SOCIAL ACCOUNTING AS A METHOD OF ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVATIONS. A CASE STUDY OF NUKES LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ENUGU STATE

ABSTRACT

The title of this research work is, A social accounting as a method of the impact of development activities’’ with particular referent to Nsukka local Government Area in Enugu State. It has been identified that accounting and financial reporting in the public sector particularly at the local government level was not given adequate attention.

 In the course of coining out this study, the following objectives among other were set which included The identification of major cause of maladies in the financial system of the local government ;to  examine the accounting system / department to find out if it is manned by  competent and qualified personnel; to examine whether the sources of income to the local governments is enough  examine the various instruments of management and control of  local government financial ; to examine the various  problem of the local government financial and accounts and to examine the prospects of improving the available sources of the local governments  finances.

  To achieve the set objectives, some hypotheses were form water which comprised; an increase in local government share of federation Account  form 20-25%would help the local government in achieving at least 75%of their statutory responsibilities, the employment of  low  caliber staff has a significant negative relationship with the low efficiency and productivity of the local governments; the Accounting system of local governments is not effective in operation; and that another source of tar revenue  is not essential for Nigerian local governments.

Two broad research method were adopted in the study which were personal intendeds and fully designed and well structured questionnaires- for the purpose of analyzing the hypotheses, chi—square (x2) technique was adopted

As a result of conscientious and of course painstaking study done, a lot of findings were made which included inter-alias; There was an ample proof that the greater number of local government’s employees are unqualified other taxes to be collect by the local government can improve it fin an has no significant negative relationship with the low efficiency and productivity of the local government; and increase from 20-25% in the federal government statutory allocation of federation Account to local government would not be enough to deftly a reasonable proportion of huge kick backs,   contract inflations, large scale salary frond, auditing and  internal control problems were discovered as some of  the major accounting and financial problems of the local governments.

As a result, the following recommendatims were preferred; efforts to be intoaasified in the collection of reverie of local taxation; emphasis to be placed in the recruitment of qualified experienced and well trained personnel fro the assessment collection and general admimstration of local taxes and rates, design a sound system of budgetary control; installation of a system of internal control; projects to be evaluated and implemented; proper feasibility study to be carried out; and internal funding to be improved by its engagement in commercial ventures.