CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN NIGERIA: THE CASE OF PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT OF THE DEFENCE SECTOR-1999 TO 2004

CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN NIGERIA: THE CASE OF PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT OF THE DEFENCE SECTOR-1999 TO 2004

Abstract:

In this study, we examined Civil-Military Relations in Nigeria within the context of the phenomenon of Parliamentary Oversight of the Defence Sector within the first trench of the forth Republic. The study establishes the importance of democracy as a theory that empowers the ruled to determine the nature of operation of their government and participate directly or indirectly in the running of the government. It also stresses the importance of the concepts of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances to explain the relevance of Parliamentary Oversight. In addressing the main problem leading to the study, we are concerned with the existence of a powerful military, which in the immediate past, had total control over the machinery of government, now subjecting itself to near total Parliamentary control. We are also concerned about the workability of getting the Parliament to effectively oversee the defence sector in terms of its Authority and Ability as well as the right Attitude by individual members of Parliament. In view of the nature of the topic, our main methodology is the conduct of elite interviews. Here we set up questions that were responded to by our target persons, mostly Members of Parliament (especially Committee Chairmen), staff of Parliament, staff of the Ministry of Defence as well as any other person deemed to be involved in the area under focus. The Author however also used secondary data to complement the Interviews conducted. Findings In terms of reforms in the defence sector, this research has revealed that present reforms are based on Re-positioning and Re-professionalising the armed forces. Re-Positioning is meant to ensure the modernisation of the forces and also lead to the acquisition of skills through training. Reprofessionalisation on the other hand is aimed at addressing role orientation by impressing on the military the need to concentrate on its constitutional role as the defender of the territorial integrity of the country. It is however important to point out that the desire for the military to attain a compact force has remained a mirage considering that it is yet to demobilise since the commencement of the reform process. The study used as a tool of analysis Authority, Ability and Attitude, to examine the issues associated with the topic. By Authority we refer to the legal and constitutional provisions for oversight. By Ability we refer to the technical, human and financial resources available to Members of Parliament to conduct oversight. By Attitude we refer to the political will and motivation that enables Members of Parliament conduct oversight. We found out that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 has made significant provisions empowering Parliament to conduct oversight. These provisions are however not exhaustive. We also found out that Members of Parliament and their staff, particularly those servicing the committees, donot have adequate facilities to work. The staff are mostly civil servants who have not received any special training to assist the various Defence Committees. In addition, the committees donot have befitting secretariats with adequate facilities, while from 2003, Standing Committees ceased to have independent budgets. Furthermore, we found out that Members of Parliament lack the right attitude to conduct oversight and are in most cases influenced by their selfish desires towards getting material benefits. Thus there are several challenges facing Parliamentary Oversight of the Defence Sector in Nigeria, which therefore led to this Author drawing the conclusion that there is no effective Parliamentary Oversight of the Defence Sector in Nigeria. For although there is significant authority, there is poor ability and the attitude of Members of Parliament remains negative. The study therefore recommends the amendment of the constitution to provide more authority to Members of Parliament to effectively oversight the sector. It also recommends the provisions of all human, material and technical resources to enable parliament and Parliamentary Committees work more effectively. The study also recommends significant increase in the remuneration for Members of Parliament to enable them meet their material needs and hence improve their attitude towards effective oversight.

CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN NIGERIA: THE CASE OF PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT OF THE DEFENCE SECTOR-1999 TO 2004