ABSTRACT
One of
the most fundamental reason why local government were established is to bring
government nearer to the local populace so as to serve as a conduit pipe for
national development as well as avenue for nation building. Ever since the
establishment of Local Government all over the country, it has undergone
various reformatory stages with a view to making it effective and vibrant in it
performance to the yearning and aspiration of the local people. Despite this,
the local government institution as a third tier of government since inception
have not fulfill its tasks as it claim to be the centre of national integration
owing to undue interference and bias-politicization of political actor in high
level of government. In view of this, the study tends to examine how local
government should play in bringing about development at the grassroots level as
well as national development.
The
study adopts primary and secondary data. The primary data consist of oral face
to face interview of key information from Ikeja Local Government council, which
consist of the Local Government Chairman, the Secretary, the Supervisory
Councilor for development and integration, traditional rulers, Political
Analyst, Local Government Developers and Intergovernmental Office for the Local
Government. The instrument of the
research is in-depth interview method. The secondary data consist of the
utilization of Library Archival Methods, Internet Browsing, Conference papers
and materials adequate to form good judgment of the work. The study also adopts
analytical approach, documentary, and descriptive concepts. The work is
situated on Theory of Integration.
The
study noted that Local Governments are relevant in national development. It
also observed that a lot of factors hindered the efficient performance of local
government functions, especially an undue interference from the tiers of
government. The research revealed that local government is crucial for national
development, which can be achieved through national integration.
Conclusively,
the development of the society and its rudiments are located in the management
of the affairs of local government. Thus, the ideal for local government to
plan and manage their own affairs at present and in the near future depends
wholly on how far the integration of local government into the national body
for development is assured. This is also because Local Government contributes
effectively for national development and national integration.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title
Page i Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement
iv
Abstract
v
Table
of Content vi
CHAPTER ONE - GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Introduction 2
1.2
Statement of Problems 2
1.3
Objectives of Study 4
1.4
Significance of Study 4
1.5
Literature Review 5
1.6
Scope of Study 6
1.7
Method of Data Collection
1.8
Limitation of Study 6
1.9
Organisation of Studies 7
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Conceptual Thoughts
2.2. Local Government and Conceptual Clarification
2.3 Ikeja Local
Government Administration
2.4 The Generalogy of Ikeja Local Govenrment
2.5 Administrative Structure and Departments
in Ikeja Local Government
2.6 Administration and Personnel Management
2.7. Works and Housing
2.8 Health and Environmental Services
2.9. Agriculture and Rural Development
2.10 Education
2.11 The Finance and
Supply
2.12 Others Sections/Units
CHAPTER
THREE
THE
GENERAL APPRASIAL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES
3.1 Function of the Local
Government
3.2 Finance of the
Local Government
3.3 The Traditional
Rulers and Institutions
CAPTER
FOUR: HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROBLEMS
4.1 The Role of Local
Government In social Political Economic
Development
4.2 The Problems of Local Government
4.3 The Future Local Government in Nigeria
CHAPTER
FIVE
CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Findings
5.2 Summary
5.3 Recommendation
5.4 Conclusion
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
One of
the major reasons of Establishing Local Government is to involve as much as
possible members of the local area in regulating and administering their own
affairs.
Hitherto,
it affords them the opportunity (people) to participate in the decision-making
and in execution of matters that affect them closely.
In
much the same way, the guideline for Local Government reform (Nigeria) of 1976
define it as government as the grassroots level exercised specific power within
defined area.
It is
therefore often felt that, the whole essence of creating local government is to
promote democracy and social mobilization, which will no doubt culminate in the
rapid process of social political and economic development. Hence, the
implementation of wide range of functions by the Local Government is no doubt a
function of national development. That is the more reason why local government
has been as the “loci of national development”.
The
importance of Local Government as conduit pipe for national development cannot
be underestimated in any nation. This is because local government contributes
to the creation of essential services to the local people’s employment
opportunity, local participation and mobilization seen in the center of
democracy.
Thus
Local Government is seen to be mediating both rural development as well as
national development, thus,
However,
the nature and character of local government currently in Nigeria had a
negative impact on the search for national development.
The
chequered history of local government since the emergence of native
administration all over the country till 1950’s when market changed in the
local government system began.
Presently,
the capacity of local government is castrated to the extent that it could not
play any role in the rapid process of development. The lingering controversy
between state and federal government on the creation of local government as
well as the high level of corruption between the state governors and local government
chairman lend credence to this assertion. In the episode of control of local
government, thereby continue to make mess of the local government.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF PROBLEMS
Giving
the crisis that bedeviled the Local Government through chequered and the
antecedent failure in bringing about the much needed national development for
Nigeria, the debate about the existence and future of local government is
gaining currency due to this background. Perhaps, core to the discussion is
that the future of local government in Nigeria is becoming uncertain.
The
1999 constitution and the effective Nigerian federalism lend credence to the
growing debate. As at now, it is becoming obvious that local government may not
be able to play any viable role or act as an agent of national development,
even as the various reforms of 1976 to 1989 were fundamental in giving a
foundation and template for the actualization of the essence of Local
Government as well as third tier of government.
