Roles of Local Leaders in Community Development in Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the role of local leaders in community development decision making in Dutse Local Government area of Jigawa State, Nigeria. A multistage (4) stage sampling procedure was employed in selecting 120 respondents for the study. Mean age and household size are 53 years and 10 persons. Majority (97.5%) were males, married (95.8%) with secondary education (57.6%). Only about 1/3 (33.3%) had tertiary education while 8.3% had primary education. Significant proportion (91.7%) claimed to have travelled within and outside the study area. The type of leadership existing and acting were; traditional and household leaderships (x ̅=1.011), religious and cooperative leaderships (x ̅=1.383). Areas of roles and influences of the leaders mostly were in; support for art and culture, mobilization, control of market activities, advice on religious matters and chieftaincy matters (x ̅=1.047). Participation in community activities were in the areas of; conflict resolution, chieftaincy affairs, religious matters, support for community development projects, mouth piece of the people, mobilization, political/LGA advice, cultural matter and council matters (x ̅=1.071). Major constraints to participation were; cultural belief and heterophili (x ̅=1.250), mindset of the people and poor socialization (x ̅=1.199) and exclusion from government development projects (x ̅=1.009) respectively. The Pearson Correlation analysis showed positive relationship between participation and degree of Cosmo-politeness, age, educational level respectively. It was recommended that local leaders should be engaged more in community development activities because they serve a catalytic function to the people. Community intervention or development programmes must be geared towards the socio-cultural structure of the people. Respondents should also be encouraged to visit other place in order to foster understanding of cultural differences and diversity, socialization and modernization emanating from ....