Local Government Councils Research Articles

Environmental Factors and Human Resource Management in Local Government Administration in Nigeria

Human resource management is the mobilisation of available human resource in the organization to achieve the organizational goals. Human resource management activities are not devoid of challenges in any organization, including Local Government Councils in Nigeria; hence, this study identified such challenges as environmental factors and classified it as internal and external environmental factors affecting human resource management in Nigerian Local Governments. These factors were identified on account of the observed irregularities in human resource management policies and practice in the Local Government service. This study therefore aims at examining the environmental factors affecting human resource management in Nigerian local governments between 2010-2018. Data were collected from observations, interviews and documented facts on the subject matter, while system theory was used to explain the interdependence of the various departments and its effects on human resource management in the Councils. The study findings identified poor capacity building and orientation, activities of trade unions, administrative policies and politics, capacity of the Council leadership, among others as internal factors; and political, social, legal, physical, etc., as part of the external environmental factors affecting human resource management in Nigerian Local Governments. The study concluded that the internal and external factors have significant effects on the human resource management and productivity of the Local Governments in Nigeria. This study further made some recommendations on strategies to achieve effective human resource management in Nigerian Local Governments.
 Keywords: Staff development, Local Government, environmental factors, human resource management, organizational productivity.

Legal Implications of State Government’s Control over Internally Generated Revenue of Local Government Councils in Oyo State, Nigeria

This paper examines the sources of internally generated revenue of Local Government Councils in Oyo State and shows that the State Government had taken over the high yielding ones. It also examines section 7 of the Local Government Law 2001 (as amended) of Oyo State which empowers the State Government to collect internally generated revenue of Local Government Councils and give them ten percent out of it. It establishes that this provision contradicts section 162 (7) of the Constitution that mandates each State to pay Local Government Councils out of its total revenue. It also shows that the provision is inconsistent with section 4 (1) of the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account, Etc.) Act which provides that in addition to the allocation made from the Federation Account to Local Government Councils, each State must distribute ten percent of its internally generated revenue among the Local Government Councils in the State. Thus, each State Government is expected to pay ten percent of its internally generated revenue to Local Government Councils in the State and not compel them to pay their internally generated revenue into State coffer, giving them ten percent of it in return. This paper argues that section 7 of the Local Government Law 2001 is unconstitutional and has drastically reduced the income received from internally generated revenue of Local Government Councils, thereby placing them in miserable financial conditions which have retarded their developmental efforts. The paper concludes that internally generated revenue is the live wire of Local Government Councils, therefore, the Local Government Law 2001 (as amended) and other similar laws should be challenged in court and declared null and void. It also recommends autonomy for Local Government Councils so that they can absolutely control their revenue and use it judiciously for the development of their localities.

Financial Crime and Local Government Productivity in Rivers State

The study investigated the effect of financial crime on local government productivity in Rivers State. The study specifically ascertained the effect of financial crime on effective service delivery and human resource administration in Rivers State local government councils. The predominant factors that induced financial crime in Rivers State local government councils were also identified. Descriptive survey design was employed with purposive sampling drawn from eight local government councils. A total of 220 questionnaires were distributed to the eight local government councils and of the 220, 208 representing 95% were returned and used. The data were analyzed using simple percentages for descriptive analysis and Chi-square (χ2) for hypotheses testing. The findings revealed that financial crime significantly and negatively influenced effective service delivery and human resource administration in Rivers State local government councils. It was further revealed that greed, opportunity and need induced financial crime in Rivers State local government councils. To stimulate employee commitment and effective service delivery in Rivers State local government councils, it was recommended that local government employees should be properly compensated and the institutional and juridical mechanisms (whether on exclusive, concurrent and residual lists) should be strengthened for accountability and deterrence of financial crime.

Charytatywna działalność gminnych rad młodzieżowych – analiza zagadnienia

Youth Councils are entities that serve as consultative and advisory bodies to local government units in Poland. The councils, which have been functioning for over 30 years, take part in the activities of local governments and undertake a number of social projects, including those of a charitable nature. The paper presents the results of research that was carried out as part of the project "The importance and role of Youth Councils in the functioning of local governments." The research concerns Youth Councils from 18 voivodeship cities, where local government councils and voivodeship offices are located. The results of the research, presented in the ensuing paper, show the activity of Youth Councils in the field of charitable work.

