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07030248044CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF TH STUDY
The local government councils being the government nearest to the populace, is one of the best agencies for generating motivations and encouraging mobilisation for self-help, as well as including the much needed wider participation of the local population in the decision making process at the local level (Ukah, 2012). According to Edward Scouma, Eluwa, (2012), The so-called third world is a rural world where any meaningful discussion of community development really means not only “talking of overall national development,” but because “it is in community that the problems of inequitable distribution of resources or a marked lack of purchasing power and of grinding poverty in which the wretched members of society stagnate and stare one in the face with brutal clarity. The reason for the existence of the local government councils in Nigeria is to, at least stop the deteriorating living conditions in the various communities of the country. An effective local government councils will be better disposed than the state or federal government, not only to stem the grim reality of the rising tide of grassroots poverty but also be better positioned to evoke communal efforts and networking to manage and mobilise the support of local citizenry in participating in all the programmes that may affect them (Eluwa, 2012). As an agent of development, the major priorities of any local government councils should include reduction of poverty in the community, increasing the standard of living of the local dwellers, provision of social amenities, enhancing the participation of the local citizens in political activities that concern them, enhancing their individual human capabilities, boosting nationalism, inspiring creativity and innovation as well as educating the local people (Bello-Imam, 2007).
Local government council administration in Nigeria is an off-shoot of the federal political arrangement which is basically characterized by decentralization of functions. Decentralization in this the context is regarded as a process through which powers, functions, responsibilities and resources are transferred from central to local government councils and/or to other decentralized entities (United Nations 2006, p.8). In a federal system like Nigeria, decentralization shares both political and economic justifications (Diejomaoh and Eboh, 2010). The economic-side argument emphasizes the advantages in terms of promoting inclusive and broad-based growth, optimal use of local and national resources for economic development while on the political-side, it is a valid tool for managing in-country heterogeneities, reduce power-sharing tensions and cater for divergent needs of the different nationalities/societies within a country. As such, by devolving functions to local government councils, peculiar socio-political and economic needs in the localities are identified and appropriate responses sought. The United Nations Office for Public Administration cited in Adetoritse (2011) defines local government councils as the political subdivision of a nation (or in a federal system) state, which is constituted by law and has substantial control of local affairs, including the powers to impose taxes or to exact labour for prescribed purposes. Adetoritse (2011) therefore, views that this definition shows that local government councils is a multi-dimensional concept. These dimensions are socially, economically, geographically, legally, politically, and administratively. The key parameters here are that local government councils exist for the purpose of delivering goods and services to the people; and to mobilize local resources and identify specific areas of needs and how they can be solved. Ismail, Bayat and Meyer (1997) write in similar vein that local government councils exist for both utilitarian (service rendering) and democracy (civic) considerations. According to Ahmad (2012) the function of local government councils involves the philosophical commitment to participation in the growing process at the grassroots level thus the need for the study on the development of the local councils in Nigeria.
STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL PROBLEM
The lack of development of the local government councils in Nigeria stems from the socio-economic structure of the society which have greatly undermined the local councils by stiffening their autonomy and complete independence. As previous researchers rightly pointed out, that the lack of adequate attention to the local government councils in Nigeria has been merely because of the short sightedness of Nigerian leaders In the light of the above, the researcher is examining local council development in Nigeria.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The major aim of the study is to examine local council development in Nigeria. Other objectives of the study are;
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H0: There is no significant relationship between local council development and grass root development in Nigeria
H1: There is a significant relationship between local council development and grass root development in Nigeria
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study would be of immense importance to government at all levels and all related stakeholders as it would assist towards the development and achievement of local council autonomy in Nigeria. This study would also benefit students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing a further study on the subject matter.
SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study is restricted to local council development in Nigeria using Egbeda local council development area in Oyo state.
LIMITATION OF 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.
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