AN APPRAISAL OF THE OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper is an appraisal of the oversight functions of the Senate Committee on Education. Oversight functions are essential in ensuring that government agencies and departments are accountable and transparent in their operations. The Ministry of Education is a critical agency in any government, and the Senate Committee tasked with overseeing its activities plays a crucial role in ensuring that the ministry's policies and programs align with the government's goals and objectives. To ascertain the effectiveness of Senate Committee oversight functions to ensure accountability and transparency in the Ministry of Education’s budget allocation and utilization, the secondary method of data analysis was adopted. The study adopted the agent theory of Pelizzo and Stapenhurst (2012). Among the key findings of the appraisal is that the Senate Committee has not been effectively utilizing its oversight powers. The study recommends that the Senate Committee members be trained on oversight functions, including the principles and practices of monitoring and evaluation. This will help to ensure that the members of the committee have the necessary skills to assess the performance of the Ministry of Education and to make informed decisions based on their findings. In addition, the training should cover effective communication skills, negotiation skills, and conflict resolution skills. By enhancing the training of Senate Committee members, they will be better equipped to perform their oversight functions effectively.