Political Institutions as Economic Actors: Legislatures, Legislative Actions and Post-pandemic Recovery for Small Businesses in Nigeria

• In Event: Understanding Authoritarianism - II

Abstract

Covid 19, with its attendant disruptions to global economies, especially African economies, has necessitated the need for governments to deploy diverse interventions for economic resuscitation. This study interrogates the extent to which legislative interventions helped in mitigating the negative effects of Covid-19 for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in African economies. In Nigeria, the closure of over two million MSMEs due to the pandemic resulted in a 3.5% dip in the sector’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution, necessitating appropriate supportive/recovery actions from state actors/institutions, including legislatures. This article thus asks key questions: what relevant legislative interventions were deployed to mitigate Covid-19 effects on businesses and what was the level of engagements with state and non-state actors reflected in same? Also, to what extent have legislative actions achieved desired stabilisation goals, and what lessons might be relevant for legislative interventions in economic crisis management? Focusing on Nigeria's national and subnational legislatures, and drawing on documented reports, the article enlightens understanding of the role of emerging legislatures in confronting crises in a developing economy.

Authors

• Damilola Temitope Olorunshola, University of Bayreuth

• Temitayo Isaac Odeyemi, University of Leeds, UK