The Role of National Assembly in Formulating Nigeria’s Foreign Policy (2015-2019)

Abstract

This paper examined the role of National Assembly in formulating Nigeria’s foreign policy. The purpose of formulating a nation’s foreign policy is to promote and preserve its national interests. Foreign policy when not properly formulated could be detrimental to a nation. It is pertinent that foreign policy decisions of a country are not dominated by the executive. The objective of this paper was to examine the roles of the National Assembly in making Nigeria’s foreign policies from 2015 to 2019. This study used the historical research design for a systematic analysis of institutional roles. The qualitative method of data analysis was adopted. This study ascertained that the legislature performed their role in foreign policy formulation, but it was not totally independent of the executive and could not properly discharge its authority to formulate foreign policies. The study recommended that there should be respect for legal competences between both arms for the formulation of beneficial foreign policies.