The Role of Women in Rural Development in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study examined the implication of lack of women empowerment and non-membership of organization in rural development in Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigated whether empowering women economically can increase their participation in rural development and whether women who belong to organizations contribute more to rural development projects more than those who do not belong to organizations. The ex-post survey method was adopted and 17 Local Government Councils in Enugu State were sampled. The respondents include 507 females and 458 males who were purposively selected from the sample areas through a multi-state sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was administered to elicit the desired responses. Data collected were processed through an econometric method that involves descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from the study showed that women’s rights much more than men’s are routinely ignored and infringed upon at different stages of their lives despite constitutional guarantees. The study found that awareness campaign was the most influential factor motivating women to participate in community development and therefore should be encouraged. The study also found that membership of co-operative societies was a mobilizing factor in community development. Based on these findings, the study recommended amongst others, that women education should be encouraged to empower more women to contribute to rural development in Nigeria.

Public Accountability and Rural Development: A study of Ebonyi State Local Government Councils, 2006-2014

Public Accountability and Rural Development: A study of Ebonyi State Local Government Councils, 2006-2014

State as Illusion?

Abstract Moral Economies of Corruption is an important intervention, and Steven Pierce provides an alternative way of viewing the long history of anticorruption programs in Nigeria. As Michael J. Watts' contribution discusses, there are a number of dangers that lurk in the discursive and performative orientation of the book. Sometimes the shifting character of what constitutes corruption produces less a systematic account of corruption than a history of shifting political cultures (much of which has, of course, been covered in a variety of ways by scholars of Nigeria). But if the purpose is to see the work that corruption undertakes, then it would also require a careful and granular accounting of the shifting pacts, coalitions, and political cartels linking the business world, the security forces, and the vast fiscal federalism composed of thirty-six states and seven-hundred-odd local government councils covering the last seven decades. The political settlements that have arisen through different conjunctures and across the turbulent history of oil busts and booms need to be clearly explicated if both state effects and the political work of corruption claims are to be fully realized.

Local Government and Primary Education in Nigeria: An Overview

Local government in Nigeria has constitutional responsibility in primary education; also, the state and federal government attend to all levels of education, including the primary education. Over the years, local and state governments have constituted the real actors in Nigeria primary education sector through the instrumentality of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and Local Government Education Authority (LGEA). Constitutionally and financially, local governments remain major actors in primary education, but practically, it is SUBEB who manage schools through LGEA with little or no consultation to local government council, regardless of their huge contributions. The paper intends to look at these challenges and reemphasis the contribution of Local government to Primary Education. Using the secondary method of data collection in form of content analysis, the paper revealed that Local government has contributed immensely to the functioning of primary education, both in mandatory and concurrent capacities with the state government especially in payments of teacher’s salary and allowances, provision of instructional materials, provision of classrooms and other infrastructures needed for the smooth running of primary education in Nigeria. The paper concluded that local governments remain the major actor and provider of primary education in Nigeria.Key Words: Primary Education, Local Government, UBEC, SUBEB, LGEA

Planning, implementation and evaluation of antenatal weight management programmes: What are the key components? A mixed methods study

ObjectiveTo provide an understanding of the influential components required for the planning, delivery and evaluation of antenatal weight management programmes for women who are overweight or obese. DesignTwo phase sequential explanatory mixed methods design comprising of an online survey and one-to-one telephone interviews. Setting and participantsAll UK maternity services (n = 168) and local government councils (n = 417). FindingsFrom the 378 responses, 49 maternity services and 28 local government councils reported having an antenatal weight management programme. Of the 62 responses that specified BMI as an inclusion criterion only two-fifths (40.3% n = 25) adhered to the recommended threshold to include women with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2. Although having a multi-disciplinary team was identified as fundamental when planning a programme, only 20.6% (n = 14/68) of the programmes involved service users during the planning phase. How the programme was communicated to a woman was a key factor which determined whether she partook in the programme or not. Having administrative support and staff with expertise in data collection were essential when evaluating a programme. Staff having protected time was identified as important when planning, delivering and evaluating a programme. Three overarching themes were identified from the individual interviews (n = 14) ‘choices and decisions’, ‘demands and resources’ and ‘engagement and disengagement’. Key conclusionsNational guidelines recommendations regarding service user involvement when planning programmes and the BMI threshold used for inclusion are not being met. In addition to having adequate time, personnel and finances, successful programmes are dependent on the confidence and communication skills of midwives to raise the issue of obesity with these women at the booking appointment. Without staff having the time and necessary knowledge and skills, evaluation, and hence demonstrating programme impact, will likely remain difficult. Organisational support is needed to release resources to plan, deliver and evaluate these programmes. Strategic communication strategies are needed to promote the programme to both women and staff within organisations. Future programmes need to ensure there is engagement with service users from the planning of the programme through to evaluation.

