The role of nigeria local government in rural development. These local governments do not have a lot of rights and most of its decisions are made according to the central government s rules. As earlier stated, the local government is the tier of government closest to the people, therefore it is considered a most important facilitator of economic and social development especially at the grassroots. Now, the functions of local governments in nigeria. The nigerian government structure explained oasdom. So what are the duties of local government in nigeria. These structure helps the government to manage society at three different levels and division helps to implement the management in a more efficient way because each organ of government has its own functions and responsibilities.
Government places a lot of emphasis on rural development and transparency in government. The primary functions of local government include the following. Introduction local government is the closest tier of government to the. Local governments as a third tier government provide services and projects for the people and communities at the grassroots level. Each local government area is administered by a local government council consisting of a chairman who is the chief executive of the lga, and other elected members who are referred to as councillors. It is a matter of polemics if local governments in nigeria are raising sufficient revenue.
The role of local government in rural development issues jide ibietan abstract the central aim or focus of this paper is to highlight the role of local government being the closest tier of government to the grassroots in rural development. Counties, townships, municipalities, and special districts are the most common. The relative roles of the three tiers of governmentthe federal government, the. Environmental factors play an important role in health and disease. Local government handbook new york department of state.
The local government in albania is established and the functions are based on the principle of local selfgovernance. There are 774 local government areas in the nigerian government structure, with kano having the largest number of 44 and the smallest number of 9 belonging to bayelsa state. Dec 24, 2015 here is the list of all the 36 states in nigeria and abuja and their local government areas. These responsibilities and duties of the government is something most people are not aware of. The role of local government in local economic development promotion at the district level in ghana a study of the ejisujuaben municipal assembly by eric oduroofori a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of a doctor rerum politicarum awarded by the faculty of spatial planning, technical university of dortmund. The government of a state owe allegiance to the state itself and its citizens as well. Government departments, in particular the presidency, treasury, department of provincial and local government, and various components in the department of public service and administration, for providing the information professor tebogo job mokgoro, for his expert advice on the content and logical flow, editing, and final reading of the booklet.
Pdf an overview of local government autonomy and its. Above all, in the course of this research, it was discovered that most local government offices lack good documentation of activities in different department of the council, and this seems to be a general trend in most government offices in nigeria, local government inclusive and agege local government. The numerous functions of the local government in nigeria are outlined thus. Local government, local government administration, local government reform, colonized, autonomy, constitutional. Local government expenditure as proportion of total government expenditure 2014. The 3 tiers of government are not complete without mentioning local government in nigeria and theres a strong relationship between these arms of government. May 10, 2018 this article identified a host of functions of local government administrations in nigeria. The local government have 3 primary control over a local government. Jul 10, 2014 the specific objectives of the study are. Local government as an agent of transformation in nation. Some degree of local government characterizes every country in the world, although the degree is extremely significant. Their abilities are usually very restricted by the central government. Oluwatobi1 introduction nigeria is rich in natural and human resources, with a population of over 150. Local factors such as geography, the environment, economic opportunities and health can be better taken account of by local governments charged with making decisions that affect.
Introduction the existence of local government has always been defended on the basis that it is a crucial aspect of the process of democratization and intensification of mass participation in the decisionmaking process. The arms of government in nigeria operate at every level starting from the top level federal government level to the last level local government level of the government. Structure and functions of local government in nigeria. Structure and function of local government 663 m any people are served by smaller units of local government than that of des moines. Impact of effective internal audit functions on public. This article identified a host of functions of local government administrations in nigeria. Representatives of this organization collect taxes, work with telebroadcasting and radio, transport licenses, cemeteries and provides houses for the people in need. The primary health care system is managed by the 774 local government areas lgas, with support from their respective state ministries of health as well as private medical practitioners. There are three main organs of government in nigeria, they also called arms of government.
