Introduction

Unit 6 is devoted to parliaments’ role in ensuring government accountability. Parliaments are responsible for ensuring accountability and openness of government through oversight of activities of the executive and its auxiliary bodies in order to curb corruption and effect good practices. Parliaments also have the power of the purse and the mandate to scrutinize the utilization of public finances and ensure financial accountability. The unit looks at how parliamentary committees can promote government accountability.

Parliament, which is the highest representative body collectively and individually is accountable to the people. Parliament must be reflective of public and social concerns if it is to retain public legitimacy and ensure its institutional accountability.

Parliaments, by reference of their mandates in constitutions, have the responsibility to ensure accountability and openness of government. They do this by overseeing activities of the executive and its auxiliary bodies to help curb corruption and effect good practices in government. It is therefore important that parliamentary staff are strengthened in their oversight capacity and able to strengthen their duties as non-partisan repositories of information and can assist parliament in achieving its constitutional functions. Parliamentary staff therefore help ensure accountability of government.