Local government autonomy and development of localities in nigeria. The paper will also examine some of the inherent factors inhibiting local government autonomy in nigeria. Exploring the nexus jide ibietan1, peter ndukwe2 abstract the main objective of this paper is to examine the nature and challenges of local government admini stratio n in nigeria using the localist theory as framework of analysis. Oshiomholes claim of local government autonomy is unfounded. The dual problem of usurpation of revenue generating functions of local. Local governments in nigeria like many other states across the world are created and meant to bring governments closer to people at local and grass root levels. Autonomy of local government and the place of the 4th tier government community government councils in nigerias vision 20. So to speak, the local government is the closest structure to the people since it has to do with the grassroots. Local government autonomy bill news latest breaking stories. Aug 06, 2018 problems and prospect of local government administration in nigeria in nigeria, local government is the third tier of the administrative structure, following the federal and the state government. Department of public administration ahmadu bello university, kongocampus, zaria kaduna state, nigeria. Autonomy of local government and the place of the 4th tier government community government councils in nigeria s vision 20. Local government administration in nigeria is classified as the third tier.
Pdf on may 31, 2018, ahmed wali doho and others published local government autonomy in nigeria. Newly elected lagos state local government and local council development area chairmen have resumed work following the administration of oaths of office on them, on tuesday, july 25, 2017. The autonomy of local governments and the place of the 4th. Nigerian federalism and local government autonomy chapter one introduction 1. This is despite the fact that autonomy is one of the prerequisites for a smooth running of the local government system. Local government autonomy news latest breaking stories. Federal principle and local government autonomy in nigeria. Jan, 2017 to make the local government areas viable and functional within the federation called nigeria, i suggest that rather than continue to toy with the impracticable idea of autonomy, the constitution should be amended by the appropriate authorities to divest the state governments of the powers to conduct local government elections. Challenges%20and%20strategies%20for%20local% 20governments. They operate with the powers left over from the state government which is very little so they dont. The authors further assessed the extent of decentralization and inter governmental relations in nigeria impact on the local.
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. To accomplish this task, we were able to determine if the structure of intergovernmental financial relations. This report an outcome of an expert group meeting held on the challenge of local government financing in developing countries documents both the challenges and solutions related to the ability of local governments to mobilize revenues from local resources. Problems and prospect of local government autonomy in. However, this idea seems defeated by the inadequacies such as lack of autonomy and other challenges facing the local government system in nigeria. Download undergraduate projects topics and materials accounting, economics, education.
Jan 23, 2009 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 intergovernmental conflict. The problems of autonomy and control in local government in nigeria. In nigeria, since the 1976 local government reform, and subsequent. Read all the latest news, breaking stories, top headlines, opinion, pictures and videos about local government autonomy bill from nigeria and the world on today. To ascertain if federalism guarantees local government autonomy. Pdf i the problems and prospects of revenue generation in. Evolution of local government systems in nigeria the history of local government systems in nigeria dates back to colonial days. The local government system was conceived to bring government and development closer to the grassroots, unfortunately midway it turned out to be the cashcow of. The objective of this study is to examine local government financial autonomy and how local councils can. It is a clear demonstration of element of autonomy being enjoyed by each tier of government.
The topical issue of local government lg autonomy in nigeria in relation to the development of the localities, the raison detre of lgs, has been examined in this paper. Developmental local government challenges and progress in. Local government administration in nigeria problems and. Model and determinants of statelocal governments relations in. Many studies that have attempted to address the problem of poor performance of local governments in nigeria offer various reasons including the issue of lack of democracy and autonomy. Brief history of local government in nigeria legit. Local government autonomy in nigeria essay 998 words. Using theoretical analytical method, the paper found that local government system in nigeria has been an unfortunate orphan under the state and federal government. The everreoccurring need for a good evaluation of local government autonomy in nigeria, its problems and prospects has always been a major problem confronting many researchers. Local government administration in nigeria has been in existence since 1972 and its primary function is to bring government nearer to. It was created to bring government closer to the grassroots and give the people a sense of belonging. The report also identifies successful governance mechanisms for efficient.
