ASSESSMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNALS IN THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA: THE WAY FORWARD.

This paper seeks to examine the Administrative Tribunals in the practice of Public Administration in Nigeria. This paper recognizes the fact that in spite of the constitutionality of administrative Tribunals in Nigeria, it has cumbersome to create the enabling environment for the actualization of their mission due to the myriads of criticisms militating against the effective and efficient management of the Tribunals. These include inadequate legal knowledge, inadequate observance of legal procedure, inadequate explanation of reason for judgement, inadequate opportunity for self- defense, application of martial or draconian laws, often secrecy of sittings, loyalty to government, at best tribunals are kangaroo court, they are cover to justify and legalize government hidden agenda and action, they are mere extension of the authority that appoint it, filtering of the right to a counsel of one's choice andfinally among others lack offair hearing and non-observance of rules of natural justice. Thus, it is recommended that government should address the issue of funding of tribunals, make a stronger law for tribunals to be autonomous bodies paidfrom the consolidatedfund, there should be open sitting of cases, full legal procedure should be followed with citizens be given the opportunity for fair hearing and reason for judgement be explained in details to the parties concerned.