Local governments are not used as political tools by the government in power. A comparative analysis of local government administration. Deconcentration broadly means that, for the sake of convenience, some functions have been devolved from a central government. Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under god, dedicated to the promotion of interafrican solidarity, world peace, international cooperation and understanding. Ward development committees to facilitate universal health coverage in ebonyi state, nigeria page 2 of 6 9 e e pp. The 36 states in nigeria and their local government areas. Statutory functions of local governments nigerian observer. The provision of health care in nigeria remains the functions of the three tiers of government. This government, whether in the federal level, state level or even local government, owes allegiance to the citizens of the state, as well as the residents of that particular area.
Departments functionslocal governmenturban local authority servicesrural local authority servicestraditional leadership support servicesphysical planning. The 1999 constitution sets out the following functions of local government in. It also provides a guarantee that local elections will be held every five years. What are the reasons for the creation of local government in nigeria. Improvement in local government remains a high priority in most countries, but unless the relationship between citizens and government is more fully developed the actions of local government will. All revenue collected is pooled in the federal account which is in turn split across the three spheres of government. The major challenge bedeviling the operations of local government area in nigeria is local government autonomy as local government areas in nigeria are not truly autonomous. The powers and functions of local government in nigeria 19661980. Local government administration in nigeria and the localist theory. Impact of effective internal audit functions on public sector management and accountability in edo state, nigeria onatuyeh, e. The core functions of local government include preschool, primary and adult education. Responsibilities and duties of the government to the people.
Among others, it has the power to appoint, post, promote and discipline local government employees. Approximately 86,000 units of local government serve the people ofthe united states. The search for this knowledge grows in importance as rapid increase in human populations and economic development intensify the stresses human beings place on the biosphere and. Prepared for the nigerian per steering committee by stuti. Presently, nigeria has 774 local government councils, hence, 774 local government chairmen. Characteristics and functions of government oldnaija. By law the functions of the local government is well defined. Many reasons, ranging from the political to the socioeconomic, have been given for the creation of local government. Department of accountancy school of business studies delta state polytechnic, ozoro, nigeria.
Representatives of this organization collect taxes, work with telebroadcasting and radio, transport licenses, cemeteries and provides houses for. Organs of government and their functions in nigeria legit. The main functions of a local government council are as follows. These local governments do not have a lot of rights and most of its decisions are made according to the central governments rules. Duties of your local government council the nigerian. Local government in nigeria as an agent of transformation in nation building and local government as an institution has elicited many write up by many scholars. The trend is to increase the role of local authorities in the provision of. Chapter 2 meaning, nature and scope of local governments. Aba north, aba south, arochukwu, bende, isiala ngwa south, ikwuano, isiala, ngwa north, isukwuato, ukwa west, ukwa east, umuahia, umuahia south. Pdf challenges of local government administration in.
Local government is often, but not necessarily, related to the former. These distinctions are important, even if they are blurred. Lga and its relationship to cities, states, and wards, and the function of wards. Apr 10, 20 in recent years however, it is with the realization of the deplorable condition of the rural areas that calls have been made for a viable local government system in nigeria with a view to promote economic and social developments in all the nooks and corners of the country. Updated list of 20 local governments in lagos state and their wards. Once any country adopts a federal system of government it is taken for granted that there is division of powers among the levels of government, with a written constitution specifying the division, and the coordinate relationships among the levels. Ordinarily, federalism involves a two tier system centralunion government at the first level and the stateprovincial government at the second level. A theoretical framework of local government tasneem sikander assistant professor department of political science government viqarunnisa post graduate college rawalpindi, pakistan abstract the local government institutions have allowed effective participation and involvement of local people in their affairs.
The new york state department of state division of local government services. The first is the local government service commission. The relative roles of the three tiers of governmentthe federal. Although democratically elected local government is. Before the changes in regional and local administration under the pndc, ghana had a highly centralized government structure in which local people and communities were little involved in decision making. Local government structures and functions department of. Local government administration in nigeria is classified as the third tier of government while several problems have been its recurring decimal and various reforms since 1976 havent been able to make the system effective and responsible to developmental challenges.
