Executive -Legislative Conflicts in Nigeria: An Examination of Politics of Efcc Chairman’s Confirmation under President Mohamadu Buhari’s Administration

Abstract

The 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria provided for a presidential system of government with instituted separation of power, checks and balances. Section 171(1) empowers the president to appoint persons to hold or act in the offices to which this section applies and to remove persons so appointed from any such office shall vest in the president while section 171 (4) states that principal representatives of Nigeria abroad shall not have effect unless the appointment is confirmed by the Senate. Not withstanding constitutional provisions, conflict arose between the Federal Executive organ and the Senate over the appointment and confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission. The paper examined the politics and disharmonious relationship between the executive and Legislature over the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive EFCC chairman. The methodology of the paper is qualitative and descriptive. Relevant data were generated through secondary source and subjected to contextual-analysis. The findings reveal that the conflict relationship between the two organs stemmed from struggle for dominance, lack of synergy, constitutional misinterpretation and interest protection. Thus, the paper, among other things, suggests the strengthening of the democratic institutions, regular education of public officers on their constitutional roles; approaching the judiciary for constitutional interpretation of disputing sections.