"Democracy in Nigeria - Thoughts and Selected Commentaries" consists of a series of essays which address a variety of issues bordering on good governance and the stability of the Nigerian state. While the author is optimistic about the future of his nation and proposes measures that can drive its democracy forward, he is unhappy that corruption, in particular, has impeded progress in an otherwise vibrant nation. He believes that proper education and a realistic federal arrangement provide the solution to religious intolerance and all the ills that are associated with it, while a more proactive population can actually tame the monster of corruption if they are genuinely worried that corruption has been responsible for their individual and collective plights.

This book investigates whether legislative institutions, state and national, in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic have been able to harness constitutional powers to impact public policy. Presenting how the Nigerian state has not been able to showcase the expected dividends of presidential democracy since 1999, it analyzes the crisis of governance and its impact on political stability, social cohesion, and the livelihood of citizens. The book further discusses the depreciating infrastructure, corruption, and mismanagement of public resources, and shows how defiant attitudes of public political and bureaucratic officials define the new wave of corruption and profligacy in Nigeria, presenting this development as a result of a weakened legislature. The book displays the necessity of implementing a culture of accountability and discusses oversight mechanisms to make the executive accountable. These mechanisms are designed to ensure effective public service delivery. Finally, the book situates the legislative institutions in Nigeria within the context of the contributions of the National Assembly and the Assemblies of the State Houses to the development of this emerging democracy in Africa. The book will appeal to students and scholars of political science and public administration, as well as policy-makers and practitioners interested in a better understanding of democracy, separation of powers, governance, and Nigerian politics.