Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Executive-Legislative Relations has increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, regulators, and practitioners concerned with electoral credibility. This growing interest reflects the recognition that executive-legislative relations does not operate in isolation, but interacts with a wider set of institutional and market conditions found within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria.

Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While executive-legislative relations is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on electoral credibility within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to executive-legislative relations are helping or hindering electoral credibility — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Executive-Legislative Relations on electoral credibility in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which executive-legislative relations influences electoral credibility within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with executive-legislative relations in relation to electoral credibility.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing executive-legislative relations in order to improve electoral credibility.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of executive-legislative relations on electoral credibility in Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does executive-legislative relations influence electoral credibility within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with executive-legislative relations in relation to electoral credibility?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize executive-legislative relations in order to improve electoral credibility?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around electoral credibility. For managers and practitioners within Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how executive-legislative relations can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on political science by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this MSc study confines itself to Selected Federal Government Parastatals in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how executive-legislative relations relates to electoral credibility within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.