Local Government Autonomy and Grassroots Development

Local Government Autonomy and Grassroots Development (A Case of Nsukka Local Government of Enugu State)

ABSTRACT

Local government Autonomy and grass-root development ( A case of Nsukka Local government of Enugu state). The purpose of the study is to determine how local government autonomy has affected grassroots development in the Nsukka Local government Area of Enugu State. A total population of seven hundred and fifty staff working at Nsukka Local government was chosen for the study. The sample for the study was 213 staff using the Yaro Yamani method. Three (3) research questions were formulated to guide the study. Data analysis was done using a simple percentage. The major findings of the study were: Nsukka Local government lacks political autonomy as the State government interferes in their bye-law and policymaking process, the Local government is not been financed properly and even when financed the State will hinder such by interfering through the State joint Local government Account, administratively, the state determines, discipline, recruit, promote, etc the Local government staff and thereby denying administrative autonomy over their personnel. Despite these problems, it was recommended that: Nsukka Local government should have control over its finance, their personnel should be appointed, recruited, promoted, disciplined by themselves. They should equally make their bye-law and other policy-making themselves to boost its autonomy.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The struggle for Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria has been a recurring issue. It is as old as the history of Nigeria’s colonial state. Local government Administration practiced anywhere in the world is largely dependent on the historical, geographical, political, and economic life of the citizens. Nigeria with a long history of slavery. Colonization, as well as military and civilian administration which have to a large extent determined the system of local government Administration up till date. This work intends to access the various reforms or ordinances that the local government system in Nigeria has witnessed since 1914 during the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate by Fredrick Lord Lugard.

The Local Government during this period of 1914 is based on the Native Authority system whereby indirect rule and exploitation were the order of the day. According to Ogunna (1996), Native Authority is the traditional political authority at the Local Level which formed part of the machinery of the British colonial government charged with the responsibilities of maintaining law and order. Based on the Native Authority ordinance of 1916, a unified Local Government System was established in the Northern part because of their Emirate system of Administration practice before the colonial Administration. This Native Authority was later extended to the East and South with varying degrees of success. This native Authority did not satisfy the needs and aspirations of the local people and it arouse agitation from the rural citizens especially from the educated elites in southern Nigeria craving or desiring for greater participation in their affairs.

The Native Authority Ordinance failed because it has no autonomy to meet up with the demands of the citizen and as a result, the first Local Government reform was ushered in. Thus after the second World War in 1945, the colonial policies on Local Government changed coupled with the demands for greater participation and this led to the adoption of the representative or liberal democratic system of Local Government in the 1950s.

The 1950 Local Government reform serves as a foundation on which modern Local Government was built in Nigeria as it abolished the native Authority system. This reform paved way for the following features in the Local Government system; it has a three-tier system (country, district, and local council), it was granted the power of taxation as a source of funding, it introduced popularly elected Local Government council but the franchise is based on taxpayers and it equally recognizes that the Local Government should be given adequate autonomy as the council was given financial and administrative power. According to Ogunna (1996). This reform introduced a representative democratic Local Government system on the negative side. It suffered from conflicts among the tiers, inadequate funding, poor staffing, bribery, and maladministration. As a result of these problems coupled with intense politicking, no reform could be initiated until the military seized power in 1966 which rudely terminated the first republic. The 1966 Local Government reform was to correct the ills of the Local Government system they inherited.

However, all these reforms did not ensure a complete autonomy of the Local Government system until the introduction of the 1976 Local Government reform under the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo. This reform marked a turning point in Local Government Administration in the country. This reform was the federal government’s response to the recommendation of Chief Jerome Udoji public service review commission of 1974. The reform aims to make the Local Government more effective in its primary role of bringing development to the grassroots. It established a multi-purpose single-tier system throughout the country, with the same structure and function. Local Governments were recognized as the third tier of government with the federal structure. It provided for the Local Government to receive their statutory allocation from Federal Government through the State

Government. They were democratized through the popular or indirect election. The Local Government was given a specific function to perform and enshrined in the fourth schedule of the 1979 constitution. Local Governments were granted a relatively high level of autonomy.

From all indications, this reform is very important and distinct from other reforms and that is why Adamolekun (1979:3) has observed, what distinguished the 1976 Local Government reform from all the previous reform exercises in the country is the formal and clear recognition of the Local Government as constituting a distinct level of government with definite boundaries, clearly stated functions and provision for ensuring adequate human and financial resources.

Despite all these constitutional provisions which granted the Local Government autonomy in all ramifications, there is still little or no development they have brought to the rural dwellers which ought to be their utmost share from the National cake.

At this juncture, the researcher is solely directed at accessing the impact, status, entity, and autonomous existence of Nsukka Local Government in the development of their grassroots.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The rate of interference and control which the State and Federal Government put on Nigerian Local Government cannot be over-emphasized. This which has eaten up the Local Government does not only affect the Local Government Chairmen and Councilors but as well as the local people who feel neglected in the National cake, resources, and revenue allocations, the high rate of over-dependency by the Local Government on the federal and state Government in terms of finance administration. Some authors, scholars, and Administrators argue that this tier of government should be scraped away irrespective of its constitutional and legal framework.

To the Chairman and Councilors, it poses a problem as regards law-making, policies, and implementation functions allocated to them by the constitution.

Administratively, the personnel and human resources management of the Local Government in terms of recruitment, promotion, security, and disciplines staff within its area of jurisdiction is not free and fair. The State and Federal governments control them through the introduction of the integrated staff system.

