Functional Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: Thesis for a Community Participation Model

Abstract

The paper focuses on how local government autonomy can be effective and efficient. Recent research findings indicate that local governments in Nigeria are not productive, not efficient and not effective because of lack of autonomy, be it financial, administrative or political autonomy. Hence, there is a need to examine the deficiencies in the operation of local governments, and come up with a process model that can enhance functional local government autonomy. Therefore, relying on Descriptive Analysis method and Democratic Participation theoretical framework, the study examines how community participation in governance can be an impetus to achieve the objectives of autonomy, and proposes a Community Participation Model, as a way to strengthen an autonomous local government performance, otherwise, full autonomy will achieve nothing with the present state of local governments in Nigeria. The model further illustrates how the Community Development Associations can participate in governance to ensure that the planning, implementation, and evaluation represent the grassroots felt-need. The study recommends the following to actualise the functionality of the model: constitutional reforms to restore local government autonomy, enabling laws mandating the creation of Community Development Associations in all parts of Nigeria; and the States governments granting special fund to strengthen the operation of the Community Development Associations.