Local governments in nigerias federal system rank the lowest in the hierarchy under both federal and state levels. The three of them are involved in delivering dividends of democracy to the people. Nigerian federalism and local government autonomy project. Problems and prospect of local government autonomy in nigeria, largest undergraduate projects repository, research works and materials. The scope and future of local government autonomy in nigeria. In other words, what are the defining characteristics of local government autonomy. 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. The objective of this study is to examine local government financial autonomy and how local councils can be free from induce interference by the state, especially in the area of operation, state local government joint account which gives the state government undue advantage over local government. The local governments function under numerous administrative legal and financial controls exercised by the superior state government. A critical evaluation with abstract, chapter 15, references and questionnaire. The current structure of the local government system is relatively new and it was preceded by the preinterim phases of local. The local government is the third tier of government. An overview of local government autonomy and its functions in nigeria. The crisis of local government autonomy in nigeria is a recurrent issue.
But despite constitutional provisions that specify the powers of each level of government in nigeria, local governments are suffering from lack of autonomy. The paper, therefore, suggests a new focus in which the emphasis should be on the desirability or otherwise of substantial autonomy for local governments in nigeria. It posits that the lack of autonomy in local governance has contributed immensely to the goal attainment problems of the local government. The focus of the paper is on autonomy induced governance problems of local government. This paper probes into recurring problems that generate igr conflicts and confrontations between state and local government in nigeria the. Problems and prospect of local government autonomy in nigeria. The issue of local government autonomy is one of 32 areas proposed by the national assembly in the ongoing effort to amend the constitution. Local government autonomy news latest breaking stories and. Yet constitutionalisation of local government or the so called third tier status of local government is meant to at least solve the problem of democracy and. Proceeding from theoretical framework and conceptualizations for clearer understanding, the paper discusses some dominant autonomy issues. Problems and challenges of practicing local government autonomy in nigeria. There is a need for a local government that is truly autonomous visavis state. C where, is the method of dividing powers so that the central and regional governments are each, within a.
It revealed that there is a remarkably difference between local government autonomy and democratic governance in nigeria and usa. Pdf challenges of local government administration in. A case study of igboetiti local government area of enugu state. Oluwatobi1 introduction nigeria is rich in natural and human resources, with a population of over 150.
Federalism in nigeria and local government autonomy. Nov 19, 2019 the local government is the third tier of government. Solutions to the problems of local government in nigeria. This study examines local government autonomy in nigeria with particular reference to imo state. Federalism, constitutionalism, and local government. An apparisal of the autonomy of local government as a. Local government and fiscal autonomy for local government. The importance of local governments the sun nigeria. The paper examined a comparative analysis of local government autonomy and democratic governance in nigeria and usa. Issues and problems in decentralization and local autonomy in. The authors further assessed the extent of decentralization and intergovernmental relations in nigeria impact on the local. Pdf local government in nigeria faces series of critical challenges like creating critical social services and how to sustain them. He expressed regret that state governments which are autonomous have been opposed to the agitation of granting autonomy to be councils in nigeria.
This is with a view to understanding the intricacies of the fundamental problem of local government autonomy in nigeria. The nigeria union of local government employees nulge south west zone, said the approval of local government autonomy will help put an end to the security challenges in most of the rural. An evaluation with abstract, chapter 15, references and questionnaire. Issues about nigerian federalism are fairly discussed in the literature see. C where, is the method of dividing powers so that the central and regional governments are each, within a sphere, coordinate and independent. The paper posits that the nigerian political arrangement. Article pdf available april 2010 with 12,866 reads. The study adopted secondary source of collecting data. The role of local government in rural development issues jide ibietan abstract the central aim or focus of this paper is to highlight the role of local government being the closest tier of government to the grassroots in rural development. Revision accepted 26, june 2009 abstract the topical issue of local government lg autonomy in nigeria in relation to the development of. A need for constitutional reform the basic irony between the u. Invariably, effective autonomy and igr that respects the powers and. It is important to note that the federal government has over the years joined in ensuring that the local government have its autonomy.