Financially, Local Governments do not enjoy autonomy. Their freedom to impose local taxes, generate and allocate revenue within its assigned source, allocate its financial and material resources, determine and authorize its budget is greatly influenced by both the Federal and State governments. The statutory allocation which they receive through the State -joint Local Government Account is highly hampered by the State Governors.

Therefore, it is these views that the researcher deemed it necessary to examine and access how the autonomous Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu state is about grassroots development.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this research work is to determine how Local Government Autonomy has affected the grassroots development in the Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

However, in specific terms, the study is based on the following points:

I        To ascertain whether the process of lawmaking and policy implementation by the Councilors and Chairmen affects the grassroots development of Nsukka Local Government Area.

ii       To determine how the personnel Administration of Nsukka Local Government Area hampers its grassroots development

iii     To determine whether State interference in the financial allocation of Nsukka Local Government affects its grassroots development.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions have been constructed as a guide to the success of this research work to obtain a useful result.

i. To what extent has the process of lawmaking and policy implementation by the Councilors and Chairmen affects the grassroots development of the Nsukka Local Government Area.

ii. To what extent has the personnel Administration in Nsukka Local Government hampers its grassroots development.

iii. To what extent has the State interference in the financial allocation of Nsukka Local Government affected its grassroots development.

STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS

Ho: Law-making process and policy implementation by the Councilors and Chairmen does not affect the grassroots development of Nsukka Local Government Area.

Hi: The lawmaking process and policy implementation by the councilors and chairman does not affect the grassroots development of the Nsukka Local Government Area.

Ho:   The personnel Administration of the Nsukka local government does not hamper its grassroots development.

Hi:    The personnel Administration of the Nsukka local government does not hamper its grassroots development.

Ho:   The State interference in the financial allocation of Nsukka Local Government does not affect its grassroots development.

Hi:    The State interference in the financial allocation of the Nsukka Local Government does not affect its grassroots development.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The researcher employs General system theory in the course of this work.

This theory has so many writers on it such as Almond (1960), Easton (1965), Adamolekun (1983), and Offiong (1996). This theory argues that every system, including the political system, has a sub-system, including the political system has a sub-system that makes up the entire system. They have assigned functions and provided with enabling empowerment, including resources, the appropriate authority that enables them to discharge their responsibility optimally.

Applying this brief exposition of the political system analysis to the Nigerian local government system, the local government in the country constitutes the sub-system. They must be handled well in terms of being fed with adequate inputs (that is resources and appropriate authorities) as provided in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria so that they can contribute appropriately to the goals of the Nigerian political system as well it’s stability. From these, it is very useful to realize the importance of the general system theory in handling Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria.

They have been assigned with responsibilities to perform which benefit the people, not as part of Federal or State Government. So, if Local Government is not treated as a sub-system, it will bring frustration to the performance of their function and in the long run bring dissatisfaction among the rural people and their National cake will be neglected too.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work would be of benefit to the rural people in Nsukka Local Government of Enugu State. At the end of this work, the rural people will be able to enjoy their constitutional right which is rural development and when such is granted to them, they will no longer feel neglected in the National cake which has been their utmost need from the Local Government.

For scholars, researchers and Authors could also use or gather information to review this work and also use it as a reference to any related work they are writing since this work is reliable and validated.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

Local Government Autonomy and Grassroot development. A study of Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The researcher encountered so many constraints while carrying out this research work. The problems and the solutions are as follows: lack of power supply by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) Since power supply has been a serious problem in the Oko community, the researcher re-schedule reading at night to day time to avoid the problem of power supply.

Lack of funds: This problem was solved as it propel the researcher to borrow money from friends and families to supplement the cash saved before this work.

Lack of time: The researcher adjusted most of its programs which does not add any value to the success of this work.

Lack of material: Since there is no sufficient material for the research work, the researcher joined a study group where most of the problems confronting the work are discussed and settled. The researcher equally made out time to visit the cyber café for more information to supplement the information gotten from the study group.

These are the problems encountered by the researcher and how the researcher equally overcome them to make this work successful.

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

The following terms are used in this study which has a unique meaning that could be subjected to different meanings from different persons; are defined as follows:

GOVERNMENT: It is machinery through which the will of a State (country) is formulated expressed and attained

AUTONOMY: It is the freedom for a country, a region, or an organization to govern itself independently; the ability to act and make decisions without being controlled by anyone.

REFORM: This means the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, and unsatisfactory.

ORDINANCE: It is a degree or law promulgated by a state or National Government without the consent of the legislature such as for raising revenue through new taxes or mobilization of resources during an emergency.

AUTHORITY: It is defined as the process or right to give order and enforce obedience.

ALLOCATION: It means an authorization to incur expenses or obligations up to a specific amount, purpose, and within a specified period.

ENTITY EXISTENCE: A Government or organization is said to be an entity if it has the ability with essential corporate power, names to engage in contract, sue and be sued, and acquire properties.

DEVELOPMENT: It means a process in whitish something passes by the degree to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage).

GOVERNMENT AS A TIER: A government character and entity existence.

NATIVE: Characteristics of or existing by geographic origin.

ADMINISTRATION: Is all about getting things done with the co-coordinated effort of a man using effective use of other available resources to get things done.

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT: It is that part of the management process which is primarily concerned with human constituents in an organization.

CONSTITUTION: It is a whole-body, fundamental laws, custom beliefs, etc according to a particular state operation.