Local Government System In Nigeria Research Articles

Financial Autonomy: Panacea for Improved Service Delivery in Imo State Local Government System

Local governments in Nigeria have been criticized for their low performance despite the huge revenue being injected into the system. This study offers an explanation for the remote causes of the failure of the local government system in Nigeria, using selected local governments across the three senatorial districts in Imo State as a frame of reference. The study argues that lack of financial autonomy, systemic corruption, and inadequate funding are the major hindrances crippling efforts to improve service delivery for the benefit of those residing in the localities. It further argues that while the internal sources of revenue available to local governments are not sufficient to provide essential services to rural dwellers, the relatively meaningful external sources are controlled by higher tiers (state and federal) of government in Nigeria. It uses mixed methods to generate and analyze data, and sources of data include available literature, responses from interviewees, and personal experience as a one-time active player in the local government system in Imo State. The examination of available literature and data analysis discovers that there is a lacuna in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which the higher tiers cash in on to manipulate the crucial third-tier governments. It is, therefore, the conclusion of this study that improvement in service delivery can be tremendously achieved when the third tier enjoys financial autonomy commensurate with the services it renders to the local communities.

Financial Autonomy: Panacea for Improved Service Delivery in Imo State Local Government System

Local governments in Nigeria have been criticized for their low performance despite the huge revenue being injected into the system. This study offers an explanation for the remote causes of the failure of the local government system in Nigeria, using selected local governments across the three senatorial districts in Imo State as a frame of reference. The study argues that lack of financial autonomy, systemic corruption, and inadequate funding are the major hindrances crippling efforts to improve service delivery for the benefit of those residing in the localities. It further argues that while the internal sources of revenue available to local governments are not sufficient to provide essential services to rural dwellers, the relatively meaningful external sources are controlled by higher tiers (state and federal) of government in Nigeria. It uses mixed methods to generate and analyze data, and sources of data include available literature, responses from interviewees, and personal experience as a one-time active player in the local government system in Imo State. The examination of available literature and data analysis discovers that there is a lacuna in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which the higher tiers cash in on to manipulate the crucial third-tier governments. It is, therefore, the conclusion of this study that improvement in service delivery can be tremendously achieved when the third tier enjoys financial autonomy commensurate with the services it renders to the local communities.

Local Government System in Nigeria: Legal, Fiscal and Political Overview

Since the return to civil rule in 1999, there has been sustained agitation for granting local governments autonomy as a prescription for them to deliver efficiently and effectively their assigned responsibilities. Thus, the article examines the local government system in Nigeria from both legal, fiscal, and political viewpoints. It focuses on how the context affects their structure, financial management, capacity, and performance. A combined reading of the provisions of the 1999 constitution, judicial and extra-judicial pronouncements will be revealed that everything relating to supervision, monitoring, and control of local governments in Nigeria is the prerogative of the state governments. The constitution charges the state governments to ensure their existence under a law, specifying their functions, structure, finances, and composition. Through qualitative study, drawing from the literature on the local government system in Nigeria and in-depth interviews with government officials and experts, the paper established that the extent to which state governments are administering and performing oversight activities over their local governments has significantly limited local governments in several ways. This explains the incessant agitation for granting local governments autonomy. Therefore, the paper recommends far-reaching reforms that will instil a viable local government system capable of harnessing local resources towards effective and efficient service delivery. However, it cautioned the efficacy of granting local governments autonomy as canvassed by several stakeholders, given how intertwined the assigned responsibilities of both state and local governments are.

The Evolution of a Democratic Local Government System in Nigeria

As a tier of government that is closet to the people, local government ought to become the foundation for democratic practices. Rather for this level of government to exercise independence in power...