However,
some questions raised are:
1.
What are the chequered histories of local
government?
2.
Why is the local government
system/administration in Nigeria becoming ineffective in mediating and
facilitating the rapid process of development, ever as the 1976 and 1989
reforms lend credence to local government system?
3.
Is it a truism that the contradiction in 1999
constitution of Nigeria, the terms of creation and control of local government,
the bone of its crises and deformities. Does it require a review?
4.
Is local government well funded by the federal
and state government as well as retaining its autonomy to doggedly pursue or
act as agent national development?
1.3 OBJECTIVES
OF STUDY
The
objectives of this research work among other things shall include the
following:
1. To
examine the exact chequered history of local government in Nigeria.
2. To
identify the constitution as it relates to local government establishment and
control.
3. To
highlight the role of local government in national development
4. To
provide the content and constitutional instrumentalities on which local
government could advance its institutional struggle and autonomy.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE
OF STUDY
The
significance of this study shall be predicated on the following:
Firstly,
to be able to search for growth oriented and development propelled local
government as an administration of national development.
Secondly,
to be able to determine who should control the local government between the
federal and state government so as to resolve the lingering crisis on local
government creation and control between the state and federal government.
Thirdly, to be able to emphasize the need for funding local government properly
with a view of playing somewhat vibrant role in local as well as national
development.
Fourthly,
to be able to canvas for reform and local government autonomy, such that local
government can retain its status as a third tier of government oriented
development propelled local government as an administration of national
development.
Fifthly,
to be able to determine who should control the local government between the
federal and state government so as to meet the lingering crisis on local
government creation and control between the state and federal government.
Sixthly, to be able to emphasize the need for funding local government properly
with a view of playing somewhat vibrant role in local as well as national
development.
Seventhly,
to be able to cause for reform and local government autonomy, such that local
government can retain its status as a third tier of government.
Finally,
it will close the gap in knowledge and foster national integration between the
local government and other tiers of government while extending the frontier of
knowledge.
1.5 METHOD
OF DATA COLLECTION
This
research will undertake both primary and secondary sources of data collections.
The
primary data will be obtained through the use of questionnaires, oral
face-to-face interviews and observations. In it questionnaire will be
administered to a sample of residents in Ogba, Oregun, ipodo, Anifowoshe,
Serikiaro, Allen Opebi and Isaleawori areas as well as personal interviews and
observations made within the community.
The
secondary data will be collected from text books, journals, conference papers
websites, newspaper reports and relevant materials.
In
all, two hundred (200) questionnaires would be administered to the resident in
different parts of Ikeja Local Government area.
Responses
to these questions would be collected and analyzed using sample percentage
rating. The research is a survey research. This research work is a descriptive
survey research in which only part of the residents were studied.
The
study was conducted in Ikeja Local Government which make up Ogba, Oregun,
ipodo, Anifowoshe, Serikiaro, Allen Opebi and Isaleawori areas of Lagos State.
The
accessible population for this study consisted of actual resident in the four
zones which made up ward F1 in Ikeja community.
The
instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. The questionnaire comprise
of twenty items which reflected the six research questions Most items on the questionnaire contained negative and positive
questions to avoid leading questions. The questions are structured in order to
assess the respondent’s knowledge about the local government. The respondents
were to indicate carefully and appropriately their response to the questions.
A
pilot test was conducted on the elements of the sample to ensure the validity
and reliability of the questionnaire. Based on the result obtained some
questions were validated by the project supervisor. And in the light of the
suggestions, corrections were made.
The
researchers visited the four areas of the study and administered the
instruments to the respondents personally. They waited for the respondents to
fill in their responses which enabled them to clarify issues. High percentage
returns was achieved hence, two hundred and fifty (250) completed
questionnaires were recovered.
The
simple percentage rating was used to analyze the responses to the questions.
This helped to know at a glance the general assessment of the respondents.
1.6. SCOPE OF STUDY
It is
within the confines of this study to examine local government administration
and national integration of development of the country in terms of nation
building. Premised on this, the work will cover 1999 to 2010 as its period of
investigation.
1.7 LIMITATION
OF STUDY
This
study shall be limited to the local government administration and national
integration. However, the unbridled nature of local government will no doubt
require us to reflect some germane issues, which will give a sound footing to
the research. Also, issues that will not be useful to the research will be
delimited.
1.8 ORGANISATION
OF STUDY
The
research work is divided into five chapters:
Chapter
one shall include: the background of the study, statement of
problems, statement of hypotheses, objectives of study, theoretical framework,
and organsiation of study.
Chapter
two shall be literature review of relevant concepts in the
study viz local government, local administration and local government autonomy.
Chapter
three shall examine local government administration. We shall
take cognizance of the history, administrative structure, function, finance
staffing and place of traditional rulers in the Ikorodu Local Government
Administration.
Chapter
four shall examine the role of local government administration
and national integration. It shall reflect on the problems local government
encounter which may likely affect its capacity in playing a key role in
national development as well as the prospects and future of local governments
in Nigeria.
Finally,
chapter five is the summary, conclusion and recommendation.
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