Functions of local government administration in nigeria. In nigeria, one of the main objectives for the introduction of the local government administration, as the third tier of government, is to ensure adequate provision of municipal infrastructure. In effect, the paper set as its objectives to examine the challenges of lg administration, previous efforts by the governments in nigeria to address the challenges and lessons that could be learnt from other workable systems. The variant, local self government, is important for its emphasis upon the freedom of the locality. The place and role of local government in federal systems konrad. If a government fails to do its functions in a state, the citizens can request for the replacement of such government in as much democracy is in practice. What is the most important function of local government areas in nigeria. Local policymaking is complex, demanding the very best of local officials.
Local government is enshrined in chapter 1 of the constitution and the main governing legislation is the organic law of 2005. The local government areas in nigeria have however, not been very effective due to the fact that they are very much dependent on the state government. By the provision of section 7 of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria 1999, the system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is guarantee and accordingly, the government of every state shall ensure their existence under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance. The 1999 constitution has explicitly provided for the functions of the third tier of government and these functions of local governments are seen in the exclusive list, as well as concurrent list. Local government, authority to determine and execute measures within a restricted area inside and smaller than a whole state. Brief history of local government in nigeria legit. The federal government of nigeria is composed of three distinct branches.
The relative roles of the three tiers of government the federal government, the state governments, and the local government authorities lgasin public. J primary health care gen practice the wdc membership includes community representatives and their functions bridge the gap between the health facility and the community served as well as monitor the quality of. Each local government area is administered by a local government council. Based on information from ghana, local government information digest, 4, no. Therefore, to conduct a research on the status of internal audit at local government is very essential. The nigerian federation currently has 774 local government units created for.
Nigeria and switzerland, local government has been entrenched. The role of states and local governments prepared for the nigerian per steering committee by stuti khemani july 24, 2001 introduction 1. In nigeria, the duties and functions of the different arms or tiers of government are provided for in the constitution. While core functions of local government are defined in the constitution, individual states may augment their responsibilities through legislation. The constitution of the federal republic of nigeria 1999, the. Pdf local government in nigeria faces series of critical challenges like creating critical social services and how to sustain them.
Personnel management functions at the local government level can also be performed in at least two different locations. The machinery of government structure and functions of. An overview of local government autonomy and its functions in. This article needs attention from an expert in nigeria. Local government is the system of locally elected members representing their communities and making decisions on their behalf. Nigeria summary nigeria is a federal republic with three tiers of government. Chapter 2 meaning, nature and scope of local governments india has the distinction of being a unique federal country. The local government act 2001 extensively amended and updated by the local government reform act 2014 is the core legislative code supporting the structures, powers, functions and duties of local government in ireland. The functions and tasks of the local government are prescribed in the nigerian constitution of 1999. The areas of local government administration contributions to development, which include the provision of electricity, roads, water, market stalls, health centers, and refuse disposal, were outlined. Functions of nigerian government information guide in nigeria. The organization and structure of local government in albania produced by. Wikiproject nigeria may be able to help recruit an expert.
The current number of local government in nigeria is 774. In view of this, the objective of this paper is to highlight the status of internal audit at local government with the hope to be improving in the future endeavour. Local administration in nigeria has passed the four distinct stages of development. In conclusions, we can say that the local government in ghana is better than in nigeria. Full list of local government in nigeria structure. According to the local government reform of 1976, it stated clearly that the local government is a government at. But the indian constitution provides for a three tier. So far the local government system in nigeria has not been stable and thus its future remains bleak, uncertain and insecure. Government is an organized body set up for the purpose of administering a state or an area, such as a local government area. Pdf in the general discourse on the local government system in nigeria, two. How ready are the ward development committees to facilitate.
Government departments, in particular the presidency, treasury, department of provincial and local government, and various components in the department of public service and administration, for providing the. The destiny of your community the fulfillment of its dreams. The controversy about the autonomy of the local government usually revolves around this constitutional. The status of internal audit at local government level in nigeria. Ministry of local government, public works and national. Nigeria is a federal country with a threetier subnational government system. This post was written to expose such to you and for academic purpose. This has led to some what stable macroeconomic stability in the country. Below are the responsibilities and duties of the government to the people. Community and public administration support strategy compass is the official name of the community and public administration support project of the government of the netherlands, in albania. This chapter briefly outlines the legal basis for local governments in albania and the authorities the municipal government organs have to further structure the municipal organization.