage of committee hearing and ensuring cross-party representation.
House of Commons Library (note 10)
C. Montesquieu (note 24).
M .Kenny, Select Committees and Public Policy (Cambridge University Press 2021).
K. Wenibowei (note 1)
Sections 58 CFRN 1979 and Section 62(1) CFRN 1999
CFRN 1999 (note 2) Sections 4(1) & (6), 5(1)(a), 5(2)(1) and Section 6(1) & (2).
J.P. Macintosh, The Government and the politics of Britain (1st edn, London, Huchington, 1982).
L. Hamalai (note 59).
W. Woodrow, Congressional Government: A Study in American Politics, (Boston: Houghto, Mifflin,
1885); M.C. Cumming, and D. Wise, Democracy Under Pressure: An Introduction to the American Political
System (8thedn. Orlando:F.L Harcourt Grace and Company 1997).
R. Esebagbon, (note 56).
J. Akande (note 60).
R. Esebagbon (note 56).
P. Norton (note 5)
M. Flinders (note 144)
M. Russell and D. Gover, Legislation at Westminster: Parliamentary Actors and Influence in the Making of
British Law (Oxford University Press 2017).
B. Yong and R. Hazell, Special Advisers: Who They Are, What They Do and Why They Matter (Hart Publishing
2014).
S.D. Smith and R. Brazier, Constitutional and Administrative Law (Penguin 1998).
M. Russell and D. Gover, (note 157).
ibid
Yong and Hazell (note 158).
S. Wager, The Politics of Coalition (Manchester University Press 2019).
H. Young, The House of Lords in the Age of Reform, 1784-1837 (Cambridge University Press 2015).
J .P Campbell, The British Constitution: Continuity and Change (Cambridge University Press 2014).
T. Young, Parliament and the Law (Hart Publishing 2016).
