ABSTRACT
The study examines the impact of legislature
oversight function on budget implementation process in Edo state Nigeria. It
focuses on the extent of monitoring project execution, quality of state
project, assessing the competence of project executors and necessary problems
they may hinder the legislature in performing their legislative duty in order
to enhance budget implementation process. Data for the study were sourced from
general public through the use of questionnaire. A total of 160 respondents
were randomly sampled in the three (3) senatorial zones of the state i.e. Edo
South, Edo Central and Edo North respectively. Data collected were analyzed
using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean and standard
deviation as well as chi-square goodness of fit test. The result from the
socio-economic characteristics reveals that the research was gender balance
having 50/50 for both male and female, majority of the respondents were
Christian (81.3%), they were literate (88.4%) having obtained minimum of B.Sc.
in the state and were experienced in their field. The result obtained from the analysis shows that frequent discussion
of projects by House of Legislature (mean=3.92), sanctioning of contractors for
failure in project execution (mean=3.56) and summoning of contractors to
provide a brief on their project execution by the house of legislative
(mean=3.48) were considered to have positive effect on budget
implementation. Checking on completed projects (mean
= 3.98), sanctioning project executors for poor quality project work (mean
=3.55), verification of the quality of materials used by contractor for project
execution (mean =3.46) and ascertaining whether project executors followed what
was specified in the project document (mean= 3.29) by the house of legislature
enhance the budget implementation process. It also agreed that the house of legislature should liaising with independent
professionals to verify projects being executed by contractors (mean = 3.78),
verifying past projects (mean=3.74), verifying their qualification (mean =
3.64) has positively enhance the budget implementation process. On the hypotheses Chi-square result revealed that
all the three hypotheses were significant, therefore, rejecting the null
hypothesis and accept the alternate ones. The thereby recommend that the legislature should ensure that they
check the qualification of contractors, to know whether they are capable before
awarding project to them and have meeting and monitor their work in order to
enhance budget implementation processes.
CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Effective legislature is
fundamental to promoting good governance and is a critical component in a
country’s overall governance framework. Although differences exist across
government systems, legislatures, through their constitutional mandates,
fulfill three core functions: representation, lawmaking, and oversight
functions. Governance goals of greater accountability, transparency, and participation
are directly related to these three functions. Legislative oversight in
particular seeks to ensure that the Executive and its agencies, or those to
whom authority is delegated, remain responsive and accountable (Rick,
Riccardo, David and Lisa, 2008).
The Constitution specify the role of the
Legislature and its relationship with the Executive while constitution or
budget system laws elaborate on the budgetary roles and powers of the
Legislature. Legal constraints and budgetary practices vary greatly all over
the countries (Lienert, 2005; Stapenhurst, Riccardo, David, and
Lisan (2008); and Wehner, 2006). Moreover, the role of the
legislature is changing (Posner and Park, 2007), with parliaments playing a
more active role in budget matters, especially in developing countries. For
promoting good governance and fiscal transparency, the legislature’s active
engagement in the budget process is essential. When fiscal policies and
medium-term budgetary objectives are debated in parliament, budget strategies and
policies are “owned” more widely. However, more active participation by the
legislature runs the risk that fiscal discipline deteriorates. This is because
the “common pool” problem, observed at the budget preparation stage within the
government, may be large at the parliamentary approval stage. In particular, in
countries where the legislature has unrestrained budget amendment authority,
parliament is prone to introduce changes that increase spending or reduce
taxes. The state budget is an official statement governments makes about how
much it expects to earn, spend and what taxes are necessary for the next year.
It is essentially for development (Azelama, 2015). Implementation process
therefore refers to the procedure by which government create and approve a
budget.
Although, a broad based coalition of actors, especially
comprising the executive, legislature and the judiciary is needed if any
progress will be made in curbing corruption
(Leautier, 2006), the role of the legislature particularly appears all
encompassing and very important
(Wolffowitz, 2006). For one, the legislature as the accredited representatives
of the people has the duty of protecting public funds and other resources. As
the controller of the purse, it has the additional duty of serving as the
guardian of the public treasury. Moreover, appropriation of funds for public
expenditures requires the legislature to monitor the use of such funds to
ensure its judicious utilization for the overall benefit of the people.
Budget process in Nigeria involves the
budget planning, enactment, implementation and monitoring. This process
revolves round the Executive and the Legislative arm in the democratic system (Wolffowitz, 2006).
Amongst factors responsible for the non-actualization of the legislative arm of
government potentials in law making; oversight and constituency relations since
the return of democratic rule are capacity gap at all levels of the government;
lack of accountability and transparency and late submission of budget proposals
by the executive to the national assembly. This could be traced to the
prolonged years of military rule when the legislative arm of government was
non- existent (Onuoha, 2009). In a bid to enhance the capacity of the
legislators since 1990, efforts were made to ensure significant numbers of
legislators are returned to the house with attendant legislative experience.
This has however not achieved desired result and the gaps recurrent with low
competency level in the budget process with each new session.
