The Effectiveness Of Local Government As Third Tier Of Government In Nigeria (A Case Study Of Offa Local Government Area Kwara State)

The Effectiveness Of Local Government As Third Tier Of Government In Nigeria (A Case Study Of Offa Local Government Area Kwara State)
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Every state in the country have their own several local units. This makes the citizen to have both local and nation loyalties. Since the country is increasing both the size and population, then the federal government become busy with issues of nation interest and has little time for the development of the grass root level. And this leads to the creation and delegation of the power to the local level to serve the interest of the people at the grass root.
Local government is also known as the third tier of government in a federation system of government so in Nigeria local government home the power has given to them by the constitution of federal republic of Nigeria do their duties to ensures the development of the grass root.
1.2 Statement of Problem
In Nigeria it could be seen that local government creation is taken to be something important and that is always agitated for. Since the local government refer of 1976, those at the helm of affairs of each state have envisage that the creation of local government will help in bringing socio economic development t in their state and therefore, often put machinery in motion for creation of more and more local government areas. As a result of this Nigeria now has774 local government areas.
However, little is being done to ascertain how these are doing. The extent to which the created local governments have not the purpose of their existence cannot readily be measured. This problem is the reasons. This propelled me to go into the study
Again, since the attainment of local government objective is not automatic I fund it important for slowing down development in the local government areas and coming up with solutions to tackle such problems
1.3 Objective of the Study
The study is inevitable for the fact that different schools of thoughts have different views on the important of local government as a tie of government.
Thus, the objectives of this study are to:
- Determine the role of the local government in socio-economic development of Nigeria
- Provide information on the function being carried out by the local government is third tier of government in Nigeria
- Find out the extent to which financing the activities of local government have impacted in meeting the need of its creation
- Give insight into the problems facing the local government and prefer solution to such problem discovered
- Look into inter government relationship and the extent it has affected the effectiveness of local government operation
- Determine the various reforms that need to put in place to order to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of local government.
- To know the historical background of offa local government area of Kwara state.
1.4 Significance of the Study
Different schools of thoughts have different views on the establishment of local government. While some see it as unnecessary duplication of government efforts and waste of resources, some feel that without it infrastructure development will be slowed down, yet other are completely indifferent about whether or not it exists.
As a direct result of this, the research is important to give insight and information on the topic. The finding from the study would be of immense use of government in the area of policy formulation, planning and executive again, it will be a source of reference to other researchers who may be interest in this or related topics in the future.
1.5 Research Hypothesis
The study will test the viability of the following hypothesis;
- HO: local government does not solve the socio-economic problem of people
- HI: local government solve socio-economic problem of the people
- HO: there is no relationship between local government and other tiers of government
- HO: funding does not affect the function of local government
- HI: funding affect the function of local government
1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study
Scope of the Study
This research deals primarily with effectiveness of local government as third tier of government in Nigeria since it is impossible to generate information from all the 774 local government areas in the country this work is limited in scope of offa local government area in Kwara state, with the belief that the finding of study and be applicable to other local government area in Nigeria
The information gathered from the chosen local government will therefore serves as basis for demoralization. This is because all the local government area in this country is identical in their objective, functions and operations and therefore are faced with almost the same everyday situation across the country.
Limitation Of The Study
This project is hindered by some factors, which include:
Time:
There was inadequate time to carry out the research because of the period devoted to lectures, class assignments, and some other things
Materials:
As a result of high cost of text book and relevant materials all reference materials needed for the research could not be obtained. As a result the researcher used the few text books, journals and articles that were available without affecting the quality and credibility of this study
Respondent:
The reluctant of some respondent to cooperate in given their views on the topic especially in the area of filling the questionnaire also constituted a limitation
1.7 Organization of the Study
The project is divided into five chapters with the forms of general introduction of study which is the effectiveness of local government as their third tier of government are of Kwara state. There is also statement of the problems, objectives study, and significance of the study, organization the study and definition of the terms
Chapter three deals with the research methodology
Like, sample and population of the study, source of data to the researchers, method of data analysis and research problems.
Chapter four shows the brief history of the case study which is offa local government, data presentation analysis of data, testing of hypothesis summary of the chapter and reference.
And finally, chapter five is made up of the summary of findings recommendations, conclusion and Bibliography.
1.8 Definition of Terms
For there to be a local government in existence there are some fundamental terms or characteristic which must be in place. These include the following
(1) Government:
Is the machinery through which the will f local government is formulated, expressed and attained and this government is responsible for the regulating the activities of the people in the state and local government or in the communities.
