ABSTRACT
This
study investigates the administrative problems confronting local government
administration, with particular reference to Kumbotso Local Government Area of
Kano State. Local governments are established as the third tier of government
to bring governance closer to the people, promote grassroots development, and
ensure effective service delivery. However, over the years, several
administrative challenges have hindered their performance and efficiency. The
purpose of this research is to examine these problems, identify their causes,
and propose practical solutions that could improve administrative efficiency
and enhance the socio-economic development of the area. The study adopts both
qualitative and quantitative research methods. Data were collected through the
use of questionnaires, interviews, and documentary reviews. The target
population includes local government staff, community leaders, and residents of
Kumbotso. A sample was selected using simple random sampling techniques to
ensure representativeness. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive
statistics such as frequency tables and percentages to summarize responses and
identify major trends. Findings from the study reveal that administrative
inefficiency in Kumbotso Local Government is largely attributed to factors such
as poor funding, inadequate manpower, political interference, corruption, and
lack of proper training for personnel. The research also identified issues of
poor communication between elected officials and career administrators,
excessive bureaucracy, and inadequate community participation in
decision-making processes. Furthermore, irregular payment of staff salaries and
lack of transparency in resource management have contributed to low staff
miorale and poor service delivery. The study establishes that these challenges
collectively undermine the effectiveness of local government administration in
delivering essential services such as healthcare, education, sanitation, and
rural development. Consequently, the intended purpose of bringing government
closer to the grassroots has not been fully realized in Kumbotso Local
Government Area. Based on the findings, the research recommends several ways
forward. These include improving financial autonomy for local governments,
reducing political interference in administrative affairs, enhancing staff
training and development, and strengthening accountability mechanisms. The
study also suggests that community participation should be encouraged to ensure
that local projects reflect the genuine needs of the people. Furthermore,
modern management practices and digital record systems should be adopted to
improve efficiency and transparency. In conclusion, the study emphasizes that
effective local governance depends largely on sound administrative practices,
committed leadership, and proper resource management. By addressing these
administrative problems, Kumbotso Local Government—and indeed other local
governments in Nigeria—can play a more meaningful role in promoting grassroots
development and democratic governance.
Keywords: Local
Government, Administration, Kumbotso, Problems, Governance, Efficiency,
Development.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Approval page ii
Declaration page iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of contents vi
Abstract vii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE
CASE STUDY 2
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE
RESEARCH PROBLEM 5
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE
STUDY 6
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION/
HYPOTHESIS 7
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY 7
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY 8
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE
STUDY 8
1.8 DEFINITION OF THE
KEY TERMS 9
1.9 ABSTRACT
CHAPTER
TWO LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 INTRODUCTION 12
2.0.1 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 12
2.0.2 DEFINITION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF ADMINISTRATION 13
2.0.3
DEFINITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT 14
2.3 THE WAY FORWARD IN STRENGTHENING LOCAL
GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA 19
2.4.0 REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL WORK RELATED TO THE STUDY 21
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 INTRODUCTION 26
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN 26
3.2POPULATION OF THE
STUDY 26
3.3 SIMPLE SIZE AND
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE 27
3.4 RESEARCH
INSTRUMENTATION 27
3.5 METHOD OF DATA
COLLECTION 27
3.6 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS 28
3.7 VALIDATY AND
RELIBILITY 28
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION
AND ANALYSIS 29
4.1 INTRODUCTION 29
4.2 Summary of Major Findings 35
4.3 Conclusion 37
CHAPTER
FIVE
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 INTRODUCTION 38
5.2 SUMMARY OF THE
STUDY 38
5.3 CONCLUSION 38
5.4
RECOMMENDATIONS 39
5.5
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH 40
5.6 CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE 41
Reference
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Local government
administration exists primarily to provide services that will make life worth
living right from the grassroot level. Government at the local level plays a
crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness in the provision of public goods and
services to the vast rural population. The creation of local government
anywhere in the world stems from the need to facilitate developments at the
grassroots (Idu, 2013). All political systems seek the attainment of effective
and efficient service delivery at the grassroot. This is because; local
government service delivery system anywhere in the world affects day to day
activities of citizens at the grassroot. Thus whatever is the mode of
government; local government has been essentially regarded as path to and
generator of national integration, administration and development (Arowolo,
2008).
The 1976 local government
reform introduced a uniform system of local government administration
throughout the country, recognized local government as third tier of government
and granted financial and functional autonomy to local government
administration in Nigeria. The reform was a major departure from the previous
practice of local government administration in Nigeria ( Idada 2010).
Since the local government
reform in 1976, the statutory means for harnessing the human and material
resources have been put in place to facilitate sustainable grassroots
development. However, the achievement of this fundamental goal is dependent on
the number of resources at the disposal of the local government and the
prudency with which it is used. It should be noted that one of the ways of
bringing government closer to the people at the grassroot is through the
delivery of service in a satisfactory, efficient, effective and adequate manner.
