CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The
local government has long being in existence although it is under the
supervision of the state government in accordance to the constitution of the
federal government of Nigeria. The local government is given it law and power
by the constitution and rooted in the laws of the land. According to Nigeria constitution in section
7(1) of the federal republic of Nigeria completely give their support to the various
operations of the third tier government. Moreover, the constitution allows the democratically
elected representatives of the people to man the local government affairs. According
to Okoli (2005) in his work state that the third tier government came into existence
as a result of the need for wide spread development in the country. Most
importantly it is necessary to understand that the grassroots welfare and
national development can be achieved through the third tier government. The
very essence of this research work is simply to evaluate the roles of local
government in national development.
There
have being many protest as to regard national development through the
development of the local governments in Nigeria. However, according to (Abada,
2012; Idike, 2013; Eze and Muanya, 2013; Uzuegbunam and Nwofia, 2014) all
stated that the local governments in Nigeria is a neglected paradigm of
national developmental mobilization.
The
Nigerian condition has been depicted as a situation of affluence and affliction
(Ibeanu, 2008), which importantly shows an apparent contradiction. Kuka (2012)
further describes the Nigerian nation as being on autopilot.
According
to the constitution, Local government represents the third tier of governmental
organization in Nigeria and the others being the Federal and State governments.
Frequently, the term “Grassroots administration” is employed when describing
local government as this has more advantage of graphically describing the
location of this governmental arrangement (Idike, 2013). In reality, local
government is not vested with the powers and resources that it really deserves.
It is also ironical that the Nigerian situation negates the essence of
federalism (which is decentralization) by being highly centralized. Elsewhere,
where the ideals and strategies for effective national development have been
understood the correct way, Local government is the focus of government efforts
at promoting national development. It becomes much visible overtime that to
effectively develop, the people must be adequately mobilized (Okoli, 2005). A
purposeful combination of the local (peoples) effort/energies with that of
government with the objective of improving socio-economic conditions and
encouraging political participation is a key factor in national development.
According to Eze and Muanya (2013) stated that It also represents the objective
expression of the energies of mobilized rural communities in concrete and
tangible projects such as roads, clinics, schools, potable water and other
communal initiatives that benefit the people. This study is specifically
focusing of Local Government Councils in Lagos State.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Local
government which is the primary root of national development has really been
neglected both in terms of other development, like infrastructural development
and soon yet the federal government kept deaf ears to these needs. Politically
the local government has contributed to at least 40% of the general vote during
the electoral processes. Lagos state being one of the biggest local States in
Nigeria has numerous local government organizations and most of these
organizations are not really recognized during developmental processes.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
general objective of this study is to examine the relationship between Local
Government Councils in Lagos State and national development in Nigeria. The
specific objectives are as follows:
1
To examine the role of Local
Government Councils in Lagos State in National Development.
2
To examine the extent to which the
local government councils in Lagos State, promotes the course of national
development
3
To determine how the local government
councils in Lagos can aid the course of national development.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1
What is the role of Local Government
Councils in Lagos State in National Development?
2
To what extent does local government
councils in Lagos State promotes the course of national development?
3
How can the local government councils
in Lagos aid the course of national development?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
HO:
There is no significant relationship between Local Government Councils in Lagos
State and National Development.
HA:
There is significant relationship between Local Government Councils in Lagos
State and National Development.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
following are the significance of this study:
1
The results of this study will be
useful for local government administrators in Nigeria especially Lagos State on
strategies and approaches that can be adopted to enhance national development
in Nigeria. It will reveal how local manpower can be strengthened through the
government to stimulate national development.
2
The findings from this study will also
educate the general public on the role of local government on national
development in Nigeria.
3
This research will be a contribution
to the body of literature in the area of the role of local government on
national development in Nigeria, thereby constituting the empirical literature
for future research in the subject area.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This
study is limited to the Local government councils in Lagos State, Nigeria. It
will also cover their contribution to national development in Nigeria.
1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE 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.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Development:
The process of national growth and expansion
Grassroots:
the most basic level of government activity or organization
Local:
belonging or relating to a particular area or neighborhood, typically
exclusively so
Communities:
a group of people living in the same place or having a particular
characteristic in common.
Politics:
the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area,
especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping
to achieve power.
REFERENCES
Abada, I.
(2012): “An Overview of Local Government and Rural Development in Nigeria:
1999-2010”. Nigerian Journal of Social Sciences.8 (2) 169-182
Eze, C and
Muanya, C. (2013): “Between Democratic and the Caretaker Committee Approach to
Local Government Administration in Nigeria: Revisiting the Anambra Experience,
From 2006 to 2013. International Journal of Research in Arts and Social
Sciences. 6(-)172-188
Ibeanu, O.
(2008): “Affluence and Affliction: The Niger Delta as a Critique of Political
Science in Nigeria” An Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Idike, A.
(2013): “Gender and Participatory Democracy in the Local Government System in
Nigeria: A Case Study of Ebonyi State (2001-2011). International Journal of
Research in Arts and Social Sciences. 6(-) 371-380
Kuka, M.
(2012): “Nigeria as an Emerging Democracy: Dilemma and Promise.”
http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/law/. Accessed, 11/11/13.
Okoli, M.U.
(2005): Local Government Administrative System: An Introductory and Comparative
Approach. Abbots Books Limited, Onitsha