ASSESSMENT OF THE CHALLENGES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA

ASSESSMENT OF THE CHALLENGES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA

 (A CASE STUDY OF KARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NASARAWA STATE)

Abstract

This study is an assessment of the challenges of local government administration in Nigeria, with focus on Karu local government area of Nasarawa State, the specific objectives are to identify the problems militating against the effective administration, ascertain if lack of revenue affects the effective and efficient administration, determine the effects of local government autonomy the administration and the effect of bad governance leadership on the administration of Karu Local government area of Nasarawa. The research design for this study was survey method. This design was adopted because human beings are involved and are prone to give answers that varies and agreements that will be used as the study’s population. The findings of the study shows that the problems or challenges militating against the effective administration of local government in Nigeria, lack fund, autonomy and corruption. Finally the study recommend that local governments in Nigeria should be made to be more financially stable and independent. If the federation as they are agitating are given right of resources or control in their areas, the local government should equally be considered. To ensure that there is a fair relation between the functions being performed by the third tier of government and their share of available resources in the country.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

Local government administrations (LG) globally vary in size and structure and operate under different arrangements based on the system of government in different nations. However as observed by Mello, (2012) local governments globally strive to meet peoples’ demands for goods and services in a cost effective manner particularly at the lowest level of government or government at the grass root. Among the characteristics generally manifested by local government is that it is a subordinate system of government or sub unit of a federal/central or state government and charged with powers to perform legislative, administrative and quasi judicial functions as the case may be. It also has the power to formulate policies, prepare budgets and a measure of control over its own staff, with a view that it is rightly position to ensure unhindered and efficient service delivery (Chukwuemeka et al, 2014, Otinche, 2014, Ezeani, 2012 and Tumini 2011).

Local governments operate at the grassroots and are expected to provide services to their stakeholders. In a federal system like Nigeria, local governments are close to the people and hence could effectively alter socioeconomic and political conditions within their jurisdictions. Apart from providing and maintaining basic infrastructures, local governments can complement the economic activities of other levels of government.

This of course depends on the efficient and effective provision of basic amenities and social infrastructures for the people at the grass root. The local government councils are required to serve the public interest in areas of constructing roads,public markets, healthcare centres, drainage, transportation,motor parks, building primary schools, among others. This is because, local administration is the concern of the grass root people in the provision of social and economic amenities to the rural area where they come from, making it government at the door step of rural inhabitants.

These functions of local government are well known and popularized by the constitution of the country. What seems to matter most to the people of the grassroots is to see tangible results of their taxes, contributions, labor expended and the judicious use of monthly allocation from the federation account to their local governments.These local government councils are however faced with series of problems and difficulties, which in the long run constitutes their challenges. Identification of challenges which attend these processes will lead us to proffering or suggesting how they can be properly managed in the benefit of the people in particular and society in general. So therefore, this study focuses on the Assessment of the  challenges of local administration in Nigeria: A case study of Karu Local Government of Nasarawa State.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

The essence of reforming local government system in Nigeria is to bring about stable increases in income, productivity, diversification of its economy and general quality of lives in the rural areas. But the ability of the local governments in Nigeria to accomplish these tasks depends on their financial endowments.It is generally agreed that functionality of local government, the level at which services are rendered, and the quality of services are strongly tied to the financial resources available to it and good governance

Local governments in Nigeria are faced with many difficulties such as bad leadership, lack of adequate revenue, lack of autonomy from the state and federal government etc; this problems among others are cogwheel to the smooth running of the local government system. With the local government reform of 1976, local governments in Nigeria became recognized as the third tier of government, vested with the statutory powers to discharge the duties and responsibilities of government. However, there have been a tendency, conscious or unconsciously, to overgeneralize the problems of local governments administration in Nigeria. Though the empirical fact from extant literature revealed the problems of some local governments in the country, the experience of Karu local government seems to have been ignored in that respect.This, therefore, necessitates a study of this nature to investigate if Karu local government is faced with challenges in the administration of local governance. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to assess the challenges of local government administration in Nigeria with particular references to Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

1.3       Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of the study is to assess the challenges of local government administration in Nigeria, with focus on Karu local government area of Nasarawa State. However, the specific objectives are:

1. To identify the problems militating against the effective administration of Karu Local government.
2. To ascertain if lack of revenue affects the effective and efficient administration of Karu Local Government Area
3. To determine the effects of local government autonomy the administration of Karu local government area.
4. To evaluate the effect of bad governance leadership on the administration of Karu Local government area of Nasarawa.

1.4       Research Questions

1. What are the problems militating against the effective administration of Karu Local government?
2. Does lack of revenue affects the effective and efficient administration in Karu Local Government Area?
3. What are the effects of local government autonomy the administration of Karu local government area?
4. What are the effect of bad governance leadership on the administration of Karu Local government area of Nasarawa? 

1.5       Significance of the Study

The study has theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, it will assess the challenges of local government administration in Nigeria, particularly in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State. This is more so considering the debate on the problems of local government administration since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999. It will also contribute to the noble goal of making local governments in Nigeria more effective.

More so, this study is expected to add to the body of literature on local government administration and stimulate further research in this direction.

The constant need to improve governance in Nigeria, particularly the local governments, makes the contributions of this work invaluable as reference for further research in local governments administration in Nigeria.

Practically, the findings of this research will assist policy makers and local government administrators in making local governments in Nigeria more financially viable and efficient in service delivery. It will also go a long way in making local governments in the country more viable, efficient, effective and self-reliant as the finding will bring to the fore issues that have undermined the administration of the local government system. It will therefore serve as a guide to local government administrators.

1.6       Scope of Study

The study assessed the challenges of local government administration in Nigeria. The scope of the study will be limited to Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa state. This is to enable the researcher to carry out in-depth study and a clear understanding of the subject matter while the findings of the study can be generalized.  

1.7       Definition of Key Terms

Some of the basic concepts used in the course of this work, which we believe needed operational definition to enable the understanding and assimilation of this work are concisely defined below;

1. Local government: Local government is the tier of government closest to the people which is vested with certain powers to exercise control over the affairs of the people in its domain.
2. Autonomy: The concept of autonomy within the context of local government administration is the elbow room and freedom of the local government to make decisions within the powers and functions to it by law within its sphere of influence. This simply implies the enjoyment of self-governing status. In other words, it refers to the right or freedom of a body to set the parameters of its operations.
3. Democracy: The word “democracy” when literally translated means people’s power or giving to the people. Consequently, when one talks of democracy in government, he refers to a system which gives the power of governing to the people concerned. By extension therefore, a democratic local government system is that which transfers the powers of governing the local people from any higher tier of external government to the local people themselves through their representative in the local councils.
4. Tier: This is one of the several levels in an organization or system of government. In this context, it refers to the third tier of government (local government).
5. Constitution: the system of laws and basic principles that a state a country or an organization is governed by.