The efficient and effective provisions of basic amenities and social
infrastructure for the people at the grassroot are key factors to the existence
of any government. Local government in modern day life is responsible for
delivering basic services to the grassroot (its local communities) in efficient
and effective manner. But its inefficiency and ineffectiveness in addressing
the primary needs and wants of the people at the grassroot has made the third
tiers of government irrelevance in the administration of the country and become
the lowest tier of government to the people (ibrahim 2014)
1.1 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
OF KUMBOTSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Kumbotso Local Government
Area was one of the important councils in Kano State. It was located in the
South-West of the State Capital, about 17km from Kano city center.
Administratively, the area had 35 village heads and 11 political wards. It
shared boundaries with Dawakin Kudu, Madobi, Warawa, Gezawa, Gwale, Kano
Municipal, and Tarauni Local Government Areas.
The people of Kumbotso were
predominantly Hausa and Fulani, who spoke Hausa and Fulfulde as local
languages, while English remained the official language for administration and
education.
According to the 2006
population census, Kumbotso had 287,905 inhabitants. By 2024, projections by
the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimated the population to have
surpassed 450,000, driven by natural growth and rapid urbanization. This growth
contributed to both opportunities and challenges in infrastructure, education,
and healthcare.
Occupation
1. Farming: Kumbotso Local
Government Area is mainly made up of the Hausa/Fulani with a handful of other
minority tribes. The people are predominantly farmers with a rich agricultural
heritage and gardening in both dry and rainy seasons. Crops cultivated include
guinea corn, millet, maize, tomatoes, beans, sugar cane and wheat. These farm
products are sold within and outside the Local Government Area.
2. Animal Husbandry: People
of the Local Government Area also engaged cattle, sheeps and goats. The cattle
are usually taken out for grazing by the Fulani head’s men, who rear them for
commercial purpose. The cows are usually milked in the morning before taken out
for grazing.
3. Arts and Crafts: Arts and
crafts are also part of the people’s culture. In Kumbotso Local Government
Area, various arts and crafts are practiced, these include, Blacksmithing,
Leatherworks and Poultry. The main rehabilitation centre is where different
types of handcrafts are made.
Markets
Kumbotso Local Government
Area possesses various markets with inland and foreign business potentialities
among which are:
I. The Mariri Yan Goro: This market deals mainly in Kola nuts. It is a depot of Kola nuts
transported mainly from the western part of the country to this market, where
traders from within Kano and neighboring states buy and resale.
ii. Yan Lemo Market:
This is fruits market. Fruits such as Oranges, Banana, Pineapple and mango are
brought to this market in Lorries. From there they are brought and transported
to different parts of the State.
iii. Yankatako Market: This
market deals in “Katako – Wood.” Hence, wood of various types is stocked and of
different sizes for various uses for sale. It is the main wood market in the
Kano State.
The Challawa River
The Challawa River is one of
the most important rivers in Kano State. And fortunately, part of it runs
through the Local Government Area. The Challawa River is a source of the
following:
1. Irrigation: Root
farmlands along the banks of the river are irrigated, enabling farmers to
cultivated dry season crops such as tomatoes, wheat, sugar cane, and pepper.
2. Fishing: Fishing
activities also take place in the river, boosting the income of the people
engaged in fishing.
3. The banks of the river
are ideals for picnic and relaxation, and of course, a canoe rides across it.
The home of Industries:
Kumbotso Local Government
Area houses a vast number of industries. These industries range from those
producing beverages, households’ items, and tannery, to those in the
agro-allied sector.
Economic Potentials
1. Kumbotso is a producer of
grains such as millet, maize and guinea corn. These attract the industrialists
to setup more flour and feed mills which brought about more job opportunities
in the area.
2. Water, electricity and
manpower are necessary for investment and they are available in sufficient
quality in the Area.
3. Being very close to the
metropolis, investors can be sure of making returns on their investments.
4. Dairy industries can
utilize the opportunity of its being an area of cattle rearing to set up
cottage or large-scale dairy industries.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE
RESEARCH PROBLEM
In Nigeria, local government
administration has hardly enjoyed a considerable amount of efficiency as a
result of so many problems such as poor management of both human and materials
resources to the extent that growth and development have not felt enormously
towards the realization of its goals. Secondly, the issue of local government
autonomy to some extent affects it's administrative
performance. Inadequate qualified and professional personnel as well as
insufficient training opportunities are the obstacles to the administration
success in the Area. This study therefore, concerns itself with the following
research questions:
- To what extent does poor management practice at local level hinders
the local government administration efficiency?
- What role does autonomy play in the development and improvement of
local government administration?
- What implication do inadequate professional perhsonnel bring about
in achieving effective local government administration?
- What are the yardsticks for measuring local government
administration efficiency?
- Does politics play any role in diminishing local government
administration performance?
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Local Governments are viable
instruments for rural transformation, development and the delivery of social
service. Therefore, in order to achieve this crucial role at local level,
effective administration is needed to have a prudent management of funds geared
toward efficient service .The general objective of this study is to make a
critical appraisal on the effective Administration and Local Government
efficiency in Kumbotso Local Government Area. of Kano state. In doing this, the
following objectives will bear the focus of the study:
1. To analyse implication of poor management practice toward local
government administration efficiency.
2. To investigate on whether autonomy is one of the factor militating
against development and improvement of local government administration.
