CHAPTER ONE
1.1. Background of the
study
Local government is
the third tier in Nigeria’s federal system. To underscore its importance,
section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
specifically guarantees a democratically elected local government system, while
schedule 4 of the same constitution defines the functions of the local
governments (Abubakar, 2012:25). Local government is the government at the
grassroots that is nearest to the local populace.
The implication of
its constitutionally guaranteed governance structure and its closeness to the
people is that the institution of infrastructural development and
administration and their norms in governance should be more evident at this
level. But contrarily, local governments in Nigeria are often seen as nurturing
grounds for barefaced corruption and near absence of infrastructural
development and administration in the conduct of governance Local government
areas. Local governments are intended to serve as the lower tiers of governance
that will be most responsive to the needs of the people; they are also expected
to enhance political participation at the grassroots (Afrobarometer, 2008:1).
However,
this is not the case; instead of discharging their functions as development
centers, Local governments have acquired notoriety for corruption, fiscal
indiscipline and overall irresponsibility. The lack of integrity,
Infrastructural development and Administration at the level of governance
definitely constitutes a heavy toll on the well-being of ordinary Nigerians
(Agbo, 2012:20). Stealing has become a major hobby and pastime for Nigerians in
high places. It has become a big time business. All arms of government are
affected (Gabriel, 2011:19), Local government inclusive.
Against this
analytical background, this paper examines various strategies, for
institutionalizing the culture of administration in the Local government in
Nigeria, so that they can be repositioned as bedrock for service deliveries and
infrastructure development at the grassroots.
1.2. Statement of the problem
The research
work is to evaluate and investigate the problems associated with the culture of
administration in Local Government in Nigeria. Local government councils have
been faced with the problem of Employments racketing, Corruption in
procurement, Internal revenue collection, Award of contracts to the wrong
contractors, etc.
Salaries and
allowances are paid to non-existing workers as if they are duly recruited staff
of local government. Government goes on to pay this money without a due process
to ascertain this transparent nature of transaction. The accounting officers in this
process go on in this act without adequate accountability of its
responsibility.
Overhead
expenditures in the council are incurred without documentation; documents that
are not favorable to the council chairman or officer-in-charge are destroyed to
avoid persecution after services. Tender are not observed as a process of
procurement but insistently friends and family members are not given the
mandate to supply goods and provide services to the council without tenders.
Contract
award has been on man know man, which could either be political allies or
financers. These contractors as a return to investment of financial support to
the council chairman either abandon or execute the contract to the extent to
which they wish, in other to make back their money invested in election of the
council chairman knowing fully well that the council chairman will not query
him.
In
this acts, council inhabitants suffer. The federal government of Nigeria
presumes that introduction of accountability and infrastructural development
(the progress) in the administration of government activity down to local
government could put a check to these illegitimate activities in financial
transactions of government down to council activities. This research tends to
access the value of accountability and infrastructural development inventions
in the local government financial and non-financial of government down to
council activities as enshrine by due process office.
1.3.
Objective
of the study
The
following objectives to this research work stand to be achieved;
i. Examine the role of Local Government in
socio-economic development of Enugu North local government;
ii. Examine the performance of local
government through assessment of some projects;
iii. Evaluate the levels of political
empowerment through democratic performance to demonstrate if decentralization
has to lead empowerment
iv. Assess how the representative of the local
government is to the people of ENUGU NORTH by using the nature of election as
an indicator for measuring the levels of representatives of local government.
1.4
Research questions
i.
Did the
constitution make any provision for infrastructure development in Nigeria?
ii.
How can you
rate the administration of Enugu North local government?
iii.
Does Local Government administration affect the development
at the Grassroot?
iv.
Do you think empowering the local people can bring about
development at the grassroot?
v.
Do you think local government aims at pursuing development at
the grassroot level?
vi.
Are you fully satisfied with the performance of Enugu North local
government since the new democratic dispersion in 1999 till present?
vii.
Has Enugu North local government undertaken any employment
exercise for the benefit of the grassroot people?
1.5
Statement of research hypothesis
The
research work is based on the following hypotheses which are formulated in
tackling the problems in the subject.
H0: Culture of Administration has
not put to check the circumvention of due process in financial and
non-financial activities of the local government council in Nigeria.
H1: Culture of Administration and
infrastructural development has put to check the circumvention of due process
in financial and non-financial activities of local government councils in
Nigeria.
H0: The inhabitants of local
government council has not benefited from the proceed of administration in
improvement of social amenities.
H1: The inhabitants of local
government council has benefited from the proceed of administration and
infrastructural development in improvement of social amenities.
H0: The process of administration
and infrastructural development has not affected the official and non-official
financial behavioral attitudes of council attitudes of staff in Nigeria.
H1: The process of administration
and infrastructural development has affected the official and non-official
financial behavioral attitudes of council staff in Nigeria.
1.6 Significant of the study
The study was carried out in ENUGU NORTH, a rural area in
South West of Nigeria, the decision to study this area and this particular
choice of topic was rooted from its historical status which inspired me to ask
questions. In recent time, much has been said and written about the failures of
government as implementers of socio economic growth to reach the grassroots.
Development
forces are gradually gaining ground in ENUGU NORTH because of the presence of
the local government which operates at the grassroots and has the capacity to
boost participation but they are not responding adequately and efficiently to
the needs of the local people for reasons that will be discussed in the analysis.
Much as been written on Infrastructure development but it seems to be having
very little effect on the problems it seeks to address: are the local people
empowered?
The rationale
behind this study is therefore rooted in the great discrepancy between policy
discussed and practiced (According to Bomitt 2011).
This work is
not only directed at bringing more knowledge to the public and the researchers
benefit. It focuses principally on putting forward practical and sustainable
results obtainable by policy makers, planners donor agencies and various
interest groups in Nigeria, the undeveloped and developing nations as a whole
it could be of profound importance to the ENUGU NORTH community and for
Grassroot people’s struggles for a better life thereby focusing attention and
bringing a solution to well identified local problems.
The
significant of this study is of two folds:-
i.
Firstly as source of reference for professionals and policy
makers when they are nothing to implement new policies
ii.
Secondly the background information provides insight into
the dilemmas of the developing world and Nigeria specifically.