International Journal of Computers and Technology, Vol. 13, No.6. p4566-4573, May 14, 2014
A healthy and credible legislature is indispensable for representative liberal democratic governa... more A healthy and credible legislature is indispensable for representative liberal democratic governance. While representation involves informing and listening to those represented and making decisions and exercising influence on their behalf, legislative institutions of many African countries lack the effectiveness to inform and interact with their constituents, thus resulting to serious citizens-representatives disengagement. This pervasive contemporary estrangement is manifested in public cynicism towards political institutions and a collapse in once-strong loyalties and attachment between citizens and government. This research paper draws from case analysis and literature search to examine the potentials and challenges of e-parliament for re-engaging the electorate in the democratic states of Africa. Findings reveal that by leveraging on the exponential growth of ICTs particularly, in the continent, e-parliament provides new strategies for increasing and strengthening deliberative and interactive dialogue between citizens and their representatives. With e-parliament, citizens-representatives estrangement is reduced and new forms of engagement and collaboration created thus making democratic processes more inclusive and transparent. In this process the crisis of democratic legitimacy and accountability is averted for the African states. Though the realization of the full potential of e-parliament in Africa is greatly hampered by such challenges as inadequate infrastructural facilities and capacity building, this paper argues that with effective ICT strategic planning and management so as to judiciously utilize available resources and a mechanism for ICT skill training and development for all stakeholders, e-parliament presents a glimmer of hope for responsive and accountable governance in Africa.
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Papers by Oni Samuel
This is in recognition that democracy and sustainable development is rooted in functioning local institutions that engage
people in their own governance and are nearest the community and hence, knows their human and natural resources. Despite
these reforms, Nigeria’s local government system is yet to realize these objectives. This paper critically reviews the operation
of Nigeria’s local government system and unveils the near absence of the legislative organ which is the vehicle of social
engineering and democratic consolidation. It argues that the legislature is indispensable to local governance and its
effectiveness is central to local democracy through which sustainable development can be realized. This necessitates
strengthening legislative capacity of the local government by addressing state government excessive control of local
government councils in Nigeria. An institutional review of local government elections is therefore, imperative for local
government autonomy in the country.
confrontations that continue to threaten the political stability, peace and the very existence of the nation. While intellectual discourse have focused essentially on the mutually reinforcing questions of political violence and electoral fraud, less attention is given to the role of security agencies in achieving credible election. This study generated both primary and secondary data. Questionnaires were administered among 1200 respondents in
Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria. Findings revealed that it is how the Nigeria Police perform their roles of electoral security that needs attention and not the issue of whether these roles are being executed. It is therefore concluded that any electoral reforms in Nigeria that excludes reformation of the security agencies is an
incomplete exercise
the representation in governance, of the diverse interests in a multicultural and subnational society. Legislative institution in Nigeria however, has been viewed
as underdeveloped and inexperienced, emanating from the prolonged dictatorial
and authoritarian rule by the military which while it lasted, either outrightly
proscribed the legislature or completely subordinated it to the executive arm of
government. The return to civil rule or constitutional government from military
dictatorship in 1999 is essentially the return of the legislature. Disturbingly,
twelve years after the commencement of democratization in Nigeria, legislative
politics in the country is yet to show clear evidences of citizens’ representation in
governance. Findings revealed that the Nigeria’s national parliament though
have recorded improvement in terms of legislation and oversight roles, offers a
slim ray of hope in championing constituents’ interests due to certain
sociopolitical and economic forces that continue to undermine the country’s
legislative efficiency.
This is in recognition that democracy and sustainable development is rooted in functioning local institutions that engage
people in their own governance and are nearest the community and hence, knows their human and natural resources. Despite
these reforms, Nigeria’s local government system is yet to realize these objectives. This paper critically reviews the operation
of Nigeria’s local government system and unveils the near absence of the legislative organ which is the vehicle of social
engineering and democratic consolidation. It argues that the legislature is indispensable to local governance and its
effectiveness is central to local democracy through which sustainable development can be realized. This necessitates
strengthening legislative capacity of the local government by addressing state government excessive control of local
government councils in Nigeria. An institutional review of local government elections is therefore, imperative for local
government autonomy in the country.
confrontations that continue to threaten the political stability, peace and the very existence of the nation. While intellectual discourse have focused essentially on the mutually reinforcing questions of political violence and electoral fraud, less attention is given to the role of security agencies in achieving credible election. This study generated both primary and secondary data. Questionnaires were administered among 1200 respondents in
Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States, Nigeria. Findings revealed that it is how the Nigeria Police perform their roles of electoral security that needs attention and not the issue of whether these roles are being executed. It is therefore concluded that any electoral reforms in Nigeria that excludes reformation of the security agencies is an
incomplete exercise
the representation in governance, of the diverse interests in a multicultural and subnational society. Legislative institution in Nigeria however, has been viewed
as underdeveloped and inexperienced, emanating from the prolonged dictatorial
and authoritarian rule by the military which while it lasted, either outrightly
proscribed the legislature or completely subordinated it to the executive arm of
government. The return to civil rule or constitutional government from military
dictatorship in 1999 is essentially the return of the legislature. Disturbingly,
twelve years after the commencement of democratization in Nigeria, legislative
politics in the country is yet to show clear evidences of citizens’ representation in
governance. Findings revealed that the Nigeria’s national parliament though
have recorded improvement in terms of legislation and oversight roles, offers a
slim ray of hope in championing constituents’ interests due to certain
sociopolitical and economic forces that continue to undermine the country’s
legislative efficiency.