So far the local government system in nigeria has not been stable and thus its future remains bleak, uncertain and insecure. Local government administration in nigeria and the localist theory. The federal republic includes the abuja federal capital territory and 36 states, and for local government purposes there are some 770 authorities. Local reforms and autonomy chapter pdf available april 2011 with,710 reads how we measure reads. It has been identified that accounting and financial reporting in the public sector particularly at the local government level was not given adequate attention.
The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. The aforementioned definitions by various scholars listed above clearly show that local government is a multidimensional concept. Nigeria is a federal republic with three tiers of government. Being the government nearest to the rural people, its the best institution for generating. There is thus, the need to grant local government areas full autonomy as well as increase its funding as it would help to enhance grass root participation in the development of nigeria. Local government administration in nigeria and community. The raison detre of the local government in nigeria is to, at least stop the deteriorating living conditions. Development will be insignificant in such a political system if the government does not positively affect the life of the people of the grassroots or if development eludes the grassroots dwellers. There are so many problems facing this tier which we shall discuss.
Brief history of local government in nigeria legit. Local government and intergovernmental relations in nigerias. The title of this research work is, problems and prospects of local government financeaccounting in nigeria with particular reference to nsukka local government area, enugu state. Adeyeye 1995 declared that only a democratic local government system can usher in fullblown democracy. In nigeria, since the 1976 local government reform, and subsequent. The current financial predicament of local government councils and constant pressure for increase in allocation has been in the front burner of local governments administration in nigeria. Historical epochs of local government administration in. The focus of this paper therefore is an examination of local government finance in nigeria using iwo local government as a case study. The metropolitan area originated on islands, including lagos island, that were protected from the atlantic ocean by sand spits. Structure and functions of local government in nigeria. Functions of local government in nigeria the functions and tasks of the local government are prescribed in the nigerian constitution of 1999. It was created to bring government closer to the grassroots and give the people a sense of belonging. The city has expanded onto the mainland west of the lagoon, however, with ikeja, the capital of lagos, and agege over 25 miles northwest of lagos island. The nature and challenges of local government administration in nigeria local government is the system of political decentralisation in which the power base of decision making is, to a great extent, not national but local.
Today there are 36 states carved from the original three regions and 774 local government areas, up from 171 in 1963. This was the first time local government chairmen were elected through universal adult suffrage. Nigeria is made up of 36 states and capitals which have 774 local government areas lgas. The purpose of this study is to increase knowledge about state capacity in nigeria by taking stock of governance issues, including public financial management and civil services, and analyzing them in representative states across the regions, as states. Appraisal of local government autonomy on service delivery at the grassroots in. Representatives of this organization collect taxes, work with telebroadcasting and radio, transport licenses, cemeteries and provides houses for the people in need. Dec 24, 2015 here is the list of all the 36 states in nigeria and abuja and their local government areas. Nigeria state and local governance in nigeria english abstract.
This study, therefore, attempts to carry out an overview of the operation of the presidential system at the local government level in nigeria. Nigeria is a federal country with a threetier subnational government system, made of 36. A local government is, at the grassroots level of administration, meant for meeting the peculiar needs of the people agagu, 1997. Local government in nigeria is rooted on historical antecedents of reforms. Nigeria summary nigeria is a federal republic with three tiers of government. Local government throughout nigeria was reconstituted on a uniform basis in 1976. Market taxes and levies where state finance is involved. Local government in nigeria was established by law in 1976 with a view to serve as local authority with the constitutional powers to work independently of any external influence, be it the state or the federal government. The states could not cover all areas within themselves, as the population is ever growing and so there is occupancy of more land surfaces. Nigeria has a mixed legal system consisting of english common law, sharia law and customary law. The 1976 local government conceptual analysis there are two basic concepts that are central to this research work. Full list of local government in nigeria structure. Each local government area is administered by a local government council headed by a chairman who is the chief executive of the lga, and other elected members who serves as councillors.
Lagos is a port city and the most populous city in nigeria. Many reasons, ranging from the political to the socioeconomic, have been given for the creation of local government. Reform in nigerian local government a number of functions and services from local government jurisdiction. The concept of local government represents a grassroots level of administration meant for meeting peculiar needs of the people at the local level. The local government is the third tier of government. Therefore, the problem of governance, particularly at the local level, has been in a doldrums in the political history of nigeria. The local government system and federalstate legislative competence under the 1999 constitution nigerian education law journal 2003 vol. You might ask, what are the functions of local government in nigeria. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. Local government elections in the country had been on nonparty basis. Local administration in nigeria has passed the four distinct stages of development.
