CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The
Nigerian 1999 constitution provides that local government must have full
freedom or autonomy to operate, these must be guaranteed and adequately
protected, and yet the local government
still depend on the federal and state government for resources even if it has
the ability to raise revenue through tax. If federalism from the perception of
mutual agreement by levels of government is to share power of the state in
formal constitutional and legitimate arrangement then government would have
understood why they need to make local government run properly. Without respect
for the powers of LG the separateness and independence that the operation
entails democracy will not make much progress. (Adeyemo, 2005).
Some
military regimes, especially under retired General Olusegun Obasanjo and
Ibrahim Babangida, Had through various pronouncements, guidelines and
constitutions, granted autonomy to local Governments. However, Local government
autonomy has become one of the most contentious issues in Nigerian federalism.
So contentious is the question of local Government autonomy that scholars are
sharply divided into two main camps. While on the one hand, some scholars and
practitioners posit that “the autonomy of local government should be
recognized, observed and put into practice (Larence, 1993).
On
the other hand, others strongly argue that “it would be most unwise to grant
autonomy to local government” (Wheare, 1959). As S.U Ugwu has reasoned the autonomy would
enable local government level to become “a true and effective third tier of
government, as enshrined in the constitution (Adeoye, 1977).
Globally,
various strategies and approaches have been adopted or used by government for
the purpose of good governance, and in their efforts at distributing the state
resources to reach the people at the grassroots. However, there has not been
congruence or general agreement on which strategy is the best, especially in
the administration of the rural areas.
Decentralization
constitutes the basic and principle basis for the establishment of Local
government. A renowned International scholar of Local Government, Manhood as
quoted in Dalhatu (2006) that "too much concentration of political and
economic power at one level would ultimately and inevitably lead to what he referred
to as managerial constipation". According to him, the basis of Local
government is inextricably woven around the principle of decentralization.
Local government is the product of decentralized administration. He further
defined decentralization as: an arrangement
by which the management of the public affairs of a country is shared by the
central/ state/province and local government in a manner that the Local
government is given reasonable scope to raise funds and to use its resources to
provide a range of socio-economic services and establish programmes to enhance
the welfare of those resident in its area of authority.
Politically,
decentralization involves the transfer of authority on a geographical basis and
is inform of de-concentration or devolution. Decentralization by devolution is
preferred in most nations - state in order to promote rapid development of the
country, this manifests itself in the establishment of local government. Most
nation-states avoid centralization because it inhibits the active political
participation of the citizens in the running of their own affairs, and could be
by implementation; results in a situation whereby despotism is extolled (Toyin
In Omale, 2005). This precisely explains why most countries of the world prefer
to decentralize their administration by devolution. It could be argued that
centralization of the government though may appear to strengthen its power and
grip over the people effectively; it may as well weaken the ability to use this
power and also completely erode the basis of its legitimacy. The power at the
centre is already over-burdened by so many problems of localities. Hardly could
any political issue, irrespective of its frivolities, be resolved without
reference to the power at the centre. Unnecessary meddling in or handling of
these problems of local concerns by the national government may prevent it from
dealing adequately with these problems. As such, it is imperative for an
appropriate mechanism for dispersal and conservation of political power, (Dalhatu,
2006).
The
above assertion brought to the fore-front the reason for decentralization and
on this basis, the justification for the existence of local government. As
asserted by Orewa and Adewumi (1992), the confusion had been on the form of decentralization
in which the local government system in Nigeria was based. Is it
decentralization by de-concentration or decentralization by devolution? This
issue is tenser when it comes to the issue of local government autonomy in
Nigeria. Therefore, this study examines the issue of Local government autonomy
in Nigeria fourth republic. This is with a view to understanding the intricacies
of the fundamental problem of local government autonomy in Nigeria. The paper
will also examine some of the inherent factors inhibiting local government
autonomy in Nigeria.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
It
is ironic that State Governors who are fighting for more powers to be devolved
to states from the Nigeria federation are to ones centralizing power, wanting
to control everything in their States, thereby stultifying the emergence and
growth of democratic participation and governance as well as control by the
grassroots populace over their lives and resources through autonomous and
functional local government administration. The State’s Legislative Houses of
Assembly are also engaged in the struggle to control local government
administration. As a result of this, most State Legislatures have clashed with
their Governors and local government councils in the past decade.
The
local Government (LG) system in Nigeria holds a critical role in the
consolidation of democracy in the country. But because of the ambiguities in
its status and responsibilities as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, and the
hue and cry that attended the generally poor performance of operators of the
local government system between 1999 to date, it has continued to dominate the
centre-stage of national discourses and certainly has been a serious source of
concern to policy makers and analysts alike.
For
Ekeng Anam – Ndu, certain problems such as lack of accountability, low caliber
of personnel and poor executive capacity have rendered local government
autonomy unnecessary.
The
problem of governance particularly at the local level has been a recurring
decimal in the political history of Nigeria. Local government in Nigeria
started during the colonial era when it was vested in the hands of traditional
rulers, and it operated in a very undemocratic manner. Over the years, efforts have been made to
democratize local government and make it more responsive to developmental
needs. Similarly, the problems of local government in Nigeria have been
documented and they include among other things, inadequate planning, poor
implementation of policies, inadequate revenue, corruption and mismanagement,
lack of adequate manpower, lack of autonomy, lack of participation by the
people and inter-governmental conflict.
