Local Government Autonomy and Grass Root Development
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main objectives of this research work is to determine how Local Government Autonomy has affected the grass root development in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. However, in specific terms, the study is based at the following points:
- To ascertain whether the process of law making and policy implementation by the Councilors and Chairmen affects the grass root development of Nsukka Local Government Area.
- To determine how the personnel Administration of Nsukka Local Government Area hampers it’s grass root development
- To determine whether State interference in the financial allocation of Nsukka Local Government affects it’s grass root development.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
The aim of this study is to examine the nature of the Local Government autonomy, its strength and inherent contradictions in achieving the objectives of local government system in Nigeria. In doing this, it will be relevant to engage in a bit of theorizing and conceptualization of the terms local government and autonomy from different view points. This will enable us generate a greater power of analysis, as we observe that most of the handed down tools, models, theories and approaches from the West are of little utility to the changing conditions of developing democracies. This exercise will not in any way assume to have exhausted all the various definitions given by scholars and leading practitioners as to what local government and autonomy connote. But our choice of definition will be those that are of relevance to the contemporary Nigerian local government system. At this point, it is conceived that any serious discussion on the present local government autonomy has to touch on our socio-economic and political circumstances. Thus our values, sentiments and prejudices could not escape intruding as we make the premise as well as suggest measures for transforming Nigerian local government system. Globally, local government has been recognized as a veritable tool or framework for administering local and grassroot areas and for enhancing overall national development (Andrews, 2012; ALGON, 2012). Hence, its establishment and existence in most countries of the world. In Nigeria, the formal introduction of local government administration started with the enactment of the Native Authority Ordinance of 1910 (Ofoeze, 2002; Ogbuene, 2011). It has since then going through various reforms aimed at strengthening its capacity to effectively operate and play significant developmental roles in national development process (Ogunna, 1996). However, the current platform for local government administration started with the 1976 Guidelines for Local Government Reforms. The Guideline gave the present local government system its basic structure and functions as a third tier of government within the Nigerian federal government arrangement (Abada, 2007; Ade, 2012). Unlike the previous local government reforms, the 1976 reform conceptualized local government as operating within a common institutional framework with defined functions and responsibilities in line with national development objectives (Saalah and Stanley, 2011). Indeed, before the reform, local government were merely local administration without formal recognition as tier of government (Andrews, 2012). Very importantly too, the 1976 reform initiated, particularly, the financial and political autonomy of the local government that was further strengthened by the civil service reform of 1988. As well, the provisions of the 1999 constitution as contained in section 7(1) and section 162 (paragraphs, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) are intended to also guarantee the local government autonomy. The provisions for the autonomy, as they were, are essentially and ostensibly aimed at protecting the local government from unnecessary interference from other tiers of government and to enable it play significant roles in the national development process. However, findings from researches by scholars and observations by practitioners, overtime, point to the fact that the autonomy of the local government is becoming increasingly difficult to realize following particularly, the propensity of the state governments to interfere in the political/administrative and financial affairs of the local governments. It is in the context of this prevailing observation that the study has set out to critically examine the 1999 constitutional provisions in respect of the local government autonomy and their adequacy in guaranteeing it, to ex-ray the patterns of interference in the local government autonomy by the state governments, to analyze the implications of the interference on the capability of the local governments to operate effectively, and contribute to national development. Another key objective is to recommend measures towards strengthening the constitutional provisions for the local government autonomy in to curtail the extent of interference by the state governments so that the local governments can operate effectively and consequently contribute meaningfully to the overall national development.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter deals with the method used in collecting data required in carrying out this research work it explains the procedures that were followed and the instrument used in collecting data.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment, the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information for the study local government autonomy and grass root development. The researcher randomly selects 200 staff of selected local government as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was on assessing local government autonomy and grass root development.
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges local government autonomy and grass root development in Nigeria.
Summary
the provisions in the Constitution that dictate the power and financial relationship between the various tiers of government, especially the State and the local government are deliberate. They are made to serve as checks and balances; and ensure transparency and accountability, among others. But the way some sates go about it, is rather more of punitive rather than corrective measure. For instance, Lagos State was one of the States in which these provisions had not been arbitrarily used by the state government. Lagos State and its Local Government Councils work like partners in progress rather than servant/master relationship. It is therefore obvious, that, for any meaningful development to take place at the local level, the States need to recognise the Local government as partners in progress. That is partners in enhancing sustainable rural development through the provision of essential services to improve the Standard of living of the rural populace. On local government election, the election into Local government Council should be held a week before State Governors election. If possible, election into State House of Assembly and Local Government Council should be held the same day
Conclusion
The quest for autonomy therefore should be related to financial viability. However, local government autonomy should not be seen as making the local government a sovereign entity, or the chairman a ‘local governor’ thus comparing himself with the state governors. But local government autonomy should be enjoyed by the citizens at the grassroots. The autonomy should not be a privilege of the chairman and councillors. Omoruyi opined that “local communities can only be meaningfully autonomous when popular structures, organizations and supportive values have been created to sustain, propagate and perpetuate fair representation, constant dialogue, openness of policy making, public accountability and collective self-defense. Existing structure and association and new ones should be identified and formed as the focus of grassroots democracy. Governmental powers have to be shared by these grassroots bodies in order to give life to the principle of local self-autonomy and participatory democracy
Recommendations
The researcher recommends that the present unhealthy condition of the Local Government should be rescued. The State and Federal Governments should ensure that they do not infringe on the revenue yielding areas of Local Government. They should also put a stop to the persist deduction from the monthly allocation of Local Governments. In the same vein, States should henceforth remit the constitutional 10% of their internally generated revenue to the Local Councils. Local Governments also needs to increase their internal revenue based rather than relying on the federal allocation. Similarly, Local Governments should re-order their priorities and block all avenues of wastage and leakage’s. The controversy surrounding the position of the Local Government in the 1999 constitution should without delay be resolved otherwise the autonomy and developmental efforts at the grassroots will be in jeopardy.
References
- Adeyemo, D.O. (Ed.). 1997. Financial and Administrative Procedure in Nigerian Local Government. Ile-lfe: Local Government Publication Series.
- Adeyemo, D.O. 1992. “Presidential System and Local Governments the Nigerian Experience since 1979”. A.M., Awotokun (ed.), New Trends in Nigerian Local Government. Department of Local Government Studies, Faculty of Administration. Ile-life: Obafemi Awolowo Univerisity.
- Adeyemo, D.O. 1996. “Federalism and the Logic of Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria”. Nigerian Journal of Local Government Studies, 16. December 1996 O.A.U. Ile-life.
- Akpomuvire Mukoro (Ed.). 2000. Institutional Administration A contemporary Local Geovernment Perspectives from Nigeria. Lagos: Malthouse Press Ltd.
- Awa, E.O. 1981. “The Theory of Local Government” Quarterly Journal of Administration” Vol XV No. 1 & II October/January.