Thus, the broad objective of this research work is to assess the nigerian federalism and local government autonomy specifically ofu local government area of kogi state. Local government admini stratio n in nigeria and the localist theory. What is the problem of local governments and solutions in. It is the most ideal form of igr this paper canvases.
The current number of local government in nigeria is 774. Local government and fiscal autonomy for local government in. The local government system was conceived to bring government and development closer to the grassroots, unfortunately midway it turned out to be the cashcow of rapacious state governors and state. Local government in south africa is inundated with a variety of challenges including the inability to facilitate and enhance development in the communities under which the municipalities serve. These local governments do not have a lot of rights and most of its decisions are made according to the central government s rules.
Politics and challenges of the 1999 constitution asaju, k. C wheare, is the method of dividing powers so that the central and regional governments are each, within a sphere, coordinate and independent. The lawmakers have sought for separate accounts for. How much autonomy this third tier of government possesses is unclear and uncertain to the extent that it engenders the problem of meas urement.
The state and local governments shares a joint account from which the governor made deductions in the time of boom but refuses to take responsibility now that there is a shortfall in revenue. Therefore, the starting point of this paper is that local government autonomy is. With time and experiences, however, both governments and people at local levels. The term local government autonomy is perceived as local self government or grassroots democracy. Local government autonomy and development of localities in. Nov, 2016 i will support a bill to free local governments from states, says president buhari. Lack of autonomy is a central problem of the nigerian local government system. A lot of cronies are inserted as workers even without having the required qualifications to fulfill their respective roles, the workers can often been seen lazing about and coming late to work which drastically reduces the efficiency of the local government. Local government administration in nigeria is classified as the third tier of government while several problems have been its recurring decimal and various reforms since 1976 havent been able to make the system effective and responsible to developmental challenges.
Onyishi and obi 2004 are of the view that the above cited provision of the constitution would portend intractable intergovernmental problems in which the local government is obviously the victim. That was the headline of a new story in the nigerian tribune on september 16, 2016. One of such challenges is lack of financial autonomy. In effect, the paper set as its objectives to examine the challenges of lg administration, previous efforts by the governments in nigeria to address the challenges and lessons that could be learnt from other workable systems. It revealed that there is a remarkably difference between local government autonomy and democratic governance in nigeria. To appreciate this section, it is necessary to operationalize the key concept in the discourse autonomy. Local administration in nigeria has passed the four distinct stages of development. Local government administration in nigeria has been in existence since 1972 and its primary function is to bring government nearer to the people at the grassroots. This paper attempts to reflect on the level of autonomy enjoyed by the local governments in nigeria within the context of the classical theory of federalism with a view to drawing lessons for the future. These local governments do not have a lot of rights and most of its decisions are made according to the central governments rules.
Other challenges include inadequate finances, weak intergovernmental relations, fledging democracy and grand corruption. One of such controls is the right exercise by the state government through the house of government. Local government administration in nigeria and the. This study seeks to provide cursory analysis and assessment of issues in the performance of local government units in the philippines in. The former president, olusegun obasanjo in a meeting with the 774 local governments council chairmen in nigeria, acknowledge the thwarting of local government revenue by some state governments. It is interesting to note that even the federal government has in recent times joined in championing the course of local government autonomy. Introduction the existence of local government has always been defended on the basis that it is a crucial aspect of the process of democratization and intensification of mass participation in the decisionmaking process. Their abilities are usually very restricted by the central government. The nature and structure of transactions or interactions between the three tiers of government determine the degree of their autonomy. Restoring local governments autonomy the guardian nigeria.
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