(2) Local Government:
This can be defined as the break down of a particular administration in a country in smaller units and this smaller units are for easy administrate
(3) Local Government:
Can also be seen as the third tier of government of government of the grass root level which bring government nearer to the people in the rural areas and to ensure the development of the grass root government.
(4) Population:
This can be defined as the total number of people who live in a particular area
(5) Sovereignty:
This is the supreme power given to the state of local government to make and enforce it own law so as to be free from extend control.
(6) Territory:
It can be defined as a particular land or area that is under the control or a particular country state or local government territory is also know as an area of town or local government which is under the control of some people so as to contribute their activities for development of such area
(7) Tier:
This can be defined as area of the several levels of a system, administration or government.
Chapter Five
5.0 Summary, Recommendation and Conclusion
5.0 Summary of Findings
After the reviews of relevant literature to get the views and opinion of different schools of thought on views the topic and analysis of response from the respondent with the use of simple percentage method, it was revealed that for local government to be effective as not be take for granted.
Funding is seen as major importance in local government to carry out its functions. In fact it was gathered that the political and socio-economic roles of offa local government area, could never be achieved without adequate financial at its disposal, it needs funds to provide social and infrastructure amenities like roads park, school and health services to this end it will be canter productive to relegate local government to the background without adequate financial support. As much as the local government may have rich programmes for execution, of the financial is not there them, it is as good as being useless
Findings also revealed that local government is the third tier of government is entremets with the responsibility of solving the socio-economic problems is the that the local government like its counter parts has not done much as majority of people still remain unemployed even in other area of socio-economic development, the local government authorities have not done much thought this is believed to be are flections of the general situation of the country thus, Offa local government can not be exemption.
In the area of inter governmental relationship findings reveal that there is a great co-operation among the theaters of government in many areas. In the area of funds. Offa local government get bulk of it financial from external sources which happen to be assistance from state and federal government in addition to its share from federation account.
Another area is in the protection of lives and properties and the maintenance of law and order here it is done in collaboration with the state government with the use of police, court and prison
However, the literature reviewed show that such inter-governmental relationship is to be detriment of local government as the other tiers of government tend to interfere unnecessarily in their affairs.
Another major finding from the revealed literature is that the local government as a tier of government is plague with too many problem which include the following
Barbering and corruption, favoritism and nepotism
- Lack of contentment of the programmes and prohect of one government by many succeeding government
- Lack of trained personnel and negative attitude to work staffs
- Mismanagement, embezzlement and diversion of funds among others.
5.2 Recommendation
From the finding reached on the effectiveness of local government as third tier of government in Nigeria the following recommendations are suggested, by and large both federal and state government should not dictating the local government how to spend their funds or the programme to embark on. Rather, the two tiers of local government and leave the latter town its own programme
Local government in relation to financial transaction should keep adequate and appropriate financial records with emphasis on offa local government to the audit department should be made to investigate these financial statements should be made to investigate these financial statements at the end of the year in order to ascertain it they show time and fair views of local government dealings. In offa local government, as a well as other official found guilty of financial mismanagement should be dealt with appropriate to serve as warning to others who may want to follow the same path.
Again, controls award should not be based on “man knows man” but rather the most qualified person should be given to job at all time. This is to ensure that programmes embark on in the local government are of the highest qualify in terms of delivery an execution
Further more, recommendation is the area of financial since financial is the bedrock of local government authority to embark on worthy commercial venture as additional source of fund generation.
Again, it is important for local government to sensitize the people about its programme. This is to ensure. That the people are well informed and lightened about what the local government is doing to enable them to appreciate such programmes.
5.3 Conclusions
The conclusion reached from the major fending that is, literature review and data analysis is that for local government to be effected as the third tier of government, a lot of work skill have to be done. The purpose of this is to allow the local government as a tier of government to be truly autonomous. If this could be done, there are good protests for the Nigeria local government system. These prospects include the followings:
- Convenient grassroots government.
- Quick executive of projects without the usual bottleneck often encountered in getting approval from the local government ministry
- Provision of essential services to the public by the local government councils.
- Awareness of the community responsiveness and participation.
Finally the findings revealed that fund is a major issue, which can make local government to achieved their objectives the facts that there are no adequate funds at the disposal of local government authorities and the mismanagement of funds have limited their achievement over the years and also in carrying out their functions. In other worlds a lot still have to be done in the area of finance.


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