Legislative Institutions and the Socio-Economic Development of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria (2015–2025)

Abstract

Despite the constitutional centrality of legislative institutions in promoting accountability, representation, and socio-economic development, their practical impact at the grassroots level in many developing societies remains highly contested. This study examined the role of legislative institutions in the socio-economic development of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria, with emphasis on the persistent gap between legislative mandates and actual development outcomes. The main objective is to assess the extent to which legislative institutions have influenced socio-economic development in the study area. The study was anchored on the Latent and Manifest Function Theory, which explains both intended and unintended consequences of social institutions. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population of the study comprised 384,600 residents of Otukpo Local Government Area, from which a sample of 400 respondents was selected using Taro Yamane’s formula. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviation with the aid of SPSS. Findings revealed that legislative institutions have not significantly contributed to socio-economic development in Otukpo Local Government Area, as respondents generally rated their impact on infrastructure, employment, oversight, constituency projects, and social services as weak. The study concluded that a significant disconnect exists between legislative functions and grassroots development outcomes in the area. It was recommended that legislative institutions should strengthen oversight mechanisms, enhance constituency engagement, and improve transparency in constituency project implementation to foster more meaningful socio-economic development