Local Government Administration and the Challenges of Rural Development
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is local government administration and the challenges of rural development. But for the successful completion of the study; the researcher intends to achieve the following sub-objectives;
- Is to examine the perceived challenges of rural administration in Idemili South Local Government Area in Anambra State.
- Other specific objectives include determining if government revenue is appropriately and sufficiently utilized.
- To determine whether these perceived challenges are actually, the main elements that forestall rural development in Idemili South Local Government Area.
- To ascertain whether the administration of Idemili South Local Government has lived up to the expectation for the establishment of the local government area.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
The study of the development of local government as a tier of government in Nigeria will not be meaningful, if it is not preceded by an examination of the philosophical consideration underlying the local government system (Alex, 1987). The structure, composition and functions of local government are influenced by the political beliefs of those who have the authority and responsibility for determining the main features of the local government system. This relationship between values or political beliefs and structure for the distribution of powers in society has been argued by Stanley Hoffmann (1959:113) as he wrote: any preference for a certain scheme of area division of powers presupposes a decision on the ends for which power is to be exercised a decision on the values power should serve and on the ways in which these values will be served. Regardless of nomenclature, local government is a creation of British colonial rule in Nigeria. It has overtime experienced change in name, structure and composition; Between 1930s and 1940s, for instance, local government was known as chief-in-council and chief-and-council, where traditional rulers were given pride of place in the scheme of things. In the 1950s, election was introduced according to the British model in the western and eastern parts of the country with some measure of autonomy in personnel, financial and general administration (Nwabueze, 1982). It was on this premise that the rising tide of progress, growth and development experienced in the local governments in these areas was based. During this period, heterogeneity was the hallmark of local government as there was no uniformity in the system and the level of development was also remarkably different. The introduction of 1976 reforms by military administration of General Obasanjo brought about uniformity in the administrative structure of the system. The reforms introduced a multi-purpose single tier local government system (Ajayi, 2000). The reforms also introduced population criterion under which a local government could be created. Consequently, a population of within 150,000 to 800,000 was considered feasible for a local government. This was done to avoid the creation of non-viable local council and for easy accessibility. There was provision for elective positions having the chairman as executive head of local government with supervisory councilors constituting the cabinet. This was complemented by the bureaucrats and professionals, such as Doctors, Engineers etc who were charged with the responsibility of implementing policies (1976 Guidelines). In 1991, a major landmark reform was introduced as the system had legislative arm. In addition, the Babangida administration increased the number of local government from 301 in 1976 to 453 in 1989 and 589 in 1991, the Abacha regime also increased the number to 774 local councils that we have today and the administrative structure also underwent some changes (Ajayi, 2000).
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The concept of local government involves a philosophical commitment to democratic participation in the governing process at the grassroots level. This implies legal and administrative decentralization of authority, power and personnel by a higher level of government to a community with a will of its own, performing specific functions as within the wider national framework. A local government is a government at the grassroots level of administration meant for meeting peculiar grassroots need of the people (Agagu, 1997). It is defined as “government by the popularly elected bodies charged with administrative and executive duties in matters concerning the inhabitants of a particular district or place (Appadorai, 1975). Local government can also be defined as that tier of government closest to the people, “which is vested with certain powers to exercise control over the affairs of people in its domain” (Lawal, 2000:60). Akpan (1982) defined local government as “the breaking down of a country into smaller units or localities for the purpose of administration in which the inhabitants of the different units or localities concerned play a direct and full role through their elected representatives who exercise power and undertake functions under the general authority of the national or state government”. Barber (1969) defined Local government as authority to determine and execute matters within a restricted area. It becomes clear from the above that the purpose of establishing a local government is to ensure appropriate services and development activities responsible to local wishes and initiatives. Local government operates at the lowest level of society. Bandhu (1967) defined local government as: representative of local inhabitants, more or less autonomous in character instituted under state legislation, in a village, a district, a city or in urban areas to administer services as distinguished from state and central services The jurisdiction of a local government is limited to a specific area, a village or a city, and its functions relate to the provision of civic amenities to the population living within that area.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
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 local government administration and the challenges of rural development
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 on the study local government administration and the challenges of rural development. 200 staff of Idemili South local government council of Anambra State was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
Sample and sampling procedure
Sample is the set people or items which constitute part of a given population sampling. Due to large size of the target population, the researcher used the Taro Yamani formula to arrive at the sample 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 to ascertain local government administration and the challenges of rural 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 of rural development
Summary
This study was on local government administration and the challenges of rural development. Four objectives were raised which included; Is to examine the perceived challenges of rural administration in Idemili South Local Government Area in Anambra State, Other specific objectives include determining if government revenue is appropriately and sufficiently utilized, to determine whether these perceived challenges are actually, the main elements that forestall rural development in Idemili South Local Government Area, to ascertain whether the administration of Idemili South Local Government has lived up to the expectation for the establishment of the local government area . In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of Idemili South local government council of Anambra State. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up heads of department, counselors, senior staff and junior staff was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Sustainable development, according to Odigbo and Adediran (2004) is human focused,, long-term and enduring, and not a quick fix. Local government has a role of building strong and virile rural communities by laying down a structural foundation on which rural development can thrive. Such foundation will re-orientate our value systems as well as encourage private initiatives and propagate cooperative philosophy. Also, adequate education that will change the moral value of the society should be given to all and sundry. I believe that strict observance to these suggestions can lift local councils from their relegated position of tools of manipulations to the aspired status of instrument of change and development at the grassroots level.
Recommendation
- Adequate revenue raising powers in correspondence with the functional responsibilities of local government should be constitutional assigned. This will encourage the Local government Council to general more money internally.
- The so called joint accounts between the state and local government should be replaced with direct allocation to Local government.
- Local government Councils should not depend totally on the revenue from the federation account but efforts must be made to create more sources of generating revenue internally.
- There is need for regular audit of local government Councils account by the relevant authorities with a view to enhance probity and accountability.
- The provisions in section (7) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria which empowered the state government to determine the establishment, structure, finance and operation of local government should be urgently amended in favor of local government to enhance true federalism.
- The entire system of local government in Nigeria should be totally over-hauled to enable it play its role as an agent of rural development
REFERENCES
- Abascikong .B. (1982): Rural Development: problems and strategies. London: Oxford University Press.
- Adedokun, A., (2012).Local Government Tax Mobilization and Utilization in Nigeria: Problem and Prospects.http://visar.csustan.edu/aaba/Adedokun. pdf Accessed on 20/02/2012
- Adediran. M.O. (2003): In Yakubu,J.A. (eds) (2003): Socio-Legal Essays in Local Government Administration in Nigeria. Ibadan: Demyax Law books.
- Ayodele .O and Sola .A et. al (2011): National Morrow. 28/07/2011 02:44:00
- Anyebe .A. A (2002) “Federalism and Local Government autonomy in Nigeria” Abuja Journal of Administration and management vol. 1 No. 2 pp 1-9.
- Awolowo .O. (1952) Debate in the western House of Assembly, July.
