Roles of Local Government in Economic Development
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The study is aimed at assessing the activities of Wushishi Local Government in performing its role in economic development of Wushishi local government Area.
Specifically, the objectives of this study are to:
- Examine the material and human resources of the local government in performing this role.
- Examine the effectiveness of these resources (i.e. finance, manpower, etc). Within the framework above, analyze its contribution to the development of the area.
- Examine the major factors that militate or stand as constraint to the local government in performing this role.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND RURAL UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA.
For a comprehensive discussion of the theoretical framework of this study, if is necessary to critically examine Nigeria’s Planning system for a wider scope in research and also to be able to establish a linkage between Nigeria’s Planning System vis-à-vis the present state of rural underdevelopment in Nigeria. Moreover, various approaches to economic development will be reviewed so as to arrive at a suitable theoretical framework for this research.
According to Edoh, Planning is a policy actively directed towards the realization of a list of priorities within the course of an identified future time-span.
However, development plan in the colonial period was actually limited to the level of maintaining law and order for maximum exploitation of Nigeria’s resources or markets. Even the colonial 10 year Development plan which emanated from the colonial Development and welfare Act of April 1945 was drawn by British colonial administrators in connivance with a few Nigerian elites who reside in the urban areas and so have little care for rural areas.
In addition, the percentage of the expenditure allocated to economic development was meager and to add salt to injury, under spent.
In the usual British colonial deception, this was attributed to “inadequate and unqualified personnel.”
However, for a successful implementation of a economic development programme a complementary set of institutions and organizations with efficiently designed procedures are inevitable. Actually, no speedy rural transformation can be achieved without the pre – requisites outlined by the International labour Organization (ILO) study on economic developments; that the most serious obstacles to economic development in the developing countries are the prime constraints of structural, economic, technological and organizational adequacies which play a more critical role in retarding the pace of development.
Further more, it is ill fated to assume that plans can implement themselves. There has to be experts involved for its successful implementation. No wonder Walisky, pointed out that the experience of many developing countries in development planning proved that plan implementation is far more difficult and important that the actual plan formation; that there has been more of planning in the developing countries today than actual development.
Role of Local Government in economic development
In the emerging countries like Nigeria, Local Government has been adopted as the major instrument for the acceleration and sustenance of economic development. The importance of local government to rural and national development cannot be overemphasized. Local government, as constituted in the constitution is created as a vital instrument for economic development and for the delivery of social services to the people. It is obvious that the third tier of government is strategically placed to fulfill these functions because of its proximity to the rural people, which enables it to easily articulate and aggregate the demands of the people.
From the colonial era to date, the local government has been so recognized as a vital instrument to enhance and promote economic development in Nigeria. The 1971 East Central State Divisional Administration Edict No. 18 and the 1976 Local Government Reforms are serious efforts towards using local government as vehicle for economic development. The 1976 Local Government Reform in particular was aimed at decentralizing some significant functions of the state government to local levels in order to harness local resources for refined development. It therefore recognized local government as the third-tier of government activity at the grassroots. The 1985 Local Government Reforms contained in Dasuki Plan of 1986 –1990, under Babangida administration further emphasized this.
According to Ugwu (2001: 139 – 145), the Local Government can facilitate economic development in the following ways:
Economic Sector
The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria bestows on the Local Government the powers to be involved in planning and execution of the economic development. This involvement, it is argued will enable the local government to develop programmes, have direction and purpose. It will afford it opportunity to identify particular economic problems of a particular local government.
It can also mobilize human and material resources through the involvement of the members of the public in their economic development. This is because the objectives of the local government are to render services and encourage economic development activities.
Some other ways the local government can enhance economic development in the rural areas include: market development, implementation of national economic policies, etc. increased economic opportunities can be provided through the assistance of the local government in form of credit, land and other productive capital for both agricultural and non-agricultural production (Onyishi 2000:101).
