Abstract
A
local government is semi-autonomous territorial unit created by the
constitution or general laws of a state to undertake certain functions within
specified or limited geographical area. In Nigeria, local government is created
to bring government closer to the people.
This research project
is thus an assessment of local government administration as an instrument of
grass root development in Nigeria using Bwari Local Government Area as a case
study.
Chapter one of the
study lays an introduction for subsequent chapters. Following the background of
the study, the problem statement and the objective of the study which provided
basis for the significance of the study and the hypothesis were stated. The
limitations of this study were also highlighted.
In the literature
review as contained in chapter two, works of various authors, international and
local journals were reviewed to elicit views on local government administration
as an instrument of grass root development in Nigeria.
Chapter three,
research methodology, description of population and sampling procedure for data
collection were discussed. Methods of questionnaire design, determination of
sampling size and questionnaire distribution were also highlighted.
Chapter four was
based on analysis of data collected. This chapter was sub-divided into data
analysis, hypothesis testing and summary. Percentage table, figure and
narration were carefully employed for proper understanding and testing of
hypothesis.
Finally, chapter five was divided into
summary of findings, recommendation and conclusion.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Title Page - - - - - - - - - i
Approval Page - - - - - - - - ii
Declaration - - - - - - - - iii
Dedication - - - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgement - - - - - - - v
Abstract - - - - - - - - - vi
Table of Contents - - - - - - - vii
CHAPTER
ONE – INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study - - - - - 1
1.2 Statement of General Problem - - - - 5
1.3 Objective of the Study - - - - - - 6
1.4 Research Questions - - - - - - 6
1.5 Significance of the Study - - - - - 7
1.6 Scope of the Study - - - - - - 8
1.7 Definition of Terms - - - - - - 8
CHAPTER
TWO – REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 10
2.2 Theoretical Framework - - - - - 11
2.3 Local Government and Rural Development - - 14
2.4 Inadequate Finance and Rural Development - 16
2.5 Paucity of Skilled Manpower and Rural Development 16
CHAPTER
THREE – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 32
3.2 Research Design - - - - - - 32
3.3 Area of the Study - - - - - - 32
3.4 Population of Study - - - - - - 33
3.5 Sample size and Sampling Techniques - - - 33
3.6 Instrument for Data Collection - - - - 33
3.7 Validity of the Instrument - - - - - 33
3.8 Reliability of the Instrument - - - - 34
3.9 Method of Data Collection - - - - - 34
3.10 Method of Data Analysis - - - - - 34
CHAPTER
FOUR – DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.0 Introduction - - - - - - - 36
4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis - - - - 36
4.2 Characteristics of the Respondents - - - 36
4.3 Data
Analysis - - - - - - - 39
4.4 Testing Hypothesis - - - - - - 46
4.5 Summary
of Findings - - - - - - 51
4.6 Discussion of Findings - - - - - 52
CHAPTER
FIVE – SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary - - - - - - - - 54
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 57
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - 58
References
- - - - - - - - 61
Appendix - - - - - - - - 62
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Nigeria operates a federal system
of government with a Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), 36 states and 774 local
governments. As creatures of the federal government, local governments are
constitutionally mandated to perform four basic functions: to provide a
machinery for the discussion of local needs and for the provisions of
corresponding services within the competence and capability of the local area;
to provide machinery for the execution at the local level of regional or
federal government policy; to provide a consensus mechanism for the resolution
of conflicts of interest at the local level; and to provide a training ground
for political participation and articulation (Okoli,2000).This implies that
Nigerian local governments are to render cutting edge services that will foster
socio-economic development of the rural people which can be otherwise described
as grassroots development. If properly managed, local governments are viable
instrument for rural transformation, development and the delivery of social
services to rural communities in their jurisdiction (Sanda, 1988).
Historically speaking, local
governments have been assigned different functions. In colonial time, native
authorities were primarily established for maintenance of law and order. With
the emergence of independence, emphasis shifted from laws enforcement to the
provision of social services (Adeyemo, 2005). How well Nigerian local
governments have carried out their constitutionally mandated functions of
grassroots development have become a subject of national debate, among scholars
and practitioners. To say the least, their operations have come under serious
and severe criticisms with some persons calling for the scrapping of the third
tier of government. Local government service delivery has continued to dwindle
and epileptic in nature despite financial allocations, local government reforms
like the 1976.
In
Nigeria, the rural people, thoroughly marginalized into a vacuous existence, make
up the other Nigerians-forgotten and always forgotten. The line is like a
perpetually recurring bad dram, a tale of extreme want in the midst of
abundance. There has been an administration upsurge of interest in the
literature on development administration and in planning circles on the
positive role local government could play in national development. Usually the
emphasis is in terms of using local government as a strategic instrument for
fostering, promoting and implementing grassroots development. In Nigeria, local
government as the tier of government nearest to the grassroots, has since the
colonial era been recognized as an institution capable of transforming the live
of the rural inhabitants either to create new local governments or to revamp
the existing ones in the country with the objectives of utilizing them as
fulcrums of rural development. The continuous emphasis on grassroots
development is understandable for it is there that the great mass of the people
are,: it is there that most indigenous resources of men and land are underused,
there that nutrition can be tackled; there that success would be done most to
slow the migration to major cities and finally, it is there that some redress
of gross inequality in income distribution can be started.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The ineffectiveness of the local government system
in Nigeria stems from the socio-economic structure of the society which natures
an urban – oriented development strategy is hailed by foreign experts who have
on numerous occasions advised our leaders and who still do so. As previous
researchers rightly pointed out, to asset that the lock off attention to the
rural sector has been merely because of the short sightedness of Africa leaders
would be to overdose the urban and industrial bias of the majority of foreign
economists and technicians who have advised African governments and
institutions over the past decrees. Moreover, the neglect of rural areas
stems mainly from the fact that modern African political leaders are creatures
of the tours. In the light of the above, the researcher is examining local
government administration as an instrument of grassroots development in
Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
1. To
examine local government administration as an instrument of grassroots
development.
2. To
examine the factors limiting local government administration in the purpose of
grassroots development.
3. To
determine the measures to promote grassroots development through the local
government.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Is
local government administration as an instrument of grassroots development?
2. What
are the factors limiting local government administration in the purpose of
grassroots development?
3. What
are the measures to promote grassroots development through the local
government?
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The following are the significance of this study:
1. Outcome
of this study will provide an overview for the general public on the role of
the local government administration as the instrument of grassroots
development.
2. This
research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the
effect of personality trait on student’s academic performance, thereby
constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study will cover the role of the local
government administration as the instrument of grassroots development
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