Time management: an antidote for efficient service delivery in public organizations in Nigeria. a study of Anambra State Local Government

Time is merely a convention, a convenient yardstick for measuring the flow of life and for indicating the transition of living. It helps us to plan our day to day activities and as such there is need for time to be allocated, utilized and controlled by the individual, groups or organizations. This paper therefore examined effect of poor time management on service delivery of the Anambra State local government councils. The paper relied on the secondary sources of data collection and discovered that factors such as politicized recruitment procedure, lack of employees’ participation in decision making, the mono culture economy, negative attitude to work among the local government workers as some of the factors which causes poor time management. However, in order to ensure proper time management for efficient service delivery the following recommendations were made. That should be adequate and proper motivation of the employees in form of higher remuneration and also the working environment should be conducive well. There should be effective delegation of functions, and training of workers. Keywords: Time Management, Service Delivery, Public Organization

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE VARIOUS MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN JIBIA AND KAITA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KATSINA STATE

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE VARIOUS MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN JIBIA AND KAITA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KATSINA STATE

Economic Importance and Widespread of Ectoparasites Infestation in Indigenous Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). A Study from Selected Local Government Councils and States in Nigeria

A cross sectional study was conducted from June 2016 to August 2017 to identify the widespread of ectoparasites in indigenous chickens and its associated economic significance in randomly selected Local Government Councils and States in Nigeria. A total of 1025 indigenous chickens were examined out of which 90.7% were infested with one or more ectoparasites species. Four types of ectoparasites genera were encountered in this study, 17.0% of the total chickens examined were infested with only one genera while 73.9% were infested with two or more different genera. Among the ectoparasites encountered, lice infestation (85.8%) was the most prevalent followed by mite (70.4%), Flea (27.3%) and tick (6.2%) in descending order of widespread. Ten different species of ectoparasites, namely Menopon gallinae, Lipeurus caponis, Goniodes gigas, Cnemidocoptes mutans, Dermanyssus gallinae, Epidermoptes species, Laminosioptes cysticola, Megninia species, Echidnophaga gallinacean and Argas persicus were identified in the study. Menopon gallinae (50%) was most frequently encountered while Megninia species (2.7%) was least prevalent. The findings of this study showed that ectoparasites infestations were highly prevalent among indigenous chicken flocks, which may likely affect their optimum productivity. Routine prevention and control of ectoparasites should be encouraged in the study areas.Key Words: Indigenous chickens, ectoparasites, infestations, selected local government councils and states in Nigeria.

Effect of Value for Money Auditing on Cost of Governance in Nigeria: Evidence from Local Government Councils in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The study examined the effect of value for money auditing on cost of governance in local government councils in Nigeria: The specific objectives were to determine how the effects of economy principle in procurement, effect of efficiency principle in utilization of resources and effect of effectiveness principle in budget implementation have affected cost of governance in local government councils in Nigeria. The researcher adopted cross-sectional survey design which made use of primary data obtained through the use of structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were administered to 167 senior staff in account and internal audit departments, but only 108 were returned and valid for the analysis of the study. Multiple regression method anchored on ordinary least square was employed in testing the hypotheses. The result of the analysis revealed that economy principle in procurement and effectiveness principle in budget implementation have significant effect on cost of governance, while efficiency principle in utilization of resources has no significant effect on cost of governance in local government councils in Nigeria. The implication of these findings is that a good number of local government administrators in Nigeria played their role in adhering to value for money auditing principles. The study therefore concluded that adherence to the principles of value for money auditing by local government administrators in Nigeria will reduce high cost of governance. The study recommended that the office of auditor general for local government should on regular basis review audit techniques to ascertain whether their intended purposes are being achieved economically, efficiently and effectively.

From the National Health Service to local government: perceptions of public health transition in England

ObjectivesIn England, in 2013, responsibility for some public health (PH) functions transferred from the National Health Service (NHS) to local government. This moved PH from a health-focussed into a broader and more politically oriented context. This article reports on the perceptions of those involved in this transition about how the PH function was changing as it transited to local government. Study designThis is a cross-sectional interview study. MethodsThe study included semi-structured interviews with 31 local government councillors, directors and deputy directors of PH, PH team members and members of clinical commissioning groups. Interviews and data analysis were informed by a theoretical framework, COM-B and an inductive and deductive approach was taken to identify relevant themes. ResultsThere was a mixed picture of perceived gains and losses for PH. The transition from NHS to local government was seen by some as a ‘homecoming’, providing the opportunity for PH to have further reach through influence and collaboration with departments like housing, transport and planning. The opportunity to promote evidence-based practice across local government was also seen as a positive aspect of the transition. However, professional roles of PH and individual PH practitioners were perceived to have less influence and autonomy than in the NHS, with some uncertainty about roles within local government. PH practitioners perceived the need to develop other skills to fulfil their roles in local government. Shorter timescales for action and pressure for faster responses were reported to be the reason for less emphasis on using PH evidence to inform policy and decision-making than hitherto in the NHS. ConclusionThis study illustrates a variety of consequences of transitioning from NHS to local government. There were perceived benefits afforded by proximity to related local government departments but at the costs of reduction in status for PH practitioners and working to a timescale which in some cases reduced drawing on scientific evidence.

