LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AUTONOMY IN NIGERIA
BY
WAHAB BABATUNDE TEMITOPE
B.SC (ED)
JUNE
2015
Published
Online By
©
2014 Wahab Babatunde
NIGERIA: 07061003413
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7061003413
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AUTONOMY IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This
study reveals that Local governments are not sovereign and independent
entities. Which used basically secondary data. Essentially Local governments
are subordinate government driving the
existence and power from law enacted by a superior government. The nature and
structure of transactions or interactions between the three tiers of government
determine the degree of autonomy. Thus,
while the 1979, and 1999 Constitutions recognise the local government as a
third tier of government, subject to the control of State governments, the
abuse of these provisions in the Constitutions, especially by the State
government, has brought to the fore-front the question of local government
autonomy. Therefore, the only option is a review of the Constitution.
Provisions should be put in place to check the loopholes that give room for
such abuses by the State governments.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
1.2
Statement
of the Problem
1.3
Aims and Objectives of the Study
1.4
Research Questions
1.5
Methodology of the Study
1.6
Scope of the Study
1.7
Significance of the Study
1.8
Organisation of the Study
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0
Introduction
2.1 Conceptual
Framework
2.1.1 Local Government Administration
defined
2.2 Historical
Development of Local Government
Administration in Nigeria
2.3 History of Local
Government Development in Nigeria
2.4
Local Government reforms in Nigeria
2.5
Challenges of Local Government Administration In
Nigeria
2.6 Theory of
Inter-Governments Relations
2.7 The Concept of Autonomy
2.7.1 The Quest for Local
Government Autonomy
2.8 Local Government Reforms
2.8.1 The 1976
Reform
2.8.2 The 1991 Reforms
2.9 Limitation of Local
Government Autonomy
2.9.1 Problems of
Sustaining Local Government Autonomy
2.10 Theoretical
Framework
2.10.1 Theoretical
Postulation
CHAPTER THREE: LOCAL GOVERMENT IN INTER- GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Models of Inter -Governmental Relations in
Nigeria
3.2 Local Governmental in
Nigeria’s Inter- Governmental
Relation Under The 1999
Constitution
CHAPTER FOUR: LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY IN NIGERIA
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Local Government
Autonomy
4.3 Local Government
Autonomy: The Nigerian Experience
4.4 Impediments to Local
Government Autonomy
4.5 Discussion of
Finding
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND
CONCLUSION
5.1
Summary
5.2
Conclusion
5.3
Recommendations
References
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the
Study
Local
Government Councils are created and given powers and functions sanctioned by
the Federal or state Government. The local government consists of usually
democratically elected persons who are responsible to the local populace. Prior to independence, local Government in
Nigeria were ran by mostly British District Officers and the Local chieftains.
However by independence, it was discovered that most of these chiefs and
traditional rulers were elderly and illiterate and this lead to the creation of
local government. Local Government council are corporating with perpetual
succession, that is, they exist legally like individual, with the power to sue
and to be sued in court of law. A corporation therefore doesn’t exist as a
legally entity to carry out any other
functions apart from these for
which it was created (Orewa, 2003).
Although
local government have been in existence in one form or another in Nigeria for
quite sometimes, it was after a number of reform were affected, that they
acquired the respectable status of that they now enjoy. These reforms outline the importance
of local government reforms. These reform measures have brought about the
structural and financial changes in the government and it has also remained an
invaluable reference point for subsequent reform measures that have been
introduced in this country (Adekunle, 2004).
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. Decentralisation 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 decentralised 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 from a
historical perspective. This is with a view to understanding the intricacies of
the fundamental problem of local government autonomy in Nigeria. The study will
also examine some of the inherent factors inhibiting local government autonomy
in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problems
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 in
Nigeria.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The
Overall purpose of this study is to examine critically the Local Government
Autonomy in Nigeria. The
following are the specific objectives of the study:
v To discus local government autonomy in perspective.
v To
examine the issue of Local government
autonomy in Nigeria from a historical perspective
v To discuss the influences the kind of autonomy that both the
federal and state governments entrust to the local government
v To
outline the inherent factors inhibiting local government autonomy in Nigeria.
v To discuss the impediments
to local government 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.
v What is local government autonomy?
v What
are the issue of Local government autonomy in Nigeria from a historical
perspective
v What influences the kind of autonomy that both the federal and
state governments entrust to the local government?
v What
are the inherent factors inhibiting local government autonomy in Nigeria.
v What are the impediments to local government autonomy?
1.5 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
1.6 Scope and
Limitation of the Study
This
study will appraise the local government autonomy in Nigeria. The study will discuss the Local government
autonomy in Nigeria from a historical picture, effect and impart of local
government autonomy. This is with a view to understanding the intricacies of
the fundamental problem of local government autonomy in Nigeria.
Certain
limitations are anticipated in the causes of this study, this include inadequate
fund, inadequate time, death of materials among others factors.
1.8 Significance of the
Study
The
outcome of this study will be useful to academic, educators, governmental and
non – governmental organization, civil societies and the general public. It will shed more light on the effect of
autonomy of local government in Nigeria, its implication on the survival of
democracy, the need to curb local government challenges and problems among
other things. The study will also fuel further research into the study, and act
as consulting materials to other researcher.
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 history of local government development in Nigeria. Chapter four
will focus on the politics of local Government Autonomy in Nigeria Reloaded.
Chapter five will summarize the whole study and drawn its major conclusion and
recommendation.
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