Transportation and Communication
These are vital for smooth working and development of rural areas. Local government plays important role in constructing and maintaining rural roads. In local government, there is a works department responsible for maintenance of local roads, building bridges to link up communities to the headquarters. For instance Uzo Local Government Council has built Ihenyi–Abonyi Bridge linking Umualor to Ehan–Amufu and the Local government headquarters at Ikem. Also the local government built another bridge at Mgbede linking Isi-Uzo in Enugu State with Ado Local Government area of Benue State.
Local government can also facilitate the development of rural areas by embarking on mass transit programme. Fleet of buses could be purchased and sustained to assist rural people transport their agricultural materials to urban centers at subsidized rates. Telephone services can also be made available to the rural areas for easy dissemination of information and messages. This is a very vital social amenity that is lacking in most rural areas. But it can be done to facilitate dissemination of information across the country.
CHAPTER THREE
OPERATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF WUSHISHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Historical Background of Wushishi Local Government Area
The Federal Military Government of General Ibrahim Babangida while celebrating sixth year anniversary in office created additional states and local Government areas on 27th August, 1991. Among these local governments was Wushishi Local Government Area carved out of then Mariga Local Government area with Headquarters at Kontagora. The Local Government then shared boundaries with Mariga, Bosso, Gbako and Rafi Local Government Areas of Niger State. It comprised of three districts, Mashegu, Zugurma and Wushishi.
The present Wushishi Local Government is part of what remained after the creation of more states and local government areas on 1st October, 1996 when Mashegu District was made a Local Government Area. The present Wushishi Local Government is bounded in the West by Bosso, in the south by Rafi, in the east by Mashegu and in the North by Mariga Local Government areas respectively.
According to history, the people of Wushishi are the remnants of those who migrated from Kontagora with the legendary, Umaru Nagwamatse, the founder of the Emirate.
Population: The Local Government area has a projected population of about 134,480 people. Wushishi Local Government is now divided into two main districts – Kaduna and Wushishi. Languages spoken in he area are Nupe, Hausa/Fulani, Gbagyi, Kamuku and Pangu. The major occupations of the people are farming and fishing. Crops grown mostly in the area are rice, guinea corn, millet, yam, cassava, cocoa and groundnut. Those who lived along River Kaduna in Kaduna District engaged in fishing.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This study is out to assess Wushishi Local Government role in economic development between 1999 and 2003. In doing this, the various resources available to the local government would be examined,
Test of Hypothesis One
The first hypothesis for this study is stated thus: “The level of performance of Wushishi Local Government in terms of economic development is determined by the human financial and material resources available.”
In testing the first hypothesis, data were presented and analysed in the area of manpower or staff strength of the local government, their qualification and experience and training and development.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
Local government because of its proximity to a large majority of the rural people is no doubt a center of development. Local Government is closer and as such should be felt by the people in the rural areas. Issues relating to economic development touch more on people in the rural area. economic development is not only about agricultural, infrastructural development or provision of social amenities, it is also about articulating the strength, skill, and aspirations of the rural people. It is about inspiring the people to help them to achieve and reach the peak of their expectations in life. The local government, because of its nearness to the rural people is respected to play this important role.
This study is has been an attempt to examine and assess the role of local government as a vehicle for economic development with special focus on Wushishi local government area of Niger state.
In chapter one, an in-depth analysis of the background of study was undertaken by identifying the various stage of local government administration in Nigeria from pre-colonial to conical and post -colonial Nigeria. Various problems were identified which formed the problem of the study. Based on thee problems the objective of the study was stated which was identify the reasons behind the problems highlighted and solutions proferred. In line with this, hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The chapter, also contain the methodology adopted to gather and analyze data. Finally, operational definitions of important terms were included in the chapter.
Chapter two was devoted to the review of related literature and theoretical framework of the study. Literature review on the definition and concept of economic development, past economic development efforts of the government and ways in which local government could perform the role of economic development was carried out. Also in the chapter, the foundation of the study was built by adopting the modernization theory of economic development.
In chapter three, a historical perspective of Wushishi Local Government was undertaken. Thus from historical perspective Wushishi Local Government was created in 1991 by the military government of Ibrahim Babangida. The chapter further identified the functions of the Local Government, its sources of revenue as well as the operational and structural organization.
