Playing Nollywood with Parliamentary Duties: Nigeria’s National Assembly as a Theatre of Politics of the Amusement Park

Abstract

This paper takes a departure from the usual environmental or external challenges and hindrances faced by Nigerian legislators and legislative institution. It showcases variables associated with the apolitical and unethical conducts of some of the members of the 8th National Assembly and its accompanying implications on legislative mandate, process and service delivery. Analytically and relying on secondary data, special focus is given to the avoidable intrigues, uninspiring respect for rules, unparliamentary conduct and attitudinal behaviour of the legislators exemplified by unethical utterances and frivolous demands, legislative immaturity, lack of respect for colleagues, political intolerance, democratic brigandage and thuggery, and constant reverence and tribute to ethnic sentiments and values which have been serious impediments on the institution and its operators ability to deliver the expected legislative goods in the change mantra. The paper concludes with recommendations for better legislative process, institution and legislators and what is required to make Legislature and Legislators in Nigeria responsible and responsive to the demands and values of substantive democracy and good governance. This is with a view to rescuing the country’s democracy and its entire political development from being strangulated and pushed into a very narrow precipice.