Caretaker Committee and Performance of Local Government Council in Anambra State

The study focused on the caretaker committee and performance of local Government Council in Nigeria: A study of Anambra State 2008 - 2013. In Nigeria federal structure, the three levels of government have legislative responsibility for various services and functions. The fourth schedule of the constitution outlines the functions and responsibilities of local government. The objective of the study is to: determine if the imposition of the caretaker committee system is a constitutional provision of the local government system in Nigeria especially Anambra State; to determine if the adoption of the caretaker committee by the state government affected the capacity of local government to perform its functions. The theoretical framework adopted focused on structural functional theory propounded by Gabriel Almond and J.S. Coleman in 1960. The study adopted descriptive research design and relied heavily on both primary and secondary data. Questionnaire was the major instrument for data collection and data were analyzed by the use of mean. Based on the data analysis, the following findings were made: the imposition of the caretaker committee system by state government to local governments is unconstitutional, the adoption of the caretaker committee by state government endangered the local government system capacity to perform its constitutional function. The study recommended amongst others that the use of or appointment of local government caretaker committee should be condemned, caretaker committee should be made to spend only three months to allow for a constitutionally elected local government executive.
 Keywords: Local Government, Caretaker, Committee, Grassroots, Performance.

A Systematic Review of the Challenges of Local Government Administration in the Development of Rural Communities in Ezza-North LGA, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Local government system in Nigeria was established and empowered to engender socio-economic development in the rural areas. However, despite the constitutional backing and resources accruing to it, local government has not performed much in terms of rural development as many rural communities still lack amenities and infrastructure needed for quality living. This study reviewed the challenges of local governments' administration in the development of rural communities in Ezza-North LGA, Ebonyi State. Documentary analysis was employed in the review of the concept, evolution, and challenges of local governments as well as social work implications of the study. The study revealed that lack of fund, corruption, lack of autonomy etc.were the major challenges of local governments in Nigeria. The study recommended that full autonomy should be granted to local governments to enable them perform better. Social workers should work as a link between the government and the rural populace for effective service delivery.

Local Government Performance under a Federal System: The Nigerian Experience

This paper examines the local government practice under the federal system of government in Nigeria. It highlights the performance of local government system in Nigeria as a federal entity. It accounts for the circumstances which underline the performance of the local government system in Nigeria and the impact on its efficiency and effectiveness. The secondary method of collecting data has been adopted in this paper and data collected were subjected to further documentary analysis. David Easton’s systems theory is employed as the theoretical framework. The findings reveal that because the practice of federalism in Nigeria has failed to take into account the heterogeneous composition of its peoples, it adopted a uniform system of local government which has failed to make impact on the people within their localities. The paper recommends enthronement of genuine and practical democratic federal cultures across the country and a fundamental review of the laws that created the Nigerian local government system with a view to evolving fewer but stronger local governments that are relatively independent, functional and adapted to meet peculiar local needs.

Poor Performance of Local Government System in Nigeria : Interrogating Fiscal Relations among the Tiers of Government (2000 - 2018)

Poor Performance of Local Government System in Nigeria : Interrogating Fiscal Relations among the Tiers of Government (2000 - 2018)

Solid Waste Management and Public Health Challenges: Appraisal of Local Government Capacity to Achieve Effective Environmental Governance

Solid waste management is an essential social service of the local government system in Nigeria. The lack of adequate funding of the local governments has created a situation where most of the cities are dirty as solid waste is disposed indiscriminately resulting to various public health issues. The establishment of the ecological fund has not provided effective relief to the problems of environmental governance, including solid waste management. The study examined the relationship between solid waste management and public health challenges in Ibadan city, Nigeria. The study adopted survey design, while the population of study was Ibadan city in Oyo State, Nigeria. Quantitative data was collected using validated questionnaire with response rate of 100%. Correlation coefficient and ANOVA were employed in the testing of the hypotheses. The study found that there was significant relationship between Politicization of Waste Management and Public Health Challenges (r = .325, p<.05). In addition, there was significant relationship between Ineffective Management of Solid Waste and Public Health Challenges (r = .662, p<.05). Indiscriminate Disposal of Solid Waste, Politicization of Solid Waste and Ineffective Management of solid waste had joint significant effect on Public Health Challenges (F(3, 296) = 22.078, Adj. R2 = .696, p<0.05). The study concluded that the politicization of solid waste management in the selected local governments had resulted in ineffective management of solid wastes, with the residents being exposed to several public health challenges. It was recommended that there should be improved funding of the waste management agencies to enable them adopt modern waste disposal techniques.

STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA

This paper examined the structural challenges and local government development in Nigeria. Local governments system in Nigeria, has taken different forms from one period to the other. There were series of reforms in the Nigerian local government system aimed at addressing the structural deficiency inherent in the third tier of government in Nigerian federation. Suffice it to say that, the development of local government in Nigeria is almost becoming an illusion as local governments faced with multifarious structural challenges which serve as impediments to its development. The study that relied on secondary data sources through a comprehensive review of relevant literature on the subject of discussion. The paper identified constitutional crises, undue political interference amongst others as major constraints to local government development in Nigeria. The paper submits that there is need to restructure the present local government system in Nigeria by going back to multi-tier local government in the 1950’s. Areas of contribution to its development were also identified and conclude that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be amended to enable State Governments and the various State Houses of Assembly loosen their firm grip on the local governments in order to allow the local government authorities take initiative that will enhance its growth and development.

Local Government Autonomy In Nigeria: Struggles And Challenges

The history and development of local government system in Nigeria passed through two major administrative phases; the pre-colonial and colonial era which influenced de-concentration and the post-independence and 1976 era which was characterized by devolution of authority. Reforms were introduced but were characterized with some challenges. The study, therefore examined the trends, patterns and development of local government system in Nigeria. The researchers primarily made used of secondary source of information. At the end it was discovered that the tier is faced with constitutional problems, and it was recommended for review of 1999 constitution.

The search for viable local government system in Nigeria: an interrogation

The history of the Nigerian local government system has been one long episode of trails and errors aimed at achieving viable local government institution without much success. Local government in the country began its long series of reforms from the colonial period when the colonial government attempted to de-concentrate the local administration as a basis for socio-economic development of the Nigerian state. With the shift in the mandate of local government from being primarily extractive, law and order agency to one engaged in grassroots development, the objective came to be re-defined as comprising bringing government closer to the people. However, the success of the local government as a veritable tool for grassroots development is largely dependent on its viability. This paper was thus inspired by the desire to interrogate why the search for viable local government system in Nigeria has been futile since the country’s political independence with a view to proffering the pathway to sustainable viable local government system capable of ensuring effective grassroots development and transformation in the country.Keywords: Local Government, Search, Viable, System, Interrogation, Development, Transformation

Local government administration in Nigeria: the search for relevance

In the general discourse on the local government system in Nigeria, two major influences are notable: the intervention of the military in politics, and the 1976 reform of local government. However, the 1979 constitution, which provided the legal framework for the 1976 reforms, plunged the local government system into a crisis of identity, and ever since local government in Nigeria has remained an idea in search of relevance. This paper examines both the inherent weakness of the constitutional foundation and the contradictions created by the 1976 reforms. Using a theoretical analysis, the paper finds that the combined effects of constitutional gaps and reform contradictions have rendered Nigeria’s system of local government an unfortunate ‘orphan’, and that, lacking a strong constitutional foundation, local government in Nigeria has been subject to the whims of both state and federal governments. The paper argues that, despite numerous constitutional developments, current constitutional provisions for local government in Nigeria leave much to be desired. The recommendations to improve the system include that: local government should be given the status of a federating unit in the constitution, with its powers and functions clearly spelt out; the constitutionally mandated State Joint Local Government Account (SJLGA) should be abolished; and the constitution should be amended to create a chapter which guarantees the identity and autonomy of local government as a third tier of government.

Effecting Checks and Balances of Powers in the Local Government System in Nigeria : A Critical Discourse on the Experience and the Implications for Good Governance

The existence of the doctrine of separation of powers is very much aspired for in contemporary democratic governance Desired even more is the operation of its corollary principle of checks and balances of powers. In Nigeria, there exists separation of powers among the three arms of government. However, the critical concern is on the extent to which the principle of checks and balances is achieved in reality. Against this background, the study generally discussed the need and requirements of the doctrine of separation of powers, critically and specifically examined the practical operation of checks and balances with special focus on the local government system and particularly as it should obtain between the executive and the legislative arms. Following the analysis in the study, the conclusion is that there is no significant operation of checks and balances of powers between the executive and legislative arms in the local government. This situation results to recklessness, abuse of power and general misgovernance characterized by flagrant unaccountability of public resources. The major constraints to the effective operation of checks and balances in the local government system include one party membership of the legislators and the executives, fraudulent election of people into the legislative and executive arms and the pervasive prebendal culture among the legislators and the executives. Key measures recommended to enhance effective checks on the executive powers include strengthening the capacity of the legislators for legislative duties through trainings and workshops, ensuring free and fair election into the legislative and executive political offices and the legislative arm ensuring that it maintains its independence from the executive arm with the latter too being less disinclined to control the former. The study in its method of data collection relied mainly on secondary sources of information and consequently anchored its analysis, findings and conclusion on content analysis technique.

