TOWARDS IMPROVING EXECUTIVE LEGISLATURE RELATION IN NIGERIA'S PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRACY

Abstract

The executive and the legislature. working in harmony, are central to public policy- making and implementation in any democraric setting. This is by virtue of both institutions being the hub of policy making and implementation. In Nigeria, these institutions have remained the cornerstone of its democratic practice which is fashioned along the presidential ~ stem of government. Central to the presidential _ system is the idea of dispersion of governmental powers in the three branches of government. The essence of this is to curaritrary rule while at the same time avoid stalemate in governance which may result from improper definition of powers of each arm. However, despite the entrenchment of this doctrine in the country's constitution, observed trends since 1999 have indicated the preponderance of conflicting relations between the executive and the legislative arm. This is not without its attendant implications for governance. This paper examines the trend of relations between the executive and the legislature in Nigeria since 1999 when the country returned to democratic practice. It is argued that while the prospect of a more harmonious relation between the two arms cannot be foreclosed, some institutional and attitudinal reforms are required to stem the rising tide of executive legislative gridlock in the emerging presidential democracy.