The Impact of Local Government Administration in Economic and Social Development in Nigeria (a Case Study of Nsukka Local Government of Enugu State)
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study seeks to look at the contribution of local government development of rural areas in Nigeria using NSUKKA local government area of ENUGU state.
This research also aimed at identifying different factors militating the effectiveness of local government and solutions to those problems identified and it will be offered at the completion of the research work.
Finally, the study makes a modest attempt to fulfill this purpose in the social and economic development of the effective delivery of service to the respective local populations scattered all over the country. It also make a recommendations on making local government an effective third level of government, the development and management of the human resources of local governments and the development of the financial resources of local government. The overall thrust of the recommendation is on how to ensure faithful implementation of local government.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RLATED LITERATURE
CONCEPT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Conceptualizing local government, like others in the social sciences, is not easy; it is difficult to have a universally acceptable definition for this concept in developing and developed countries of the world. Consequently, Ovwasa (1995) has opined that the meaning attached to local government varies from country to country and, more frequently, it has become the purpose for which local government is created. However, 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, at the grassroots level of administration, meant for meeting the peculiar needs of the people (Agagu, 1997:18). Appadorai (1975:287) sees local government as government by the popularly elected bodies charged with administrative and executive duties in matters concerning the inhabitants of a particular district or place. Local or grassroots government may be defined as having been established by law to perform specific functions within defined areas. A complex nation like Nigeria, with its many ethnic groups within a divergent and diverse culture, requires a high degree of decentralization, which they accomplish by creating local government authorities. Looking at the existence and relevance of local government, Ayo (2005) believes that local government is a territorial non-sovereign community possessing the right level of necessary organization to regulate its own affairs. Local government can be viewed as a legal personality with sufficient but limited powers of control over its staff, finances and funds (Amao, 2002). Arising from our observation above, many definitions of local government have been suggested by different authors. As Ovwasa (2004) analyzed elsewhere, local government has been defined as a subdivision of a nation (unitary country) and state (federal system) which has substantial authority to extract labour and impose tax over its jurisdiction. The council of such local government is constituted by law, and membership is either elected or selected. Ovwasa summarized the definitions of local government with the following observations:
- Local government is created by law
- It has a representative government
iii. It is a lower level of government and it has a legal personality with the power to impose taxes in its areas of jurisdiction or competence, but with limited autonomy.
Local governments, at least in principle, deal with grassroots politics, i.e. keeping law and order, basic sanitation, constructing and maintaining local roads, supplying water, administering local schools, providing skill training and employment for residents, et cetera. However, community development is the process or effort of building communities on a local level with emphasis on building the economy, forging and strengthening social ties, and developing the non-profit sector. These are aimed at improving the quality of life of the people in the community. Are local government administrators in Nigeria performing their functions? If not, what are the obstacles? Before we delve into the problems of local government, let us attempt to look at its evolution in order to foster our understanding of the salient issues being raised in this paper.
THE HISTORY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA
The history of local government systems in Nigeria dates back to colonial days. The name, structure and composition have experienced different changes over the years. During the 1930s and 1940s, for instance, local government was known as chief-in-council and chiefand-council, where traditional rulers were given pride of place in the scheme of things. In the 1950s, elections were 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, 1982:20-21). It was on this premise that the rising tide of progress, growth and development experienced in the local governments in these areas was based. The pace of this development was more noticeable in the south than in the north. 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 the 1976 reforms by the 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, 2000:70). Efficient systems of native administration had existed in the various parts of Nigeria before the coming of the Europeans (Olatunbosun 1998). This was particularly the case in the northern and western parts of Nigeria, where the existing systems of traditional administration provided the colonial authorities with a much-needed workable basis for introducing the indirect rule system of governance, first in the Northern Protectorate and later in the Southern Protectorate. Between 1900 and 1950, the Nigerian colonial authorities consisted mainly of traditional office holders whose main functions, according to Kareem (2005), were to maintain law and order and generally act as agents for the colonial government by providing certain basic services in their respective localities. With the pressure generated by the nationalist struggle for democratization and self-rule that emerged in the 1950s, more modern local government councils with elected members increased responsibilities and enhanced financial status.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
This chapter covers the description and discussion on the various techniques and procedures used in the study to collect and analyze the data as it is deemed appropriate
Research Design
For this study, the survey research design was adopted. The choice of the design was informed by the objectives of the study as outlined in chapter one. This research design provides a quickly efficient and accurate means of assessing information about a population of interest. It intends to assess the impact of local government administration in economic and social development in Nigeria.
Population of the Study
A total of 800 questionnaires were distributed in Nsukka local government area of Enugu State. Although only 200 were returned and completed. This will serve as the Population of the study.
Selection of Sample/sample Techniques
The researcher used Yaro Yammane’s formular to determine the sample size from the population.
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 the impact of local government administration in economic and social development in Nigeria.
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 local government administration.
Summary
The impact of local government administration in economic development in Nigeria has taken a focal point in modern day research; governments in all societies have launched various programs and projects aimed at social development. However, the extent of economic development varies from state to state. In other hand, the level of development of a society in a measure of the degree of presence or absence of certain infrastructures which could either positively impact or negatively affects the social, political, cultural and economic life of the rural dwellers. It is imperative to note that the provision of social amenities and other facilities are skewed in favour of the urban areas to the detriment of the rural sector/area were majority of the population live. However, Nsukka local Government Areas had not succeeded in the performance of this role as the areas during the period covered witnessed, abject rural poverty, high rate of rural unemployment, decay and inadequate infrastructural facilities in the areas of rural electrification feeder roads portable water, farm/business inputs, health care services, mobilizing community participation and ineffective capital funding towards financial, economic and executive autonomy to preferred a wide a range of functions at the grassroots level.
Conclusion
This study evaluated the impact of local government administration in economic and social development in Nigeria. It identified Local Government as the nearest government to the people and thus, a channel through which the community feels the pulse of other higher levels of government. To this effect, the paper contends that Local Government is the hub for social, political and economic mobilization and galvanization of the citizens for effective participation in the community and national development. Far from providing community with supports such as funds technical, material and financial support for the community development practice, Local Government also undertakes some developmental services in the community even without the financial/technical assistance of the said community. However, the study identified several challenges that militate against these role and they includes: official corruption, the Nigerian factor, poor revenue generation, political instability, social injustice and economic inequality and general poverty among the vast majority of the populace amongst others. Finally, the study proffered some functional solution to the challenges and they include: strengthening and use of grassroots institution, establishing and adhering strictly to accountability procedure to guard against corruption and other unwanted behavior, diversification of revenue generation, attitudinal change through value re-orientation and effective utilization of grass roots communication procedure to secure the active participation of the community amongst others. After all, community development is all about the development of the community through active involvement of the indigenes.
Recommendation
Having considered the findings from the research, the following measured are recommended for improving the performance of rural development Nsukka local government areas. To bring about a more realistic rural development in Nigeria, specifically Nsukka local government, the local governments should minimize their total dependence on the federal allocation, and increase their efforts towards generating more revenue through the diversification of their internal revenue sources. Again, rural communities in Nigeria, specifically Nsukka local governments areas are no longer seem as recipients of development programs rather, they are become critical stakeholders that have an important role to play in the management of programs and projects in their areas. It is also a step towards building their capacities to effectively participate in identifying and responding to rural community’s issues and problems toward rural development.
Reference
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