A Proposal on the Impact of Constitutional Contradiction on Rural Development in Nigeria; A Study of Local Government Administration
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The following objectives will be accessed;
- To find out whether Nigeria constitution contradiction have an impact on rural development in Nsit Ubium Local government in Akwa Ibom State
- To find out the challenges face by local community due to constitution contradiction in Nsit Ubium Local government in Akwa Ibom State
- To find out the causes of constitution contraction in Nigeria
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Conceptual framework
Local Government
In a general term, local government has been described as the lowest unit of governmental administration in a federating state. It is a governmental unit involving the management of public affairs through which the people at the grassroots level possesses the constitutional power to administer their affairs without any external influence or control. According to Ola (1988), local government is a political sub-division of a country constituted by law with substantial control of local activities and constitutionally possesses power to impose taxes and exact labour for prescribed purpose of promoting governance at the local level. This definition according to the scholar describes local council as a constituted sub-government and political administration for the rural dwellers with power to raise fund for the execution of programmes that can engender all round development of the localities. Enemuo (1999) aligned with this definition by advancing further that local government being a smallest unit of governmental administration is legally empowered to raise revenue and undertake assigned functions under the constituted leadership answerable to the people. The scholar maintained that it is a governmental model involving administration of rural area with a body of representatives who possesses some considerable responsibilities and constitutional power to administer the community on behalf of the people. In another development, local government is a political authority created by law of the state with aim of providing essential services of local nature to the area for which it is being created. It is also a means of forming the purpose of transforming local communities across the states to an enviable unit. Augustine (2009) argued that local government aim to encourage all inclusive government through popular participation in the choice of decision makers. Its process are embraced and conducted by local community in order to elect their representative who can agitate for the yearnings and aspirations of the people at grassroots level. While recognizing the supremacy of the central government, local government is able to accept responsibility for its decisions within its locality. According to Simeon (2014), local government is a system of government with ultra vires and general competence model of administrative techniques. To the author, ultra vires model enables the grassroots authority to identify some sections of the constitution which restrict the degree of local government autonomy in the course of their constitutional duties while the general competence model stimulates local governments to render variety of services to the people at local level in order to meet the purpose of its existence. To Ozioma (2008) local government is a sub-state unit of governance under the presidential system of administration which supposed to be significantly autonomous like the federal and the state governments but unfortunately in Nigeria, local government system of administration appears to be weak and sickly, and is treated merely as state government appendages and extensions rather than a tier of government that can effectively play its part in local administration and grassroots development. With all the scholarly submissions above, it can be generally concluded that local government is the lowest level of government in a modern state and legally distinct as the third tier of government in the federation established to promote the interests of the people of grassroots globally. In Nigeria however, local government has been designated to be the most primary level of government which constitutes third the tier under the federal and state administrations established for sole purpose of transforming the grassroots level in the country.
Constitutional Issues
Constitutional issues are important questions about the meaning of the constitution that spark significant disagreement. Such issues require the citizens to consider whether a government policy is constitutional or not. According to Zelman (2002), controversial public issues are unresolved questions of public policy that spark significant disagreement between different tiers of government or individuals, groups and associations in a federation. Such issues require proper deliberation and further legislative process in order to determine which policy is the best response to a particular problem. Also Dale (1992) observed that discussions of both constitutional and policy issues in a democratic state are important to include in a comprehensive democracy education program. The primary question according to the scholar constitutional issue discussion focuses on whether a government policy is constitutional or not and it raises the questions whether the government can exercise power in particular way without violating some sections in the constitution, or, in some cases, whether the government or its arms can act in a certain way because of the constitution. It is also important to recognize that just because a government action or policy is constitutional (that is, allowed), it does not necessarily follow that it is a good idea or has to be done. For example, it is constitutional for a school district to drug test some students, but it is not required by the Constitution and there is real dispute about whether it is a good idea.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work. The choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the impact of constitutional contradiction on rural development in Nigeria
CHAPTER FOUR
METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
The researcher will employ oral and direct interview in administering this research questions. Responses from the respondents were needed unlike questionnaires, which is less rewarding due to late receipt and loss of responses from respondents. The method of data analysis that will be used by the researcher is the simple percentage. More so, percentage and degrees of the responses will also be used in the analysis. Here, the ratio of those whose responses were not in the affirmative will be found and conclusions will be drawn there upon. Representations of the level of responses will be made in tabular form. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software will be used to test the hypotheses.
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