THE CENTRALITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL INTEGRATION: AN OVERVIEW OF IKEJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE

ABSTRACT

One of the most fundamental reason why local government were established is to bring government nearer to the local populace so as to serve as a conduit pipe for national development as well as avenue for nation building. Ever since the establishment of Local Government all over the country, it has undergone various reformatory stages with a view to making it effective and vibrant in it performance to the yearning and aspiration of the local people. Despite this, the local government institution as a third tier of government since inception have not fulfill its tasks as it claim to be the centre of national integration owing to undue interference and bias-politicization of political actor in high level of government. In view of this, the study tends to examine how local government should play in bringing about development at the grassroots level as well as national development.

The study adopts primary and secondary data. The primary data consist of oral face to face interview of key information from Ikeja Local Government council, which consist of the Local Government Chairman, the Secretary, the Supervisory Councilor for development and integration, traditional rulers, Political Analyst, Local Government Developers and Intergovernmental Office for the Local Government.  The instrument of the research is in-depth interview method. The secondary data consist of the utilization of Library Archival Methods, Internet Browsing, Conference papers and materials adequate to form good judgment of the work. The study also adopts analytical approach, documentary, and descriptive concepts. The work is situated on Theory of Integration.

The study noted that Local Governments are relevant in national development. It also observed that a lot of factors hindered the efficient performance of local government functions, especially an undue interference from the tiers of government. The research revealed that local government is crucial for national development, which can be achieved through national integration.

Conclusively, the development of the society and its rudiments are located in the management of the affairs of local government. Thus, the ideal for local government to plan and manage their own affairs at present and in the near future depends wholly on how far the integration of local government into the national body for development is assured. This is also because Local Government contributes effectively for national development and national integration.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                  i Certification                                                                                      ii

Dedication                                                                                iii

Acknowledgement                                                           iv

Abstract                                                                                   v

Table of Content                                                                       vi

CHAPTER ONE - GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1         Introduction                                                                     2

1.2         Statement of Problems                                                    2

1.3         Objectives of Study                                                         4

1.4         Significance of Study                                                       4

1.5         Literature Review                                                            5

1.6         Scope of Study                                                                6

1.7         Method of Data Collection

1.8         Limitation of Study                                                           6

1.9             Organisation of Studies                                                   7

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1.      Conceptual    Thoughts

2.2.      Local Government and Conceptual Clarification

2.3       Ikeja Local Government Administration

2.4       The Generalogy of Ikeja Local Govenrment

2.5       Administrative Structure and Departments in Ikeja Local Government

2.6       Administration and Personnel Management

2.7.      Works and Housing

2.8       Health and Environmental Services

2.9.      Agriculture and Rural Development

2.10    Education

2.11    The Finance and Supply

2.12    Others Sections/Units

CHAPTER THREE

THE GENERAL APPRASIAL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES

3.1       Function of the Local Government

3.2       Finance of the Local Government

3.3       The Traditional Rulers and Institutions

CAPTER FOUR: HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROBLEMS

4.1       The Role of Local Government In social Political   Economic Development

4.2       The Problems of Local Government

4.3       The Future Local Government in Nigeria

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1       Findings

5.2       Summary

5.3       Recommendation

5.4       Conclusion

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CHAPTER ONE

                                                GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

One of the major reasons of Establishing Local Government is to involve as much as possible members of the local area in regulating and administering their own affairs.

Hitherto, it affords them the opportunity (people) to participate in the decision-making and in execution of matters that affect them closely.

In much the same way, the guideline for Local Government reform (Nigeria) of 1976 define it as government as the grassroots level exercised specific power within defined area.

It is therefore often felt that, the whole essence of creating local government is to promote democracy and social mobilization, which will no doubt culminate in the rapid process of social political and economic development. Hence, the implementation of wide range of functions by the Local Government is no doubt a function of national development. That is the more reason why local government has been as the “loci of national development”.

The importance of Local Government as conduit pipe for national development cannot be underestimated in any nation. This is because local government contributes to the creation of essential services to the local people’s employment opportunity, local participation and mobilization seen in the center of democracy.

Thus Local Government is seen to be mediating both rural development as well as national development, thus,

However, the nature and character of local government currently in Nigeria had a negative impact on the search for national development.

The chequered history of local government since the emergence of native administration all over the country till 1950’s when market changed in the local government system began.

Presently, the capacity of local government is castrated to the extent that it could not play any role in the rapid process of development. The lingering controversy between state and federal government on the creation of local government as well as the high level of corruption between the state governors and local government chairman lend credence to this assertion. In the episode of control of local government, thereby continue to make mess of the local government.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

Giving the crisis that bedeviled the Local Government through chequered and the antecedent failure in bringing about the much needed national development for Nigeria, the debate about the existence and future of local government is gaining currency due to this background. Perhaps, core to the discussion is that the future of local government in Nigeria is becoming uncertain.

