Roles of Local Government and Economic Development at the Grass-Root Level: A Case Study of Ijebu North
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To determine the nature of local government administration.
- To the role of local government on economic development at the grass root level
- To determine the nature of development in local government administration
- To ascertain the extent government administration played its roles in grass root the level
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Local Government
Local government (as a body of knowledge and as practice) is encapsulated in a web like all other sub-discipline in the social sciences. There are divergent views on the subject as there are many authors. Local government in the communal sense means people’s political instrument to participate in resource allocation, distribution and power acquisition. An indepth analysis of this definition service delivery and resource mobilization. Political participation concerns the desire to involve local citizens in the management of local affairs. Efficient service delivery, which is closely knitted with the above factor, is to ensure that the basic needs of local citizens are met as speedily and as efficiently as possible. Resource mobilization is to provide a framework within which local resources, both human and material, are effectively mobilized. (Adamolekun, 1983:7) Ezeani (2006:253) posits that “local government is generally seen as a veritable agent of development and grassroots participation in the democratic process”. Germane to this paper are some of the issues raised as “reasons for the creation of local government thus: “Local Government particularly in developing countries is seen as a veritable instrument for rural development. Consequently, all over the world, local governments have been assigned some functions under the law” (Ezeani, 2006:258). The extent to which local governments have been able to achieve the objective of rural development is the focus of this paper. Other reasons for the creation of local government identified which are crucial to this paper are ‘to make appropriate services and development activities responsive to local wishes and initiatives by devolving or delegating them to local representative bodies”. “To sensitize and mobilize the various communities in their areas of authority in order to get involved in the overall development of their areas” Ezeani (2006:258). It is highly debatable if local governments in Nigeria have been able to effectively meet these and other lofty goals of their creation. Ezeani (2004:1) favours the approach by Adamolekun (2002:49) in discussing local government within the purview of decentralization. Decentralisation is typologised into “deconcentration” meaning administrative decentralization or field administration and “devolution” implying democratic decentralization in which there is substantial autonomy to sub-national units (i.e. local governments) with powers and responsibilities to perform specific functions given under the law by the central government. Duru (2001:97) converges with Ezeani (2004) and Adamolekun (2002) on the above approach and conceptualization of local government as devolution. Proceeding from the above, Ezeani (2004:6) identified the following characteristics of devolution: local government must be granted autonomy and independence and be clearly recognized as a tier of government with little or no direct control by the central government. Local units must have clear and legally recognized geographical boundaries. Local governments must possess corporate status including the power to raise sufficient revenue to perform assigned functions. Devolution involves the need to “develop local governments as institutions”. It also entails reciprocal, mutually benefiting and coordinate relationships between central and local governments. An examination of the above characteristics in relation to the practice in Nigeria shows that apart from local governments having clear and legally recognized boundaries, the Fourth Schedule of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Page 150 and 151) spells out the functions of local government.
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 roles of local government and economic development in the grass root level
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 roles of local government and economic development in the grass root level. 200 residents in ijebu north, Ogun state was selected randomly by the researcher 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 to ascertain roles of local government and economic development in the grass root level
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 and economic development in the grass root level
Summary
This study was on roles of local government and economic development in the grass root level. Four objectives were raised which included: To determine the nature of local government administration, to the role of local government on economic development in the grass root level, to determine the nature of development in local government administration, to ascertain the extent government administration played its roles in grass root level. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 residents of Ijebu north, Ogun 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 youths, civil servants, village heads and elders of council was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
It is obvious from the arrangement and federal practice in Nigeria that local governments are emasculated and have not been effectively positioned to place its constitutional roles, let alone play the roles it should in rural development. Self-help as an issue in rural development and the various approaches to rural development were discussed. Local Government is the focus of government efforts at promoting development. To effectively develop, the people’s efforts must be adequately mobilized. A Purposeful combination of local (peoples) efforts and energies with that of government with the objective of improving socioeconomic conditions and encouraging political participation are key factors in rural development. Rural Development as a strategy is designed to improve the economic and social life of the rural people. The core issues in rural development include self-help; attention to needs (felt and latent), integrated community for development; mobilization of human and material resources which could facilitate the provision of social amenities and infrastructures. The organizational environment for enhancing rural development remains the local government.
Recommendation
(1) This paper strongly advocates autonomy for local governments in such a way and manner that enhances its performance of constitutional and ancillary roles.
(2) Local governments should strive to raise and maintain revenue that would enable her deliver projects and services that guarantee quality living to the grassroots. This has the potency of reducing the incidence of rural-urban drift.
(3) As a corollary, local governments should be more people-centred in approach, such that necessary collaboration/partnership with communities in its domain can facilitate the process
REFERENCES
- Abah, N. C. (2000) Development administration: A multi-disciplinary approach. Enugu: John Jacobs Publishers Ltd.
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- Adedeji, B. O. (1987) Strategies for mobilizing the masses for economic progress and development . Paper presented at national workshop on local government. UNN (November).
- Duru, E.J.C. (2001) Essence of Local Government Reforms in Nigeria, in Duru, E.J.C; Ikejiani-Clark, M. O. & Mbat, D. O. (eds) Contemporary issues in public administration. Calabar: BAAJ International Company.
- Effiom, E.B. (2001) Local administration: Meaning, structure, scope and implications for national development, in Duru, E. J.C; Ikejiani, M.O & Mbat, D.O. (eds.) Contemporary issues in public administration. Calabar: BAAJ International Company. Ezeani E.O. (2004) Local Government Administration. Enugu: Zik-Chuks Nig.
- Ezeani E.O. (2006) Fundamentals of Public Administration. Enugu: Snaap press Ltd. Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lagos: Federal Government Press.
- Gana, J. (1987) Mass mobilisation for rural development, Paper Presented at National Workshop on Local Government. UNN (November).
- Lele, U. (1975) The design of rural development: Lessons from Africa. Baltimore: the John Hopkins University Press