Detecting and mapping traffic signs from Google Street View images using deep learning and GIS

Street traffic sign infrastructure remains an extremely difficult asset for local government to manage due to its diverse physical structure and geographical distribution. A spatial registrar of traffic infrastructure is currently a required component of local government councils' mandatory road management plans. Recent advancements of object detection technology in machine learning have presented an automated approach for the detection and classification of street signage captured by Google's Street View (GSV) imagery. This paper explores the possibility of using deep learning to produce an autonomous system for detecting traffic signs on GSV images to assist in traffic assets monitoring and maintenance. By leveraging Google's Street View API, this research offers an economic approach of building purposeful street sign computer vision datasets. A custom object detection model was trained to detect and classify Stop and Give Way signs from images captured at intersection approaches. Considering the output detected bounding box coordinates, photogrammetry approach was applied to calculate the approximate location of each detected sign in two-dimensional geographical space. The newly located and classified street signs can be combined with relevant spatial data for implementation into an asset management system. By combining GIS and the GSV API, the process is completely scalable to any level of street sign classification scope. The experiments conducted on the road network of study area recorded a detection accuracy of 95.63% and classification accuracy of 97.82%. Our proposed automated approach to the detection and localisation of street sign infrastructure has displayed a promising potential for its use by local government authorities. Our workflow can be used to detect other traffic signs and applied to other road sections and other cities. Of primary importance, this approach takes an entirely free and open-source approach throughout. The continuation of Google's Street View program will account for the spatiotemporal representation of street sign infrastructure for the ongoing maintenance and renewal programs of this valuable asset.

Controversies and Intrigues Behind the Introduction of Development Areas by Some State Governments in Nigeria: Matters Arising

It is known fact that various school of thought exists on whether the State government has the constitutional right to create development areas or not. Some are of the view that the creation of development areas is a way of bringing government closer to the people at the grassroots level while others considered such move as a way of siphoning public fund into private pockets Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the necessity or otherwise of introducing development areas within the existing constitutionally recognized local government councils at the State levels in Nigeria . In efforts to achieving the objective of this study, a qualitative technique of data collection and analysis of existing documents, reports, bulletin, records and official publications was adopted. At the end of the study, it was discovered that most States that created development areas are not faring better in terms of revenue generation, infrastructure development and provision of social amenities to citizens despites the supposedly benefits drivable from such decisions. In most cases, such initiative only succeeded in increasing the cost of governance through astronomical rise in the recurrent expenditures. In other words, statutory allocations meant for existing local councils are now being shared to development areas without any form of returns thereafter. Therefore, this study recommended for the scraping of development areas in order to channel available resources at the local councils to the implementation of viable projects that have direct bearing on improved standard of living for rural dwellers. DOI : 10.7176/PPAR/9-5-06 Publication date :May 31 st 2019

An Assessment of Solid Waste Composition and Management in Agbor and Its Implication on Human Health

The study assessed solid waste composition and how it is being managed in relation to health implications in Agbor, a nordal town in Delta State Nigeria. Survey design was used and both primary and secondary data were collected through stratified sampling technique. Solid waste management practices of respondents were generated through the use of six hundred and twenty five (625) copies of questionnaires in 8 sampling unit. The hospital report on malaria and typhoid were obtained from the medical records of central hospital, Agbor covering 1997-2011, and the solid waste composition was obtained through waste characterization and measurement. The data on solid waste management and composition were from the sanitary records of the Local Government Council, and private waste firm in Agbor called Total Resource Management Limited. The study results show 34.14% were traders, 22.14% were civil servants, 14.34% were farmers, and 29.38% were business men and women. The waste generated is 1594.11 kilogram. This shows that the total respondents of five thousand generated 1594.11 kilogram of solid waste daily. Baleke area has the highest rate of waste generated which was 223.43 kilogram; followed by Dr. Whyte area which generated 214.46 kilogram of solid waste daily. Edike area generated the highest amount of solid waste in the entire sampled areas, having 180.34 kilogram of solid waste generated daily. Food items were the greatest amount generated daily, with 1135.21 kilograms per day. Eighty five percent (85%) of malaria cases and 98.6% of typhoid cases in Agbor was consequent on solid waste composition. To enhance effectiveness in solid waste management in Agbor, the Local Government Authority should subsidize the amount of money paid for the services of private waste managers. The promulgation of punishable laws on the indiscriminate dumping of solid waste will help avoid the dumping of waste waterfront at road side and street drains.

