DESENSITISING LEGISLATIVE INFLATION: RETHINKING SENATE BILL 347 IN THE CONTEXT OF QUEST FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE

Abstract

Law-making is a flagship function of the Legislature in a democratic setting. Thus, the Legislature, in a constitutional democracy, assumes primacy over law-making for the peace, order and good government. However, this constitutional responsibility is undermined by some legislative proposals, one of which is Senate Bill 347 seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution to allow public office holders to maintain foreign bank account. Accordingly, this papers discusses the Bill. The aim of the paper was to examine Senate Bill 347 in the context of Nigeria’s quest for good governance and legislative inflation. The objectives were to: ascertain whether the parameter set for the exercise of legislative power is restrictive or permissive; examine some perspectives on the prescribed formula; ascertain whether some of the perspectives on legal formula “for peace, order and government” have had influence on legislators in the exercise of legislative power; examine implications of Senate Bill 347 on Nigeria’s quest for good governance; desensitise legislative inflation; and to bolster the capacity of legislators in legislative thinking and analysis. The paper adopts the doctrinal approach to research. The paper found that: the legal formula, “for the peace, order and good government” is restrictive; there is misperception of the prescribed legal formula, which could result in upsurge of legislative proposals; Senate Bill 347 has implications on good governance. The paper concluded that the trajectory of the upsurge in the initiation of bills could result in legislative inflation which in turn results in legislative deflation. Recommendations are made towards desensitising legislative inflation.