ABSTRACT
This study
examines the local government finance and service delivery for community development. It adopted a descriptive research design to elicit data. 100 participants were selected using
the simple random sampling technique from the
staff of Badagry Local Government. Questionnaire
was used as the instrument for the study and
the collected data were statistically analyzed
with the simple percentage. The findings
revealed that there is
significant relationship between the state financial control and effective financial management at the local government area. This has led to rapid
development at the communal level.
This prompted a recommendation that the state government should do more in terms of assisting the local government
to achieve more rapid development.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
I .1 Background to
the Study
1.2 Historical
Background of Badagry Local Government Area
1.3 Statement
or Problem
1.4 Research
Questions
1.5 Research
Hypotheses
1.6 Objectives of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Significance
of the Study
1.9 Definition
of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 Purpose and function and local
government
2.2 1976
Local Government Reform in Nigeria
2.2.1 Mandatory
functions of Local Government
2.2.2 Current
Functions
2.3 Sources
of Local Government Finance
2.3.1 Block
Grant
2.3.2 Equalization
Grant
2.3.3 Percentage Grant
2.3.4 Unit
Grant
2.3.5 Ad
-Hoc or Special Grant
2.4 The
Revenue Allocation
System
2.5 Internal
Local Government Revenue Sources
2.6 Conceptualizing
Community Development.
2.7 The
role of local government in community development
2.7.1 National
building role
2.7.2 Social
studies administration role
2.7.3 The
planning process role
2.7.4 Data
collection instrument
2.7.5 Local
government areas as
growth centres
2.7.6 Agents of economic and social development 34
2.8 Challenges of local government
2.9 Theoretical
framework
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introducing
3.2 Restatement of Research
Hypotheses
3.3 Research
Design
3.4 Population
3.5 Sample
3.6 Data
Collection Instrument
3.7 Administration
or Instrument
3.8 Validity
and Reliability of the Instrument
3.9 Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
4.0 Introduction,
4.1 Presentation
and analysis of data
4.2 Test
of hypotheses
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations
References
Questionnaires
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Local Government as third tier of
government is very important because it is very close to the people. Local Government is the third and most basic level of
hierarchy in the three tiers of administration in Nigeria. It can be seen as a catalyst for grass- root, political, economic and social development.
Politically, local government system
is expected to bring the government closer to the people though popular
participation in governance. Economically, the local government
is expected to ensure that the fruits of development are evenly distributed
throughout the length and breadth of the country.
The evolution of local government administration in Nigeria began (over 30 years ago. Though in the
early years of the independence, local governments were not given the necessary
support in the running of local affairs. However after the attainment of independence in 1960, the
Federal Government began to have interest in the administration
of local affairs.
Local government as the third tier of government has been largely influenced by the purpose which it is expected
to serve and the degree of autonomy it should enjoy, one view is that is that
local government. is .a political authority set-up by a nation or state as
subordinate authority for the purpose of dispersing or decentralizing political
powers.
Firstly, it could take the form of
decentralization which is
handing over some administrative
authority or responsibility to lower level within central government ministries
and agencies. It entails shifting of the workload from centrally located
officials to staff or officers
outside of the national or state
capital.
Secondly, it could take the form of
development, which is the creation or strengthening of the financial
capabilities of sub-national units of government. Their activities
are substation outside the direct central of the central government.
Under the devolution form, local
units of government are autonomous and independent them separate or distinct (Gbogega, 1989).
Meanwhile, the history of local
government in Nigeria can be conveniently traced to the "Native
administration" system introduced by the colonial government. Before the advent
of colonial administration, in 1861, the people of Nigeria had developed
and operated one indigenous formal political and administrative; system with
different people of the entities later became Nigeria.
1.2 HISTORICALLY BACKGROUND OF
BADAGRY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
Sometimes in 1885, a Franco British
frontier Commission met in Badagry to established boundaries between former
Dabomeg, now Republic of Benin and Nigeria but earlier than this time precisely
on 7th of July 1863, the Akran of Badagry, (Oba of Badagry) and this his Chiefs and Signed the
treaty of cession of the town of Badagry and its territory to great Britain though the Queen's representatives.
This made Badagry not to be placed
under Lagos territory. Badagry was administered first as a district council and
later as a divisional council of the colony province under the Western region of Nigeria Local Government
Laws of 1953 and 1959. However, the 1976 local government council
with Awori-Ajeromi and Egun-Awori, districts under its jurisdictional
authority.
Though the extent of the present day
Badagry Local Government Area was first to administered between 1980 –
1983. However, the democratization of the
local government 1989 in Nigeria later led to the excision of Ajeromi-Ifelodun
and Ojo Local Government Area out of the old Badagry Local Government
Council. Nonetheless, the town has ever
remained the headquarters of Badagry Division which is one of the
administrative divisions in Lagos State.
