The Functions of Local Government in Rural Development (A Case Study of Oredo Local Government)
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
- To know the performance of Oredo Local Government Area in the field of rural development.
- To improve the weak financial base which limits the capacity of Oredo Local Government Area to meet its goal of rural development.
- To see how Oredo Local Government Area has helped in economic development.
Since it is the conviction of the Federal Military Government as emphasized in the guidelines for the Local Government, the objective of this study is also based on Federal Government Objectives.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
WHAT IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
The term ‘Local Government’ is seen variously from perspectives and schools of thought. Local Governments, “simply and precisely, government at the local level”. Put in another way, Local Government is a system of devolution of power to the local authority to provide services of a 1961 nature. It is an autonomous or independent body created by law and charged with the responsibility of administering and dealing with matters of local importance within the area defined by that law. Today however, the local government is constitutionally recognized as the third tier of government. Crook, R. C. and J. Manor (1998).
Ene Awa, sees Local Government as a political authority set up by a nation or state as a subordinate authority for the purpose of dispersing or decentralizing political power.
Obiukwu K. (1992:4) sees Local Government as a subordinate political authority or tier of government, which exercise jurisdiction on specific matters and functions within a definite locality.
Odenigwe (1997:115-120) in his paper “Mobilizing the citizens for Commercial development under the new system of Local Government” Local Government system in Nigeria as the ultimate agency for mobilizing citizens and material resources for rural economic development. He opined that with the new system, Local Government is now in a better position to mobilize, direct, and co-ordinate the effort of the people for the community development. He stated that adequacy in quality of staff and enough financial resources should enhance Local Government effectiveness in economic development. The paper itemizes steps to be taken for effective mobilization, suggests different approaches to be adopted and indicate the areas where the new Local Government system provides opportunities for the partnership between Government ministries and the communities. Odenigwe then concluded with suggested schemes of assistance or encouragement to achieve effective mobilization.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
This chapter explains the research methodology that is used to achieve the research objectives. Chapter 3.1 highlights the research design. Principally, two research methods are adopted: content analysis and survey research. Chapter 3.2 focuses on the research methods for the content analysis method. Others include the content analysis study population, sampling technique, data gathering method. This chapter also generally focuses on the research methods for the survey research. It includes the study population for the survey research, sampling technique, data gathering method, description of the questionnaire, and actual field work.
DESIGN
This outline the step-by-step procedure used in data collection. The major instruments used in gathering the data for the research are:
- Questionnaire
- Interview
RESEARCH METHOD
Methodology which is the method of arriving at reliable solution to problems through planned and systematic collection of analysis and interpretation of data.
The methods employed in the collection of information for the purpose of this research are textbook, questionnaire, oral interview.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
The population of this research work consists of 120 staff of Oredo Local Government council in Edo State. It is made up of 10 top management staff, 30 senior staff and 80 junior staff.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
In this chapter, attempt is made to classify responses according to age, sex, educational qualification, category of staff of the respondent, thus data collection will be analyzed using percentages and the result obtained will be used to test the relevant hypothesis formulated.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
In this study, the researcher tried to assess the performance of Oredo Local Government in rural development. The area covered; include how well the local government has done in the advancement of educational promotion and advancement of agriculture, provision of health services, roads, water and social welfare services which are the demand of development.
This results were also similar in the provision of health care services where the Local Government performed greatly to rural and economic development of Edo state and Nigeria at large.
In addition, there are some notable elite in the Local Government who have been contributing to the success of the Local Government.
CONCLUSION
From the previous chapter (4) it could be detected that the problems hindering the effectiveness and efficiency of Oredo Local Government can be grouped under two headings – personnel and finance.
Regardless of the problem facing the Local Government, the Local Government has impacted positively to rural development.
RECOMMENDATION
To make the Local Government more responsive and effective in its rural development efforts, the following recommendation are necessary:
- Increase in the allocation to the Local Government by the Federal Government. This is necessary since a certain percentage of the population live in rural areas.
- Statutory grant by the State and Federal Government should be increased and always paid as at when due.
- Increase revenue drive by the Local Government to enable it finances its project. In this connection, only people of proven integrity should be made revenue collectors, these people must be adequately remunerated to avoid their stealing government revenue.
- Improved condition of services for Local Government employees.
- Provision of training facilities and workshops.
- Judicious management of funds. Without effective management, policies and project embarked upon by the Local Government may not be successfully implemented.
REFERENCES:
- Adebayo Adedeji: (1969). Financing Local Government in Nigeria. In the future of Local Government inNigeria. (Ile-Ife University of the Press.
- African Uppsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies.
- Ekpo, A.H. 1990. “The Role of Revenue in Local Government Administration”. NCEMA Workshop. Ibadan, Nigeria.
- Adedeji, A. 1969. Nigerian Federal Finance. London: Hutchison.
- Federal Republic of Nigeria. 1989. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lagos: Government Printer.
- Imam, I. Bello, ed. 1990. Local Government Finance in Nigeria. Ibadan: NISER
- Ndebbio, J.E.U. 1990. “Principles of Public Finance in Nigeria”. Paper presented at the workshop on Public Sector Accounting, Cross River State Public Service, Calabar.
- Shah, A. 1983. “Efficiency, Equity and Fiscal Equalization Grants: Issues and Alternatives”. Discussion Paper, World Bank.