Chapter four was devoted to presentation and analysis of data using tables, percentages and frequencies. The data was gotten form questionnaire drawn for staff and beneficiaries and interview granted by the heads of department/ sections in the local government. Information from other secondary sources also formed part of the data presented.
After the analysis of data, findings revealed that due to ineffective and inefficient manpower, financial and social amenities have been constraints t the development of he Wushishi Local Government Area. It was also gathered that excessive political interference and control from other tiers of government has hindered the performance of the Local Government Area.
Conclusions
From the study we can conclude that the Local Government has not been able to perform its role as a vehicle for economic development due to inefficient manpower, financial and material resources. The study further shows that excessive political interference and control by other tier of government ahs affected the performance of the Local Government.
The findings reveal that majority of the staff necessary qualification and experience for work. This study shows that despite this inadequacy, the Local Government has not undertaken any training of the staff to improve their efficiency at work.
Inadequate financial and material resources is another problem of Wushishi Local Government Area. The study shows that the total fund accrued to the Local Government is too small. Also the internally generated revenue is too low and this leads to over dependence on statutory allocation. This low revenue base in every respect has hindered the local government from achieving its objective of rural transformation through provision of social amenities and infrasntruutral facilities.
The study also shows that excessive control and political interference has greatly affected it effectiveness. There are so many reasons added for this. One, the local government’s over dependence on statutory allocation discussed extensively in previous chapters; two, the powers given to the state house of assembly over the local governments are excessive. According to Ugwu (200:62)
The Local Government system extent in 1979 and 1999, and for which the constitutions provided guarantee was widely regarded as conforming to the democratic model of local representative government. It was the product of the reforms of 1976 which the reformers thought would stimulate “democratic self government” a the local level and ensure autonomous participation of local people in the development of their communities.
But the state government by the same provision of section 7 of the constitution exercise authority over the local government. This section gave the state government the power to ensure the existence of democratically elected local government councils under a law which provides for their establishment, structure composition, fiancé and functions. This power has been grossly abused. Niger state government dissolved all the local councils and appointed a transition committee headed by a chairman. Another implication of the exercise of section 7 is that local government council cannot exercise its constitutional function unless empowered to do so by the State house of Assembly.
Nwabueze (1983: 129) argued that the constitutional power to established local governments, to define its structure; composition and functions belong to the state government. He went further to advance that if the state government exercise such enormous powers over the local government, then the latter is mere agency or creation of the stage government. It is therefore enormous to see it as an independent third tier of government.
In furtherance of the excessive control of local affairs in Niger State is the flagrant abuse of the operation of state/local government authorities. The state government used this to short charge and divert local government fund. The local government in spite of its enormous responsibilities has not been given enough fund. The findings show that only fund to settle recurrent expenditures were released to the local government for over two years.
In such situation, the local government has been rendered ineffective in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
Recommendations
The study so far has shown the inability of Wushishi Local Government Area to play its role as a vehicle for economic development. This is as a result of certain identified constraints, which include inadequate skilled manpower, financial and material resources and excessive control and political interference by other tiers of government, especially the state government.
In view of this, the researcher would recommend the following:
The local government service should try to motivate qualified and highly skilled personnel/ profession as to join its service.
The workforce on the ground should be trained to improve their proficiency for greater performance.
The higher level governments should set up a board where farmers could purchase fertilizer, improved seedling, other agro chemicals as subsidize rate all year round.
The federal government should help the local government prove equipments like graders, tippers etc to enhance road construction in rural areas.
The federal government should make it compulsory for each local government to engaged in a least one water and one road project every year. T is assumed that within a ten- year period almost every rural area would be linked and enjoys portable water.
In terms of revenue generation, the local government should endeavour to improve on the internally generated revenue. Areas like property tax tenement rates which has been neglected could yield much revenue. This will reduce over dependence on statutory allocation form federal government. Furthermore, the state government should be made to always release the 10% internally generated in the state meant for local governments.
Dishonest or corrupt revenue collectors should be adequately disciplined to deter others. Their activities of revenue officials should be closely monitored supervised and evaluated. They should be given a target, which they’re expected to meet. They should equally be motivated.
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