To strengthen
and shorten the budgetary cycle, the legislative budget office of National Assembly
should be made more proactive and responsive; legislators should no longer
camouflage under oversight functions to engage in corrupt practices. The roles
of both the executive and legislatures on the so-called constituency projects
should be clarified if necessary by the judiciary as this friction bridles
corrupt tendencies. It is important to continuously build the capacity of the
legislature in good budgeting, budget process/system, budget analysis and
budget monitoring, tracking and evaluation. The establishment of a Legislative
Budget Office is a positive development in this regard (Aguda, 2012).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The poor
execution of projects at the state level has been blamed on the use of
substandard materials, over inflation of prices of material during the budget
implementation and the use of unqualified contractors in executing projects
(Lienert, 2005). Lack of financial autonomy of lawmaker also places doubt on
the effective oversight function on budget implementation (Onuoha, 2009). Thus,
lack of development in some parts of Edo further calls to question the
effectiveness of the state law makers. Thus the researcher intends to provide
answers to the following questions:
1.
How is monitoring of state projects
execution by the Legislative house improved the budget implementation process
in the study area?
2.
How the monitoring of the quality of
state project can is improved the budget implementation process in the study
area?
3.
Does the monitoring of the competence of
Legislative house improve the budget implementation process in the study area?
1.3 Justification of the study
The study
highlights the public perception of the extent of performance of the
responsibilities of the state legislative (House of Assembly). The elicited
information will be very useful to the legislative body as it will provide an
external assessment of their job performance. This will help to show case grey
areas they may need to improve upon, amend, or even clarify misconceptions.
The study also
shows the factors that will enhance the legislative oversight of the budget
implementation process in the state. It is pertinent to note it will be useful
to all stakeholders such as the state executive and NGOs, as to checkmate their
activities towards the legislative procedure of government that will foster
their impact on budget monitoring.
It
will identify constraints limiting the effective oversight of the budget
monitoring by the legislature. Essentially, it will culminate into
recommendations that will enhance the performance of the legislature in
executing their constitutional responsibilities in budget monitoring. This
research study will be useful to researchers and other bodies that may be
interested in conducting similar research.
Budget
implementation in democratic countries forms part of the oversight function of
the Legislative arm of government with a healthy co-operation and collaboration
of other arms of government, Executive and Judiciary respectively. The essence
of this arrangement is to promote socio-economic development and ensure citizen
welfare. The role or the legislature in this aspect is critical. According to
Onuoha, 2009, the legislature is primary responsible for checkmating the
activities of the executive and ensuring that they follow through on budget
promised and plans. Many have asserted that the government is under-performing.
Reasons for this include corruption, insincerity, incompetence, embezzlement
(Akomolede and Bosede, (2012).
1.4 Objectives of Study
The overall aim
of the study is to assess the impact of the legislative oversight on the budget
implementation process in Edo state. The specific objectives are to:
(a)
determine the extent of monitoring
project execution by the Legislative in the study area.
(b)
examine if the monitoring of the quality of
state project by the Legislative house has enhances budgeting process.
(c)
assess if monitoring of the competence
of project executors by the Legislative house enhances the budget
1.5 Hypotheses of the study
Ho1:
Monitoring of project execution by the
Legislative house has no significant
effect on the budget implementation in
the state.
Ho2:
Monitoring of the quality of state
projects by the Legislative house has no significant
effect on the budget implementation process in the state.
Ho3:
Monitoring of the competence of project
executors (i.e. contractors) in the state by the Legislative house has no
significant effect on the budget implement process.
1.6 Significance of the study
Given the
critical role that legislators play in ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and
monitoring of budget implementation. It is important to understand what project
monitoring and its execution means and what makes oversight function effective
because dissatisfies legislative may likely give poor quality and less
efficient performance. According to Tzeng, (2002), there is evidence of
positive correlation between oversight function and budget implementation. From
the research, some studies have address Legislative and Budgeting Oversight in
other areas but limited work have been conducted on legislative oversight
function and budget implementation in Edo state. This is where the study
attempts to address the gap in the literature. The information obtained will
hopefully assist in identifying factors affecting the legislative oversight
function in term of project monitoring and their impacts on budget implementation
process
1.7 Scope and Limitation of the Study
1.8 Definition of Terms
The study covers politicians and
careers, and servants of focuses primarily on lawmakers in Edo State, key APC
officers in the state, commissioners /advisers and top bureaucrats. (Permanent secretaries
and directors) in all the ministries of Edo state.
Appropriation:
A process by which a legislative act authorizing the expenditure of a
designated amount of public funds for a specific purpose.
Budget:
An estimate of costs, revenues; and resources at a specific period, reflecting
a reading of future financial conditions and goals.
Constitution:
This is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to
which a state is governed.
Oversight:
Steps taken by the relevant committee of the house of Assembly in ensuring that
monies appropriated are utilized for purpose it was allocated.
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Item Type: Project Material | Attribute: 74 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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