The Foreign Relations Powers of the Nigerian National Assembly

Abstract

The articulation and execution of foreign relations policies are no doubt responsibilities that fall squarely within the legal and constitutional competence of the executive in most democratic societies. Nevertheless, the place of the legislature in ensuring success can never be glossed over. This article examines the nature and means of legislative powers on the foreign plane. It focuses on an articulation of these powers using the Nigerian National Assembly as a case study. It is discovered that the powers exercisable are derived from the basic legislative powers granted by the Constitution and that they are quite extensive. Nonetheless, the Nigerian National Assembly is yet to attain the “transformative” status as envisaged by the Nigerian presidential Constitution.