3. To examine the implication of inadequate professional personnel in
achieving effective local government administration.
4. To identify the yardstick used in measuring local government
administrative efficiency.
5. To identify whether politics plays any role in diminishing local
government administration performance.
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTION/HYPOTHESES
- What are the implications of poor management practice in local
government that lead to inefficiency.
- What role does autonomy of local government play in the development
and sustainability of the people.
- How does lack of professional and qualified man power affect the
effectiveness and efficiency of local government administration
- How is efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery performance
measured in the local government
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
STUDY
The study is very imperative
in the sense that it will compliment past and present work done on local
government administration. This research is intended to broaden the
intellectual horizon as well as an open gate for further studies with a view to
enhancing the Local Government administration system.
The study will assist the
ministry for local government to use the findings and implement them for better
administrative performances in Kano State Local Government Areas.
In addition, it is also hope that the study
will assists the student of public administration and local government
administrators to use and further the research for both academic and
administration efficiency and effectiveness.
The study will be
significant as it will contribute to existing knowledge on local government
administration, provide insights for policymakers, and serve as a reference for
students and researchers in public administration. Although the study will be
limited to Kumbotso Local Government between 2023 and 2025, and may face
financial, time, and material access constraints, it is expected to generate
findings that will aid in strengthening administrative efficiency at the
grassroots. Recommendations will also be made to enhance transparency,
autonomy, personnel development, and accountability as ways forward for
effective local governance.
1.6 SCOPE OF the STUDY
The scope of the study will
be restricted to examining the administrative efficiency of Kumbotso Local
Government. It specifically investigates how various reforms have introduced
different strategies aimed at improving administrative efficiency within the
study area. The study further covers issues related to local government
administration and efficiency in service delivery, with a focus on the practice
and developments between the period 2023_2025
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
As with many research works,
this study is expected to encounter certain challenges. The major limitations
will include:
1. Financial Constraint: The
researcher may face insufficient funds, which will make it difficult to produce
the required number of questionnaires and handle other logistics.
2. Time Constraint: Limited
time may prevent the researcher from consulting and gathering as many research
documents, journals, and textbooks as desired.
3. Access to Materials: Some
relevant materials may not be easily accessible within the
Despite these anticipated
challenges, the documents and books that will be obtained are expected to
provide sufficient information and data for the successful conduct of the
study.
1.8 DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
Local Government: Local Government is a unit of government below the central regional or
state level established by law to exercise political authority through a
representation council within a defined geographical area (Olisa, et al
1990:8). Quoted in (Chukwu Emeka et al, 2014) Appadorai (1975:6) defined Local
Government as government by popularly elected bodies charged with
administration and executive duties in matters concerning the inhabitants of
particular district or place.
Administration: Administration is a collective mechanism for the expression of the will
or resources toward achieving certain predetermined goals. Administration can
also be referred to as the system in action. Gulick and Urwick (1997:10),
defined administration as the function that has to do with getting things done
or the accomplishment of defined objectives. It is essentially concerned with
the management of organizations in the pursuit of desired public or private
goals and objectives.
Effective Administration: It is assumed here that an effective administration is one who (a)
directs the activities of other persons and (b) undertakes the responsibility
for achieving certain objectives through these efforts. Within this definition,
successful administration appears to rest on three basic skills which we will
call technical, human and conceptual. It would be unrealistic to assert that
these skills are not interrelated, yet there may be real merit in examining
each one separately, and in developing them independently.
Local Government Efficiency: Administrative Efficiency is a common concept used on a daily basis by
all economic agents. However, there is no precise and a universally acceptable
definition of the term. It has a variety of meanings attached to it.
Nonetheless, there is still a common reference point by all users of the
concept. It is used mainly in reference to governmental actions that are geared
to serve the interest and ensure the wellbeing of the citizenry through proper
management of both human and material resources. The concept of Local
Government efficiency is the judicious utilization of Local Government resources,
proper conduct and management of governmental affairs at the Local Government
level to facilitate administrative effectiveness.
Assessment: Assessment is the process of gathering and discussing information from
multiple and diverse sources in order to develop a deep understanding of what
you know, understand, and can do with their knowledge as a result of their
educational experiences; the process culminates
1.9 Abstract
This study will investigate
the administrative efficiency of local government with a focus on Kumbotso
Local Government Area of Kano State. Local government administration is
expected to bring governance closer to the grassroots through effective service
delivery, but inefficiency, poor management of resources, political interference,
inadequate autonomy, and shortage of professional personnel are anticipated to
hinder its effectiveness. The study will aim to critically appraise the role of
reforms in improving administrative efficiency, examine the implications of
poor management practices, assess the effect of lack of autonomy, and determine
whether political factors diminish administrative performance. It comprises
five chapters: chapter on introduction, chapter two literature review, chapter
three research methodology while chapter four data analysis and presentation
and chapter five is summary recommendations conclusion .
The research will adopt a
descriptive design, relying on both primary and secondary data sources.
Questionnaires and interviews will be used to collect primary data from local
government officials, councilors, and community stakeholders, while secondary
data will be obtained from textbooks, journals, and government records. Data
will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.
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