The
1976 local government reform defines local government as: government at local
level exercised through representative council, established by law to exercise
specific powers within defined areas. These powers should give the council
substantial control over local affairs as well as the staff, institutional and
financial powers to initiate and direct the provision of services. To determine
and implement projects so as to complement the activities of the State and
federal governments in their areas, and to ensure, through these councils and
active participation of the people and their traditional institutions, that
local initiative and response to local needs and conditions are maximized.
Therefore,
this study is aim to critically investigate the Local Government Autonomy with
reference to Fourth Republic.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The
Overall objective of this study is to examine critically the Local Government
Autonomy reference to Nigeria’s fourth Republic. The following are the specific objectives of the study:
·
To appraise the Nigeria fourth republic
in relation to Local Government in Nigeria.
·
To investigate the size of local
government in Nigeria
·
To
examine the functions and responsibility of local government reference to
Nigeria fourth republic.
·
To examine the needs for local government in
Nigeria fourth republic.
·
To examine
the enhancement of local government functionality if there is full autonomy.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The
following research questions are meant to serve as a guide to proffer direction
and possible solution to the topic of research.
i.
Is there any appraise Nigeria fourth
republic in relation to Local Government in Nigeria?
ii. What
are the sizes of local government in Nigeria?
iii. What
are the functions and responsibility of local government in Nigeria fourth
republic?
iv. Is
there a need for local government in Nigeria fourth republic?
v. Would
local governments enhance their functionality if there is full autonomy?
1.5
RESEARCH HYPOTHSIS
H0;
There is no significant relationship between Local government autonomy and Nigeria fourth Republic.
H1;
There is significant relationship between Local government autonomy and Nigeria
fourth Republic.
H0;
There is no significant relationship between transparency and accountability of
local government references to Nigeria fourth Republic
H1; There is significant relationship between transparency
and accountability of local government references to Nigeria fourth Republic
1.6 METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
This research study used
basically utilize secondary data from central bank of Nigeria (CBN), federal of
office of statistics (FOS), symposia text, coupled with journals from Nigeria
Economic Society and tips from Encyclopedia. Besides, data were gathered from
other secondary sources such as the
electronic media i.e internet, which provide a rich source of information;
Articles, write ups, News reports in human right and economic development were
properly utilized in order to arrive at a tangible conclusion
1.7 SCOPE & LIMITATION OF THE
STUDY
This
study will appraise the local government autonomy Using Nigerian Forth Republic
as a case Study. Nigeria’s Fourth
Republic, which has witnessed four general elections (1999, 2003, 2007, and
2011), is yet to show profound evidence of a growing democracy, All of these
elections were marked with controversies, just as their processes and end
products encountered credibility and legitimacy crises.
1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
In
view of the persistent call for true Federalism in Nigeria, which in 2012 has
reached a crescendo in pitch, as suggested by the search for integration of
states in the southwest and various contentious debates on fiscal Federalism by
State Governments in Nigeria between January and March 2012, a study on
Federalism in relation to Local Governments is imperative and timely. States
want to develop themselves at their own pace while others content that they are
not getting enough from the Central Government.
The
purpose of this study is
·
To appraise the Nigeria fourth republic
in relation to Local Government in Nigeria.
·
To investigate the need for local
government in Nigeria fourth republic
1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This research study would be divided into five
chapters; Chapter one would give a general introduction to
the study. Chapter two would concentrate on the review assessment of the available
and relevant literature on the whole topic. Chapter three will present the
local Government in Nigeria’s inter Governmental relation under the 1999
constitution. Chapter four will focus on the challenges of local government
administration in Nigeria. Chapter five will summarize the whole study and
drawn its major conclusion and recommendation.
1.10 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF
TERMS
NIGERIA FOURTH REPUBLIC: is the republican
government of Nigeria.
Since 1999 it has governed the country according to the fourth republican constitution.
CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT:
This is not only the first but the
mega-government which exercise exclusive powers and its superior to both the
State and Local Governments.
GOVERNMENT: This is the agency of the ruling class which
is charged with the responsibility of exercising the state powers on behalf of
the people.
OBJECTIVES:
This is the end-result to which an
organization or government’s activity is to be directed. Objectives are hierarchical in nature and are
determined or formulated after economic social and political forces affecting
the organization have been appraised.
DEVELOPMENT: It is the qualitative and qualities,
self-improvement of man that applies to whole societies and people. It means the removal of obstacles to the
progressive or qualitative transformation of man and such obstacles include hunger,
poverty, ignorance, disease, mal-nutrition, unemployment, to mention but a few.
ADMINISTRATION: Administration is determined action taken in
pursuit of conscious purpose. It is the
systematic ordering of affairs and the calculated use of resources, aimed at
making those things happen which we want to happen and simultaneously
preventing developments that fail to square with our intentions. It is the marshalling of available labour and
materials in order to gain that which is desired at the lowest cost in energy,
time and money.
INTER-GOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS: The
interactions that exist among various levels/tiers of government within a state
and eventually the state in question has to be associated with a Federal
system.
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