Evaluation of Local Government Administration and Governance in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1234/laj.v14i4.255366Keywords:
Autonomy, Nkanu-West Local Government Area, Constitutional Autonomy, NigeriaAbstract
Local government (LG) is the tier of government that is closest to the people. The quest for LG administration and governance still generates exciting and healthy debate in Nigeria. This study examines the opportunities and problems, which confront the Nigerian LG system in its efforts to establish itself as a true tier of government. The main objectives of the study are to find out why, in practice, complete LG autonomy and governance is difficult in Nigeria; to investigate the level of autonomy in Nigeria’s LG system; and to suggest measures that could be adopted to reduce interference in the LG affairs in Nigeria. The theoretical framework adopted in this study is the Marxist theory. The proponents of this theory see LG as an instrument of the central government, which works as a direct means of securing proletarian compliance through suppression. A survey of 300 employees in the Nkanu West LG Area was conducted. A five-point Likert scale was used in data collection. The findings revealed that there were constitutional loopholes or contradiction that tend to provide the impetus for the unethical state government officials to nurse the inordinate desire for hedging in LG left, right, and center. This study recommends that the autonomy of LG should be based on a better income base, respect for constitutional provisions, political stability, accountability, and transparency.
References
Abada, I. (2007). Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: An Appraisal”. Journal of Foundation for American Peace Studies and Global Initiative, 3(1), 244 – 261.
Adeyemo, D. O. (2005). Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: An Historical Perspective. Journal of Social Sciences, 10 (2), 77 - 87.
Akpan, F., & Ekanem, O. (2013) The Politics of Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria Reloaded. European Scientific Journal, 9(35), 193-205
Andrews, J. (2012) “The Debate on Local Government Autonomy” This Day Newspaper, Sept. 23, 2012. Lagos
Anikeze, N. (2012). Repositioning the Nigerian Local Government System for Improved
Performance. Journal of Policy and Development Studies, 6(1), 166 – 174.
Azelama, P. (2008). Challenges of Local Government Administration in Edo State of Nigeria. Journal of Contemporary, Research(5), 215 – 226.
Charlton, R. (1985). Comparative Government. London: Longman.
Chukwuemeka, E., Ugwuanyi, B. I., Ndubuisi-Okolo, P. & Onuoha, C. E. (2014). Nigeria local government: A discourse on the theoretical imperatives in a governmental system. An International Multidisciplinary Journal, Ethiopia, 8(2), 305-324.
Cockburn, C. (1977). The Local State. London: Pluto Press.
Engels, F. (1942). The Origin of the family, Private property and the State. New York: International publishers.
Eyitayo, A. O., & Alani, B. I., (2019). Local Government Fiscal Autonomy and Rural Development; Empirical Evidences from Yewa South and IFO Local Government of Ogun State. AUDA, 11(2), 97-112.
Ezeani, E.O. (2012). Delivering the Goods: Repositioning Local Government in Nigeria to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Nsukka: University of Nigeria Publication.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1999). Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lagos: Federal Government Press.
Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1976). Guidelines for Local Government Reforms. Kaduna: Government printer.
Ige B. (1996). Man-made Avoidable Local Government Troubles”, The Sunday Tribune of 27 April, 1996. Ibadan
Illowsky, B., & Dean, S. (2021). The Chi-Square Distribution. De Anza College. Retrieved from
https://stats.libretexts.org/@go/page/700
Kapidani, M. (2018). A comparative analysis of Local Government financial autonomy in Albania. Journal of Business, Economics and Finance (JBEF), 7(1), 1-9.
Mnyasenga, T.R., & Mushi, E.G. (2015). Administrative Legal Framework of Central-Local Government Relationship in Mainland Tanzania: Is it Tailored to Enhance Administrative Devolution and Local Autonomy. International Review of Management and Business Research 4(3). 931 – 944.
Moore, D. S., Notz, W. I, & Flinger, M. A. (2013). The Basic Practice of Statistics (6th ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company.
Mtasigazya, P. (2019). The Impact of Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers on Local Government Autonomy and Service Delivery in Tanzania. International Journal of Teaching, Education and Learning, 3(2), 68-93.
Nwankwo, I. D. (2011). The Politicization of Appointments in the Local Government System of Abia State. Masters Dissertation for the Department of Public Administration and Local Government, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Ogban, O. (2011). The State Joint Local Government Account and the Fiscal Autonomy of
Local Government in Nigeria: The Case of Enugu State (May, 1999 – May, 2007)” In Tony, O. (2011) (ed.) Issues in Local Government and Development: The Nigerian Perspective. Enugu: Praise House Publishers.
Oguntuase, B. (2012). Re-engineering the Local Government System for Effective Grass root Democracy and Sustainable Development Paper Presented at the Town Hall Meeting organized by the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) on February 4, 2012 in Akure, Nigeria.
Okafor, J. (2010). Local Government Financial Autonomy in Nigeria: The State Joint Local Government Account. Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, July (6), 127-131.
Okibe, H. B. (2020) Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria and Politics of State Control: Unveiling the Enigma. Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 5(3). 145 – 164.
Okolie, O., & Eze, F. (2006). Local Government Administration in Nigeria: Concepts and Applications. Enugu: John Jacob Classic Publishers Ltd.
Okoli, F.C. (1998) “Professionalization of the Nigerian Civil Service”, Nigerian Journal of Public Administration and Local Government, 3(1), Nsukka: University Press.
Omoyibo, K. U. (2012). Marxism and the Nigerian State. European Scientific Journal, 8(11), 20-33.
Onyishi, A. O., & Obi, M. A. O. (2004). Local Government functions under the Exclusive List in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution: An Analysis. International Journal of Studies in the humanities (IJOSH), 3(3), 11-21
Orewa, G.O., & Adewumi, J.B. (1983). Local Government in Nigeria: The Changing Scene. Benin: Ethiope Publishing co-operation.
Osakede, K. O., Ijimakinwa, S. O., & Adesanya, T. O. (2016). Local Government Financial Autonomy in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 5(11), 24 – 37.
Saaleh, Y., & Stanley, A. (2011). The Politics of Funding of Local Government in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Administrative Science, 9(182), 278 – 288.
The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 1999. Federal Government press. Lagos.
Tony, O. (2011) (ed.) Key Issues in Local Government and Development: A Nigerian Perspective. Enugu: Praise House Publishers.
Ugwuanyi, B. I., Offor, M. A., & Nweze, O. O. (2016). Local Government Autonomy in Nigerian Federal System: State Intervention and The Implications for National Development. NG-Journal of Social Development, 5(2).
Ugwuanyi, B. I. (2014). Local Government autonomy in Nigeria: a discourse on the constraints to its realization and the implications for national development. The Business & Management Review, 5(2), 144 – 154.
Warioba, M. D. (1999). Management of Local Government in Tanzania, some Historical Insights and Trends. Mzumbe, Tanzania: Research Information and Publication Dept.
Wolman, H., McManmon, R., Bell, M., & Brunori, D. (2010). Comparing Local Government Autonomy across States. In The Property Tax and Local Autonomy, The Lincoln Institute.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Local Administration Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The copyright of all articles published in the Local Administration Journalis owned by the College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University.
