CHAPTER 1
1.1Background to The
Study
The local government is viewed as a semi-autonomous
area which is formed under the constitution or general laws of a state to carry
out functions within specified geographical area. Agbakoba (2004), stated that the
local government is an administrative and political unit that is vested with
the powers under law to govern a specified locality. Its philosophy is
entrenched on the idea of grassroots level participation in government.
scholars and practitioners have
indicated that local government are not only formed as representative arm of
the state and federal government ,but as a means by which which goods and
services are delivered to the people within the framework of enabling laws
which established them.
Consequently it is the need to foster a
balanced development in the rural areas and enhance the full participation of
the rural dwellers that precipitate the establishment of the local government
administration. The local government constitutes as a channel of administrative
and political structure and facilitates national integration, rural commitment in
governance, and a channel of fostering development at the grassroots. The local
government is viewed as a co-partner with the state and federal government, Therefore
the research seek to investigate local government administration as a panacea
for rural transformation
1.2Statement of the
Problem
The rural populace is
confronted with numerous developmental needs such as education, water, health
care facility, good roads, electricity etc. This lack of basic amenities has constituted
serious challenge to the living standard of the people resulting in poverty,
poor health and living standard. Consequently the local government
administration was instituted to serve as a bridge between the state and
federal government in executing government development program at the local
communities so as to enhance socio-economic development if the rural areas
However according to Dare,
(1989:38) The local government has not made the much needed significant impact
towards the socio-economic development of the rural populace. He stated the
much problems lies in the lack of provision of adequate funds to the local government.
Also Ogunna (1980:44) identifies factors militating against the performance of the
local government to include inadequate funding, poor executive capacity, poor and
inadequate working equipment, staff incompetency and state government
interference with its internal operations leading to excessive delays and
bureaucracy. He therefore advocate for the review of the local government laws
and regulation for a new reform to enhance a more effective local government
administration. Therefore the problem confronting the research is to proffer an
appraisal of local government administration as a panacea for rural
transformation
1.3Objectives of the
Study
i.
To
find out the roles of local government administration towards the transformation
of the rural areas
ii.
To determine what constitute the
challenges confronting local government administration towards the
transformation of the rural areas
1.4Research
Questions
What is the role of local
government administration towards the transformation of the rural areas?
What constitute the challenges
confronting local government administration towards the transformation of the
rural areas?
1.5Significance of
the Study
The study is particularly
significant inview of the importance to develop the rural areas for socio-
economic development. Consequently the study shall elucidate on the challenges
mitigating rural development and proffer appropriate recommendation.
1.6Research
Hypothesis
Ho:
The impact of
local government Administration on rural transformation is low
Hi:
The impact of
local government Administration on rural transformation is high
1.7Scope of the
Study
The study focuses on the
appraisal of the local government administration as a panacea for rural
transformation.
1.8Limitations of the
Study
The research was confronted by
some constraint including logistic and geographical factor.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Role: A role is the
assigned duty to an employee or an institution
Local government:
Agbakoba (2004),
stated that the local government is an administrative and political unit that
is vested with the powers under law to govern a specified locality. Its
philosophy is entrenched on the idea of grassroots level participation in
government.
Transformation:
Transformation refers to a gradual or rapid change in the socio-economic,
political and cultural lives of the people living in a particular area.
Grassroots/Rural
development: The term grassroots development as used
in this study refers to the act or process of developing and empowering the
well-being of the vast majority of the rural dwellers through the provision of
basic social and economic infrastructures.
Rural
Dwellers
This are the people
living in the rural communities of a country with lack of lack basic infrastructure and amenities .
Democracy
Democracy is
the government of the people by the people and for the people. It implies that
ultimate authority of government is vested in the common people so that the
public policy is made to conform to the will of the people and to serve the
interests of the people.
References
Agbakoba (2004), Local government
Administration
Bennett, R.J. (1990) ‘Decentralization,
Intergovernmental Relations and Markets: Towards a Post-Welfare Agenda? Ch. 1
in Bennett, R.J. (ed.) Decentralization,
Local Governments, and Markets: Towards a Post-Welfare Agenda. Oxford:
Clarendon Press.
Cornes, R. and Sandler, T. (1986) The Theory of Externalities, Public Goods
and Club Goods Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Crook, R. and Manor, J. (1994)
Enhancing Participation and Institutional Performance: Democratic
Decentralisation in South Asia and West Africa. A Report to ESCOR, ODA of Phase
Two of a Two-Phase Research Project.
Dare
(1989) Local government Administration pg34
Jaffee, S and Srivastava, J. (1992) Seed System Development: The Appropriate
Roles of the Private and Public Sectors World Bank Discussion Papers No.
167 Washington, DC: World Bank
Oates, W. (1972) Fiscal Federalism New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Ogunna (1980) Local government
Administration pg44
Ostrom, E (1990) Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective
Action Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Ross, R.L. (1988) Government and the Private Sector: Who
Should Do What? New York: Crane Russak
Smith, L.D. (1992) The Role of the Public and Private Sector in
the Process of Agricultural Development in Egypt Government of Egypt,
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Foreign Agricultural
Relations/Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN: National Workshop on
Agricultural Policies in Egypt, Cairo.
Smith, L.D. and Thomson, A.M. (1991) The Role of Public and Private Agents in the
Food and Agricultural Sectors of Developing Countries FAO Economic and
Social Development Paper No. 105 Rome: FAO
Tendler, J. (1997) Good Government in the Tropics
Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press
Umali, D.L. (1993) Public and Private Sector Roles in
Agricultural Research: Theory and Experience World Bank Discussion
Papers No. 176 Washington, DC: World Bank. Umali, D.L., Feder, G. and deHaan,
C. (1992) The Balance between Public
and Private Activities in the Delivery of Livestock Services World Bank
Discussion Papers No. 163 Washington, DC: World Bank
Umali, D.L. and Schwartz, L. (1994) Public and Private Agricultural Extension:
Beyond Traditional Frontiers World Bank Discussion Papers No. 236
Washington, DC: World Bank