Holding governments accountable for service delivery: the local government councils scorecard initiative in Uganda

Uganda’s Local Government Councils Scorecard Initiative is a strategic social accountability initiative designed to enable citizens to demand excellence of their local governments and enable local governments to respond to citizen demands for effective and efficient service delivery. Begun in 2009, it is one of the signature programmes of Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), a public policy research and advocacy think tank in Uganda. The initiative is implemented in partnership with the Uganda Local Governments Association. The centrepiece of the initiative is the local government council scorecard, a capacity-building tool for assessing the performance of district-level elected officials in accordance with roles and responsibilities set out in the Uganda’s Local Government Act 1997 (as amended). Incorporating multiple links in the supply and demand chain of good governance and accountability – citizens, civil society organisations, local government and central government – the administration of the scorecard and dissemination of performance results is grounded in an action research methodology. Follow the positive reception of the initiative after eight years of implementation in Uganda, it is hoped that other countries will look to adapt this methodology to engage in similar types of social accountability initiatives.

REVENUE DISTRIBUTION FROM FEDERATION ACCOUNT AND MONEY SUPPLY: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

AbstractMoney supply in every economy is very vital for economic growth and stability. However, the role of revenue distribution in ensuring the success of monetary policies revolving around money supply in Nigeria cannot be over-estimated. The study examines the impact of revenue distribution to the three tiers of government on money supply (MSS) in Nigeria. Time series data used for the study estimation span from 1981-2016 and were obtained from CBN statistical bulletin, 2016 edition and World Bank website. The specific purpose of the study is to establish the extent to which revenue allocation to federal, state, local governments and derivation allowance to the mineral producing states affect money circulating in the Nigerian economy. Ordinary least square method (OLS) was employed with the aid of SPSS version 20 to test the impact of revenue distribution on money supply. The findings reveal that revenue allocation to federal government has a significant positive impact on money supply. Allocation to local government councils has insignificant positive impact on money supply. On the contrary, allocation to states and the derivation allowance to Niger Delta States exert significant negative influence on MSS in Nigeria. The study concludes that, revenue allocation to states and derivation allowance contribute to inflation in the country and recommended stringent monetary policies that will determine the percentage of allocated revenue usage by all tiers of government in a particular period to avoid too much money in circulation. Keywords: Revenue distribution, allocation, money supply, economic stability, derivation.JEL CODE: E51, E64.

Independent Generated Revenue of Three Tiers of Government and Money Supply in Nigeria

<p><strong><em>Aim/Purpose:</em></strong><em> The purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence on the impact of independent generated revenue of the three tiers of government on money supply in Nigeria.</em></p><p><strong><em>Design/methodology/approach:</em></strong><em> The study employs ex post facto research design and makes use of annual time series data spanning from 1981 to 2017. The data have been sourced from CBN Statistical Bulletin 2017 edition and CBN Annual Reports while Ordinary Least Squares method is used to carry out the analysis with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.</em></p><p><strong><em>Findings:</em></strong><em> The results of the study indicate that Federal Government Independent Revenue (FGIR) and State government Independent Revenue (SGIR) influence money supply positively and significantly. On the contrary, the Local Government Independent Revenue has an insignificant negative impact on money supply.</em></p><p><strong><em>Research implications/Limitations:</em></strong><em> The implication of this finding is that if independent generated revenue under the jurisdiction of Local Government Councils in Nigeria is not properly regulated by the Monetary Authority in the country through a well-structured monetary policy measures, it will adversely affect the money supply. </em></p><p><strong><em>Originality/value/contribution:</em></strong><em> this study has been able to establish the influence of independent revenue of each tier of government in Nigeria on money supply. Most importantly, the study finds evidence that independent generated revenue of local government councils in Nigeria does not have positive influence on money supply in the country. Therefore, the study suggests that monetary policies in the country should incorporate local government optimal management of revenue to avoid unfavorable economic situations such as inflation which is prompted by too much money circulating in an economy.</em></p>