ABSTRACT
The term local government was first used during the
colonial era when its power and authority were vested in traditional rulers
whose modus operandi was not always democratic. Local government has always
been characterized with challenges, which has and is still a recurring decimal
in the
political
history of Nigeria.
Local Government is the earliest form of governance
before the existence of both state and Federal Government although it might
have had diverse names from the outset, but it have been government at the
local level exercises through representative councils backed by law. The
administration of the Local Council further reveals the paramount challenges of
governance at the local level embezzlement, bribery and corruption and
lackadaisical attitude to work. Local Government is the closest to the people.
Local Government has come a very long way in
Nigeria's life, they have been able to administer the localities effectively to
an extent, but they can do better if they are better funded. Hence the federal
and state government should allow the local government rule in their own domain
so as to be able to improve the quality of life and services rendered to the
people.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study
1.2 Purpose
of the Study
1.3 Limitation
of the Study
1.4 Statement
of the Problem
1.5 Scope
of the Study
1.6 Significance
of the Study
1.7 Research
Question
1.8 Definition
of Terms
References
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Development
of Local Government Administration in Nigeria
2.2 Local
Government
2.3 Functions
of Local Government Councils
2.4 Problems
of Local Government Councils
2.5 History
of Agege
2.6 Historical
Development of Agege References
CHAPTER
THREE
3.1 Evolution and Development of Local Government Administration in
Nigeria
3.2 Pre-Colonial
Administration in Nigeria
3.3 Native
Authority in Northern, Western and Eastern Nigeria
3.4 Transformation
in Local Government Administration in Nigeria
References
CHAPTER
FOUR
4.1 Historical
Development of Agege Local Government
4.2 Roles
and Functions of Agege Local Government
4.3 The Local
Government Executive Arm
4.4 Legislative Arm
4.5 Management
of Local Government Council
References
CHAPTER
FIVE:
SUMMARY,
RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations
Bibliography
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The Nigerian
State is by constitution a federal state comprising of Federal, State and Local
Government. This entity called Nigeria evolved over time especially from 1956,
when it was Three Regions North, East and West just before independence, by
1963, it became Four Regions North, East, West and Mid-Western Regions by 1967,
twelve states, it galloped to nineteen states by 1976.
At this time, the
Federal
Capital
Territory had been moved to Abuja, again in 1987, three more states were
created making twenty-one states, when in 1991 Nine more states were finally
created it brought the total numbers of Nigeria states to Thirty Six with
Federal Capital Territory.
Local Government
is the breaking down of a country .into small units or localities for the purpose
of administration on which the inhabitants of the localities concerned play
direct and full part through their elected representatives who exercise power
under the national government.
It is important
to note here that the name Local Government had not always been called that, it
had different names at different times and it went through an evolution before
it reached its present name.
Local Government
council has been in existence in Nigeria as the third tier of government.
Undoubtedly it is the closest to the people and it has the express ability to
affect the lives of the community directly.
According to the
1963 Republican constitution, Local government councils were created to handle
matters of local concerns· for example, market, motor parks, feeder roads and
participation in the national affairs of their country.
Local government
councils were established through an act called instrument to deal with
specific matters. They were created like corporate bodies because they have
legal existence to sue and be sued.
Some powers are
vested on the local government such as making bye laws, powers to punish
offenders and imposition of fines and levies in specific areas.
Reasons for
creation of councils include;
1.
Bringing government closer to the people
2.
Provision of essential services
3.
Equal and rapid development
4.
Community development
5.
Act as agent of both federal and state government e. t.c.
6.
Collection of Radio and Television License
7.
Establishment of cemetery and home for the destitute and
maintenance of same
8.
Management of Primary School Education.
9.
Provision of Transport Services within their locality.
10.
Maintenance of Laws and order and all facilities of
Federal and State Governments.
11.
Creation of recreational centers.
However the Local
Government has been characterized with problems ranging from
1.
Shortage of funds
2.
Inadequate trained personnel
3.
Bribery and Corruption
4.
Embezzlement of Public Funds
5.
Political Interference
6.
God-Fatherism and Nepotism
7.
Favoritism
8.
Political Victimization
9.
Community turbulence by thugs and miscreants 10. Low
incentives among others.
These numbers of
abnormally were factors that marred the existence of the local councils.
Fortunately, the
Local Council was later revamped by the 1976 reform in order to make right the
wrongs, and set a United pace for the councils in Nigeria, the very first
reform was birthed in 1976. This was the beginning of a new era and days of
glory ahead for. Local Government Administration in Nigeria
The 1976 reform
was to:
1.
Provide a two way channel of communication between local
communities and the central government.
2. Mobilization of human resources through the
involvement of the public in their local development drive.
3.
Making of appropriate services and development with
response to local wishes.
4.
Initiate delegation of local representatives' bodies
5.
Facilitate and exercise democratic self-governance at the
local level.
6.
Bringing government closer to the people of the community
7.
Also to encourage and develop leadership potentials and
initiative among others.
By the 1976
reform, the local government was to be headed by a democratically elected
chairman by the people of the community involved.