The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this constitution guaranteed. The local government service commission was established under the local government service commission act 1975 and came into operation on the 18th of august 1983 the local government areas in nigeria are subdivisions of the states created to bring the government benefits closer to the people, also to ensure for the effective administration of. To this end, many scholars have elaborately theorized on the relationship between local government and democracy. Constitution then empowered state governments to create new. Local government administration in nigeria and the localist. In all, there are 774 local governments in nigeria including the four area councils in abuja.
Although democratically elected local government is protected by the constitution, and development areas and autonomous communities are created by individual state legislation, elected local government is lacking in. Using theoretical analytical method, the paper found that local government system in nigeria has been an unfortunate orphan under the state and federal government. Aba north, aba south, arochukwu, bende, isiala ngwa south, ikwuano, isiala, ngwa north, isukwuato, ukwa west, ukwa east, umuahia, umuahia south. Kano state has the largest number of lgas at 44, and bayelsa state has the fewest at 9. Sources and utilization of local government finance in nigeria abstract local government is the third tier of government, it suppose to communicate directly wit the people through their representatives.
An overview of presidential system at the local government. The paper canvassed the need for synergy and collaborative approach to community development and reform initiatives anchored on theory to practice policy inclination. Notable among such scholars is mill 1975 who justified the existence of local government on three major grounds. Despite these great efforts which many believed would guarantee local government autonomy, there still exists a number of unresolved issues which hinders local government performance. Local government administration has been faced with series of developmental and economic challenges where different policies. In the general discourse on the local government system in nigeria, two major influences are notable. There were local government elections in 1996, 1997 and 1998 but all proved problematic. Department of public administration ahmadu bello university, kongocampus, zaria kaduna state, nigeria. The current number of local government in nigeria is 774. They were first held in 1987 during the babangida administration.
Ironically, the centralization of petrorevenues at the federal center and the. Full list of local government areas in nigeria nigerian. Apr 25, 2012 in examining the deficiencies of the local government system in nigeria one of the major issues seem to be a problem of accountability of local governments along with serious capacity issues. Nigeria state and local governance in nigeria english. States, one federal capital territory and 774 local governments. While the rest of the chapter proffers remedial actions for future agitations for local government creation in nigeria. Model and determinants of statelocal governments relations in.
Historical epochs of local government administration in nigeria. These are local government and intergovernmental relations. It is through an effective local government system that is obligations and duties to the people will be idealized. The state government sometimes delay payments to the local government areas and in most cases do not remit the complete 20. The 1976 local government reform fixes the population of a local government not less than 150,000 and not more than 800, 000. The paper concludes with a treatment of the imperatives for optimizing the effectiveness of local governments in nigeria. Local government, challenge, grassroots, development, service. Within this system, functions are locally and directly executed by. What are the reasons for the creation of local government in nigeria. The chapter also discusses the nature and the challenges of local government in the fourth republic with special reference to lagos state. Local government system is constitutionally provided for as a third tier and autonomous of the other two, the federal.
Right of occupancy fees on lands owned by the state government in urban areas of the state. The federal government could not cover all areas in nigeria considering how big our country is, so 36 nigerian states and capital were created but alas. Each state is further divided into local government areas lgas. There werethe existence of emirate systems of sokoto and borno. Social dimension from the social dimension, local government is basically a social institution. The 36 states in nigeria and their local government areas. Lga local government area nhmis national health management information system paths2 partnership for transforming health systems phase ii phc primary health care ppp purchasing power parity unicef united nations childrens fund usaid united states agency for international development vat valueadded tax who world health organization. Pdf local government administration in nigeria is as old as history and its dated back precolonial era. Local government as a grass root government is designed to transmit the pulse of other arms of government to the vast majority of the rural populace, and to equally mobilize them for effective national development.
The first epoch took place from 1946 to 1966, the second epoch lasted from 1967 to 1976, and the final stage started from 1976 and exists till date. The local government service commission has been empowered to handle staff matters. Management problems of the proliferation of local government in. This was equally reinforced by several constitutional provisions in the 1979 and 1999 constitutions. Although democratically elected local government is. Pdf in the general discourse on the local government system in nigeria, two major influences are notable.
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