An Original Theoretical Investigation of Algorithmic Decision-Making and Democratic Accountability in Nigerian Governance

Algorithmic systems increasingly inform consequential governance decisions in Nigeria including tax assessment, benefit eligibility, and resource allocation, raising fundamental questions about democratic accountability that require original theoretical development at the intersection of data science, governance theory, and constitutional law. This study conducted an original theoretical investigation into algorithmic decision-making and democratic accountability in Nigerian governance. A critical theoretical methodology was employed, drawing on systematic review of algorithmic accountability scholarship (72 publications from 2018 to 2024), constitutional and statutory analysis of Nigerian accountability mechanisms, structured interviews with 35 government officials, civil society advocates, data scientists, and constitutional lawyers, and expert validation. The constitutional analysis identified three accountability gaps specific to algorithmic governance: the due process challenge (citizens cannot contest decisions from opaque algorithms under current administrative law), the parliamentary oversight gap (no mechanism for National Assembly scrutiny of algorithmic systems), and the judicial literacy gap (courts lack technical capacity to review algorithmic processes). The original Algorithmic Democratic Accountability Framework for Nigeria proposes a three-tier accountability architecture: administrative accountability (algorithmic impact assessments, human review requirements, and explanation rights), parliamentary accountability (AI system register and legislative oversight committee), and judicial accountability (technical assessor provisions and burden-of-proof adaptations for algorithmic harm cases). Each accountability mechanism includes implementation requirements grounded in Nigerian constitutional provisions. Expert review confirmed the framework's theoretical originality and constitutional grounding.

Keywords: algorithmic accountability, democratic governance, Nigeria, AI policy, constitutional law