A vice chairman
selected alongside the chairman, a secretary to the council to be selected by
the ruling party by appointment.
The reform
brought further uniformity in operation of the council by creating seven
departments namely:
1. Personnel
2.
Finance and Supplies
3.
Budget and Statistics
4.
Primary Health Care
5.
Works and Housing
6.
Agriculture, Rural and Social Development
7.
Education
Each of these
departments was headed by a head called Head of Department (HOD).
Four more units
were created by statues of law, these are;
i. Information
ii. Legal
iii. Audit
iv. Waste and
disposal or sanitation
These were
inculcated to sanitize the system, and also compliment them. Since local
government councils are created by law, as an entity and corporate body, they
are expected to generate revenue.
This is done
through imposition of fines, taxes, rates and license from motor parks,
markets, abattoirs, tenement rate, trade permit, vehicle license,
registrations, trade corporate, commercial undertaking, hawking permit, storage
fee, food and regulated permit, street naming, traffic towing vehicles and
court fines etc.
There are also
(3) three external sources of revenue as stipulated by the 1976 reform that
also form a major source of income for local governments. Ten percent (10%)
was to be given by the federal to the local council but this has since
increased to (23%) twenty three percent today.
The state is also
bound by law to remit (10%) ten percent of her IGR to all Local Councils within
her jurisdiction. Even after the 1976 reform, others also came up to correct
further lapses of the 1976 reforms, the 1981 and 1988 had divergent opinions on
different issues on local government but they all had uniformity on allocation
of revenues to the local government councils.
Allocation from
excess crude oil came into existence years after Nigeria as major export shifted
from agricultural produce to crude oil. However, most local government councils
have not been able to access the crude oil allocation and are often short
changed by the states before getting to the local councils and sometimes the
federal governments are not able to meet their expected performance due to
inadequate fund.
LOANS: Local government
are backed by law to obtain loan to execute certain capital intensive projects
within their terrain, but the loan is subject to what can be repaid by the
local government in question.
BONDS: Local governments
are also eligible to buy bonds in order to generate more revenue for their
local councils.
All together, the
inadequacies of fund have always been a major source of problem as councils
have not been able to function and deliver maximally as expected.
1.1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
1.
The purpose of this work is to sensitize the public on the
roles of local government in Nigeria.
2.
To understudy the prospects and problems of local
government administration in Nigeria with reference to Agege Local Government
of Lagos State.
1.2 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Different factors
contributed to the limitation of this work. Financial constraint was a major
part, Uncooperative attitude of the local government officials which made
accessing information very difficult and sometimes inaccessible.
Investigation and
data collection was also greatly hampered due to this fact. Above all, in the
course of this research, it was discovered that most local government offices
lack good documentation of activities in different department of the council,
and this seems to be a general trend in most government offices in Nigeria,
Local Government inclusive and Agege Local Government not excluded.
1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
1.
To establish whether or not there is a need for the
creation of Local Government Councils.
2.
Has Local Government councils been able to influence life
socially, politically and economically.
3.
Why the creation of Agege Local Government Council
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
It encompasses
target local government councils in Lagos state and Nigeria at large. Focus is
however on Agege Local Government Council of Lagos State, being one of the
earliest created local governments with a fairly large population and vibrant
socioeconomic, political and religious activities.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
1.
The findings will make people participate actively In
Local Government administration in Nigeria.
2.
To make Local Government accountable to the people of
their communities and the Central Government.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION
This project aims
at finding out if:
1.
There is need for creation of Local Government Councils
and how close they are to the people at the grassroots?
2.
They have provided enough infrastructure and maintenance
of such
3.
They have been able to fully promote the ideas of the
Federal Government and entrench the same at the local level.
1.7 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT: is a form of
public administration which in a majority of contexts, exists as the lowest
tier of administration within a given state. Local, Government has been defined
as the earliest form of governance in that it dates back to the era of village
chiefs, clan heads, religious, traditional leadership .:
ELECTION: An election is a
formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to
hold public office.
POLITICS: as a term is
generally applied to the art or Science of running governmental or state
affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to
institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the corporate,
academic, and religious segments of society. It consists of "social relations
involving authority or power" and to the methods and tactics used to formulate
and apply policy
BYE-LAW: (sometimes also
spelled bylaw, by law or byelaw) can refer to a law of local or limited
application passed under the authority of a higher law specifying what things may
be regulated by the by-law. It can also refer to the internal rules of a
company or organization.
DEMOCRACY: is a form of
government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions
that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal (direct or indirect)
participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law.
It encompasses social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the 'free
and equal practice of political self-determination. It originates from the
Greek
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: is a political
entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions
united by a central (federal) government. In' a federation, the self-governing
status of the component states, as well as the division of power between them
and the central government are typically constitutionally entrenched and may
not be altered by a unilateral decision of the latte
STATE GOVERNMENT: A state
government (provincial government in Canada) is the government of a
sub-national entity in a federal form of government, which shares political
power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some
level of political autonomy, or be subject to the direct control of the federal
government.
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