State-Local Government Fiscal Relations : Implications for Local Government System in Nigeria

Since the inception of the system of local government in Nigeria, there had been persistent clamour for the autonomy of the local government as the third tier of governance in the federation. It is interesting to note that even the federal government has in recent times joined in championing the course of local government autonomy. In order to strengthen the autonomy and philosophy of government at the local level, The Federal government guaranteed the statutory nature of local government by embodying it in the 1979 constitution. Even the military administration of General Ibahim babangida from 1986 took bold steps to strengthen the autonomy of local government. By January 1988, good measures of autonomy came the way local government with the scrapping of the state ministries of local government throughout the country thus removing the political control and bureaucratic red-tapism perpetuated by these state ministries. It has been stated earlier in the paper that the Act which established the State Joint Local Government Account (SJLGA) was passed in 1981 by the National Assembly but the eventual domestication and implementation of the provisions of the Act by the states in the federation only took effect in the early years of the Fourth Republic when State House of Assembly passed the SJLGA laws to give effects to that constitutional provisions. The paper explored these issues.

Critical Issues in the Internal Management of the Local Government System in Nigeria

Critical Issues in the Internal Management of the Local Government System in Nigeria

Ethno-communal Conflict and the Local Government System in Nigeria: A Desideratum of Peace Building

Ethno-communal conflict is a major bane of the Nigerian local government system. This paper examined the social and political conditions that predispose communities and groups to conflict, the impact of conflict on the citizenry and how it vitiates development. A descriptive research design was used. The study was conducted in Nigeria between February 2012 and March 2013. Being an ex-post facto research, relevant documents on ethno-communal conflict, peace building and the Nigerian local government were consulted. The critical study, analysis and evaluation of opinions, data and other information formed the basis for explaining and understanding ethno-communal conflict, its persistence and the failure of the local government to build peace. Relevant statistics were presented to substantiate the position. Using qualitative and quantitative content analysis, the findings showed that Nigeria local government system failed to mobilize for citizenship training, reduce poverty, social discrimination and build peace and security. Statistics showed that poverty increased among the rural dwellers in Nigeria. Out of a rural population of 65 million, 17.1 million live below the poverty line with 27.2% poverty incidence in 1980. In 2010, out of the 163 million rural dwellers, 112.47 million live below the poverty line and 69% poverty incidence. Other poverty indices used showed that food

Alternatives to the Predatory Local Government System in Nigeria

Alternatives to the Predatory Local Government System in Nigeria

Traditional rulers and local government in Nigeria: a pathway to resolving the challenge

This paper examines the problem of integrating traditional rulers into the contemporary local government system in Nigeria with a view of resolving the problems arising from the tradition/modernity nexus in the present scheme. Two basic questions guided this work. The first relates to the relevance of indigenous traditional institutions to the challenges of contemporary democratic processes. The second relates to whether traditional modes of thought, behaviour and institutions constitute resources or impediments to the projects of modernisation and development. This paper concludes that the goal of modernisation is to generate rapid increase in social wealth and its driving force is economic development; and where traditional institutions are able to contribute positively to this goal, their input should not be jettisoned.

Rethinking the Role of the Military in the Modernisation of the Nigerian Local Government System

In the developed countries, the military is identified largely for their role in the defence of the country from external aggression and helping out with internal security when the need arises. On the contrary, in a number of developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, when the military is mentioned, their traditional defence and internal security functions get obscured in their political role. For a thirty-year period (1966 – 1999), Nigeria was in this category of countries where the military have combined their constitutional role of defence of the country with that of political governance. While the participation of the military in governance has substantially fizzled out world wide, their impact on the socio-economic and political evolution of the countries concerned have been enormous. This paper critically examines the local government system in Nigeria midwifed by the military in the three decades of their rule; the initial emphasis on efficiency-oriented administration at the local level, the effort which culminated in the 1976 local government reform and the issue of whether the military can serve as modernizers in developing countries. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n13p15