Local Government Administration and Challenges of Sustainable National Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Local government was created in Nigeria to play major role and to contribute to Lthe growth and development of the rural dwellers as well as being the instrument for fostering development and implementing rural development at the grassroots level. This explains the expediency of the major local government reforms of 1976. It has however been observed that, actual performance and functioning of local government to achieve the very essence of its creation which is the effective delivery of socio-economic services to the people remains a myth. In the light of this, the study seeks to investigate the challenges confronting the local government in carrying out its constitutional functions as a level of government as well as profer possible solutions that can help local government act as an engine for sustainable national development. The paper adopts the conceptual approach mainly through the use of secondary data. The theoretical framework adopted in this paper is DavidEaston system theory. Using the qualitative approach as the method of analysis, the paper found amongst others that usurpation or encroachment into the operations of local government by the state governments, the nature and configuration of the Nigerian state as well as the character of the Nigeria Elites, systemic corruption and wrong conception of rural development serve as some of the major clog in the development engineering of local government administration. The study concludes that local government administration in Nigeria will continue to remain an appendage of the state and federal governments, except some drastic measures are taken to reverse the trend. The paper amongst others, therefore suggest, a review of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in terms of the political and fiscal autonomy of local governments and non-interference in its statutory responsibilities from state and federal governments. It also recommends a total overhauling of the structure of the Nigerian state as was widely canvassed at the 2014 National Conference held in Abuja.