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ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The local government has long being in existence although it is under the supervision of the state government in accordance to the constitution of the federal government of Nigeria. The local government is given it law and power by the constitution and rooted in the laws of the land.  According to Nigeria constitution in section 7(1) of the federal republic of Nigeria completely give their support to the various operations of the third tier government. Moreover, the constitution allows the democratically elected representatives of the people to man the local government affairs. According to Okoli (2005) in his work state that the third tier government came into existence as a result of the need for wide spread development in the country. Most importantly it is necessary to understand that the grassroots welfare and national development can be achieved through the third tier government. The very essence of this research work is simply to evaluate the roles of local government in national development. There have being many protest as to regard national development through the development of the local governments in Nigeria. However, according to (Abada, 2012; Idike, 2013; Eze and Muanya, 2013; Uzuegbunam and Nwofia, 2014) all stated that the local governments in Nigeria is a neglected paradigm of national developmental mobilization. The Nigerian condition has been depicted as a situation of affluence and affliction (Ibeanu, 2008), which importantly shows an apparent contradiction.

Kuka (2012) further describes the Nigerian nation as being on autopilot. According to the constitution, Local government represents the third tier of governmental organization in Nigeria and the others being the Federal and State governments. Frequently, the term “Grassroots administration” is employed when describing local government as this has more advantage of graphically describing the location of this governmental arrangement (Idike, 2013). In reality, local government is not vested with the powers and resources that it really deserves. It is also ironical that the Nigerian situation negates the essence of federalism (which is decentralization) by being highly centralized. Elsewhere, where the ideals and strategies for effective national development have been understood the correct way, Local government is the focus of government efforts at promoting national development. It becomes much visible overtime that to effectively develop, the people must be adequately mobilized (Okoli, 2005). A purposeful combination of the local (peoples) effort/energies with that of government with the objective of improving socio-economic conditions and encouraging political participation is a key factor in national development. According to Eze and Muanya (2013) stated that It also represents the objective expression of the energies of mobilized rural communities in concrete and tangible projects such as roads, clinics, schools, potable water and other communal initiatives that benefit the people. This study is specifically focusing of Local Government Councils in Lagos State.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Local government which is the primary root of national development has really been neglected both in terms of other development, like infrastructural development and soon yet the federal government kept deaf ears to these needs. Politically the local government has contributed to at least 40% of the general vote during the electoral processes. Lagos state being one of the biggest local States in Nigeria has numerous local government organizations and most of these organizations are not really recognized during developmental processes.  

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The general objective of this study is to examine the relationship between Local Government Councils in Lagos State and national development in Nigeria. The specific objectives are as follows:

1  To examine the role of Local Government Councils in Lagos State in National Development.

2  To examine the extent to which the local government councils in Lagos State, promotes the course of national development

3  To determine how the local government councils in Lagos can aid the course of national development.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1 What is the role of Local Government Councils in Lagos State in National Development?

2 To what extent does local government councils in Lagos State promotes the course of national development?

3  How can the local government councils in Lagos aid the course of national development?

1.5     RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HO: There is no significant relationship between Local Government Councils in Lagos State and National Development.

HA: There is significant relationship between Local Government Councils in Lagos State and National Development.

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the significance of this study:

1  The results of this study will be useful for local government administrators in Nigeria especially Lagos State on strategies and approaches that can be adopted to enhance national development in Nigeria. It will reveal how local manpower can be strengthened through the government to stimulate national development.

2  The findings from this study will also educate the general public on the role of local government on national development in Nigeria.

3  This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the role of local government on national development in Nigeria, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.

1.7     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study is limited to the Local government councils in Lagos State, Nigeria. It will also cover their contribution to national development in Nigeria.

1.8     LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview). Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9     DEFINITION OF TERMS

Development: The process of national growth and expansion Grassroots: the most basic level of government activity or organization Local: belonging or relating to a particular area or neighborhood, typically exclusively so Communities: a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. Politics: the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.

REFERENCES

Abada, I. (2012): “An Overview of Local Government and Rural Development in Nigeria: 1999-2010”. Nigerian Journal of Social Sciences.8 (2) 169-182.

Eze, C and Muanya, C. (2013): “Between Democratic and the Caretaker Committee Approach to Local Government Administration in Nigeria:

Revisiting the Anambra Experience, From 2006 to 2013. International Journal of Research in Arts and Social Sciences. 6(-)172-188

Ibeanu, O. (2008): “Affluence and Affliction: The Niger Delta as a Critique of Political Science in Nigeria” An Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka

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