CITIES IN THE 21st CENTURY: A CHALLENGE FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN SPENDING IN BAUCHI-NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper is aimed at explaining the relationship between growth of cities in the developing countries and urban governance in the 21st century. The Nigerian experience in fiscal matters has posed numerous challenges to urban finance as well as sustainability of urbanization and its development. The joint account system between states and the local governments has generated numerous contentions as to how the system will operate without creating setback to local governance. While the joint account system affects good governance, the states are using it as weapons against any disloyal elected chairman in some quarters. In order to finance viable projects, local government need resource at all levels to be mobilized and also put into proper use for urban management. Therefore, the paper examined the phenomenon of urban politics in one of the major cities of Nigeria. The study conducted documentary research of city development in the 21st century, with specific reference to Bauchi Metropolis in Nigeria, to give explanation and predict what will be the future of urbanization and sustainable development in developing countries. It assumed that high level of poverty, decay in social infrastructure, legal obstacles and pattern of physical planning are found to be the major predictors of problem bedeviling urban governance.