The main occupations of the people of
Badagry are mat-weaving and fishing, with other domestic trade. These contribute immensely to the economy of
the local government area. Major tribes
and language of the area are Egun, Yoruba, and Aworis. The people of Badagry are predominantly mixed
religion with Muslims, Christians and Africa Traditional Religion.
The council secretariat is located on
Agric Road at Ajara while it presently runs six other area offices for
effective administration. The
establishment of the local government administration, conduct of business, as
well as the administrative and financial guidelines at Badagry local government
area are governed by the existing local government administration law (1999) in
the state which came into force on 4th October 1999. The Badagry Local government consists of the
executive and legislative arms.
The executive arm is made - up of;
A. Executive
Chairman
B. Vice Chairman
C. Two Supervisors, namely,
·
Supervisor
for Education
·
Supervisor
for Agric Rural and Social Development
D. The secretary to the local government
The legislative arm is made up of
elected councilors comprising of;
i. The speaker
ii. The deputy speaker
iii. Majority
leader
iv. Minority leader
v. Other
councilors
vi. Council clerk (A career officer)
Structurally, Badagry Local
Government Council has eight departments as follows:
- Personnel
Management
- Economically
Planning Research and
Statistics Department
- Finance
Department
- Budget
Department
- Legal
Unit
- Information
Department
- Audit
Waste and Sanitation Unit
- Primary
Health (are services Department]
The Badagry local government council,
like other councils derives
its revenue from internal and external sources. Internal sources of
revenue to the Badagry local government includes, commercially undertakings,
such as mass-transit service
scheme, motor park fees, market stall and
lock - up shop fees, local
licenses and fees, returns on investment and other miscellaneous sources, especially those conferred
on the local government by the constitution and laws of the state .
External
sources: The Badagry
local government area derives its finances externally from,
a. Federation
Account (Federal Allocation)
b. Value
Added Tax (VAT)
c. Subvention
from the state e.g. grants
Administratively, Badagry local
government council like others in the state is controlled by the state through
the department for local government in terms of personnel matters local
government services commission handles it.
1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The system of local government in Nigeria
is get to develop nor has it contributed positively to community development.
The local government areas have been facing enormous difficulties despite a considerable injection of fund into
them. Such difficulties have been hindering the effectiveness and efficiently
of their activities. Those problems arise from financial problem, delay in the receipt of
federal grants etc and it has greatly hampered the local governments in rendering appropriate services
and meaningful developmental programmes for the people.
The local government areas also
lacked qualified manpower to plan for the development at the local level, this
is due to the absence of modern techniques of management.
In view of the above, the state felt
that effective control and cffic.ent utilization or resources at the focal
government level will bring about ideal financial management, the operation of
the join t account. It is against the background of these
problems that the study seeks to assess the effect of local government financial
control on efficient mobilization of resources.
1.4 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were
asked as a guide to the study
i. Does Local Government seek permission
from the state government before sourcing funds for projects?
ii. Does the state government exercise
financial control over the local government areas?
iii. Does state financial control help in the
enhancement of financial planning at the local government areas?
iv.
Does state grant and local government finances have any
positive effect on community development?
v. Does the state government. gives statutory
allocation to local government as at when due?
1.5 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following hypotheses were formulated
as follows:
Hi: There is a significant relationship between
state financial control and effective financial management at the local
government area.
H0: There is no
significant relationship between state financial control and effective
financial management' at the local government area.
Hi:
There is a significant relationship
between state financial government budgetary provision and local government
performance.
H0: There is no
significant relationship between state government budgetary provision and local
government performance
Hi:
There is a relationship between state
project control over local government performance
H0:
There is no relationship between state
project control over local government performance.
Hi: There is relationship
between state human resources control and effective manpower development at
local government level.
H0:
There is no relationship between state
human resource controls an effective manpower development at local government level.
1.6 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this research is to find out how local government finances have affected community development in Badagry
local government area. Other specific objectives include:
a.
to determine the extent to which
state local government financial management at the local government level.
b.
to determine the pace of development
at the local government
area under study.
c. to
proffer solutions to the identified problems.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The research covers the effect of
local government finance on community development in Badagry local government.
1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The research will educate the
officials of the local government on how to improve financial management system
and effective revenue generation in order to bring about vast and high paced community development'.
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Fiscal Federalism: It refers to the existence of relationship between state and local
government in terms of financial affairs
Local government:
It can be defined as the government
at local level excising power through representative council established by low
to exercise specific powers within defined area (Ayo, 1986).
Community:
It can be defined as the group of that live together and thinks in commune e.g.
religion, race coronet on in order to achieve their aims and objectives.
Development:
It can be defined as the
social change in human endeavour.
Community Development: It can be defined as the process through which citizens are enabled to grow competent for the co-operation solution of their
community problems.
Higher Level of Government: Means state government.
Central Government: This term can be used to refer to the state government,
.even though it mostly applies to the federal government.
Click “DOWNLOAD NOW” below to get the complete Projects
FOR QUICK HELP CHAT WITH US NOW!
+(234) 0814 780 1594
Login To Comment