LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT AND PROJECT DELIVERY IN THE SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigates legislative oversight and their impact on project delivery in the South-South zone of Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample of 549 respondents comprising 165 executive and legislative officials and 384 electorates using a structured questionnaire and supported by focus group discussions involving 40 purposively selected individuals from six states in the region. The research questions and hypotheses were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean scores, frequency counts) and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) to test the relationships between variables. Results showed a significant weak relationship between legislative oversight and project delivery in the South-South zone of Nigeria. Based on these findings, the study recommends the strengthening of institutional frameworks for enhancing legislative capacity through regular training, promoting bipartisan development mechanisms, ensuring transparency in constituency project execution, initiating legal reforms for legislative autonomy, and institutionalizing joint monitoring and evaluation systems. These measures, if implemented, will improve legislative oversight and promote efficient, effective and inclusive development across the South-South region of Nigeria.