Estimating Legislative Effectiveness in Nigeria

Abstract

The study estimates the effectiveness of legislators in Nigeria using the Legislative Effectiveness Score (LES) approach proposed by Volden and Wiseman. The study deviates from the often controversial issue of astronomical remuneration of the legislators’- to assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of the individual legislators. The findings show that on average, legislators with experience sponsored approximately 2.58 bills per head in the reviewed period, while those without legislative experience sponsored approximately 2.32 bills per head. This supports the views in the literature that longer serving members of the legislature tend to be more effective. Also, the LES ranking showed that out of the top 10 senators, eight were of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) while two were of the now defunct All Nigeria’s Peoples Party. This also supports the unanimous findings in the literature that members of the dominant party tend to be more successful than members of the minority or opposition parties. With respect to individual senators effectiveness, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, with legislative experience, and of the ruling PDP, was the most effective senator in the period reviewed.

Keywords: Legislature, Legislative Effectiveness, Bill, Score