The 1999 constitution and the effective Nigerian federalism lend credence to the growing debate. As at now, it is becoming obvious that local government may not be able to play any viable role or act as an agent of national development, even as the various reforms of 1976 to 1989 were fundamental in giving a foundation and template for the actualization of the essence of Local Government as well as third tier of government.

However, some questions raised are:

1.          What are the chequered histories of local government?

2.          Why is the local government system/administration in Nigeria becoming ineffective in mediating and facilitating the rapid process of development, ever as the 1976 and 1989 reforms lend credence to local government system?

3.          Is it a truism that the contradiction in 1999 constitution of Nigeria, the terms of creation and control of local government, the bone of its crises and deformities. Does it require a review?

4.          Is local government well funded by the federal and state government as well as retaining its autonomy to doggedly pursue or act as agent national development?

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The objectives of this research work among other things shall include the following:

1.    To examine the exact chequered history of local government in Nigeria.

2.    To identify the constitution as it relates to local government establishment and control.

3.    To highlight the role of local government in national development

4.    To provide the content and constitutional instrumentalities on which local government could advance its institutional struggle and autonomy.

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The significance of this study shall be predicated on the following:

Firstly, to be able to search for growth oriented and development propelled local government as an administration of national development.

Secondly, to be able to determine who should control the local government between the federal and state government so as to resolve the lingering crisis on local government creation and control between the state and federal government. Thirdly, to be able to emphasize the need for funding local government properly with a view of playing somewhat vibrant role in local as well as national development.

Fourthly, to be able to canvas for reform and local government autonomy, such that local government can retain its status as a third tier of government oriented development propelled local government as an administration of national development.

Fifthly, to be able to determine who should control the local government between the federal and state government so as to meet the lingering crisis on local government creation and control between the state and federal government. Sixthly, to be able to emphasize the need for funding local government properly with a view of playing somewhat vibrant role in local as well as national development.

Seventhly, to be able to cause for reform and local government autonomy, such that local government can retain its status as a third tier of government.

Finally, it will close the gap in knowledge and foster national integration between the local government and other tiers of government while extending the frontier of knowledge.

1.5     METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION

This research will undertake both primary and secondary sources of data collections.

The primary data will be obtained through the use of questionnaires, oral face-to-face interviews and observations. In it questionnaire will be administered to a sample of residents in Ogba, Oregun, ipodo, Anifowoshe, Serikiaro, Allen Opebi and Isaleawori areas as well as personal interviews and observations made within the community.

The secondary data will be collected from text books, journals, conference papers websites, newspaper reports and relevant materials.

In all, two hundred (200) questionnaires would be administered to the resident in different parts of Ikeja Local Government area.

Responses to these questions would be collected and analyzed using sample percentage rating. The research is a survey research. This research work is a descriptive survey research in which only part of the residents were studied.

The study was conducted in Ikeja Local Government which make up Ogba, Oregun, ipodo, Anifowoshe, Serikiaro, Allen Opebi and Isaleawori areas of Lagos State.

The accessible population for this study consisted of actual resident in the four zones which made up ward F1 in Ikeja community.

The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. The questionnaire comprise of twenty items which reflected the six research  questions Most items on the  questionnaire contained negative and positive questions to avoid leading questions. The questions are structured in order to assess the respondent’s knowledge about the local government. The respondents were to indicate carefully and appropriately their response to the questions.

A pilot test was conducted on the elements of the sample to ensure the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Based on the result obtained some questions were validated by the project supervisor. And in the light of the suggestions, corrections were made.

The researchers visited the four areas of the study and administered the instruments to the respondents personally. They waited for the respondents to fill in their responses which enabled them to clarify issues. High percentage returns was achieved hence, two hundred and fifty (250) completed questionnaires were recovered.

The simple percentage rating was used to analyze the responses to the questions. This helped to know at a glance the general assessment of the respondents.

1.6.    SCOPE OF STUDY

It is within the confines of this study to examine local government administration and national integration of development of the country in terms of nation building. Premised on this, the work will cover 1999 to 2010 as its period of investigation.

1.7     LIMITATION OF STUDY

This study shall be limited to the local government administration and national integration. However, the unbridled nature of local government will no doubt require us to reflect some germane issues, which will give a sound footing to the research. Also, issues that will not be useful to the research will be delimited.

1.8     ORGANISATION OF STUDY

The research work is divided into five chapters:

Chapter one shall include: the background of the study, statement of problems, statement of hypotheses, objectives of study, theoretical framework, and organsiation of study.

Chapter two shall be literature review of relevant concepts in the study viz local government, local administration and local government autonomy.

Chapter three shall examine local government administration. We shall take cognizance of the history, administrative structure, function, finance staffing and place of traditional rulers in the Ikorodu Local Government Administration.

Chapter four shall examine the role of local government administration and national integration. It shall reflect on the problems local government encounter which may likely affect its capacity in playing a key role in national development as well as the prospects and future of local governments in Nigeria.

Finally, chapter five is the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

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