ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ABSTRACT
This research work is aimed at finding out the role of Local government in achieving National development.
However, the researcher sourced his data through questionnaires, textbooks and government publications. The reliability of the instrument was tested and proved reliable.
Based on the findings of the researcher, the following recommendations were made.
1. Aninri Local Government should be able to enlighten the residents on the council’s role and objective so as to make them aware of what is going on around them.
2. The council should device means of eradicating official corruption and enhance accountability
3. The financial allocation from both state and federal to the council should be increased
4. The condition of service of the council should be enhanced in order to attract and retain more competent and highly qualified performance on the service
5. The council should be professionalized.
INTRODUCTION
Local Government exists to fill the gap, which the national government is too remote to fill. This means that local government complements and extends the national government. It has been recognized as one important instrument for rural transformation and for the delivery of social services development has passed through some stages of reforms since its evolution.
In Nigeria, local government as the third tier of government nearest to the people has been recognized as an institution capable of transforming the are’s of the rural inhabitant .
Consequently, there has been continuous attempts either to create new local governments or lamp the existing ones in the country with the objective of utilizing them as fulcrums for achieving national development.
There has been an increasing upsurge of interest in the literature of development administration and in planning circles on the positive role local government could play in national development. The emphasis is in terms of using local government as a strategic instrument for fostering, promoting and implementing national development projects.
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Local government administration is used as a form of devolution of powers of the state. It is the government at the grass root level that is designed to serve as instrument of rural transformation and development to the society in general.
Local government in Nigeria plays immense role especially in promoting, co-ordinating and providing community amenities as well as encouraging greater mass participation and involvement in the running of local government affairs and the use of local resources to the optional level. From ideological perspective, local government for tiers the principle of democracy as local government rings government nearer to the people and if properly designed gives room for mass participation in governance.
Furthermore, local government are designed to achieve multi-dimensional goals in terms of economic, social and political development local government, which is the focus of this write up is responsible for the provision of basic community requirements. To achieve its objective, Aninri Local Government should be adequately funded, and manned by well trained, dedicated personnel.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The creation of Aninri local government in 1996 by the military government under late General Sani Abacha’s administration was meant to bring development to the doorsteps of the various communities Viz. Ndeaboh, Mpu, Okpanku, Oduma and Nenwe. It is important to sate that local government should not be abandoned while drafting the constitution in order to strengthen the importance to national development. The autonomy of the local government should be recognized to enable it serve as effective third tier of government as stated in the constitution.
Aninri Local government has not been granted enough financial status and power to sustain itself and be able to provide welfare services. Again, community dwellers hardly assist the local government in implementing government projects and this is serious set back to the delivery of qualitative and qualitative services to the local communities.
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