IMPACT OF INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN IMO STATE

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of Study

The wake for inter-government relation come before reform 1976 when local government creation, finance and administration were under the back and call of state government, the local government system after 1976 reform became a constitutional government area of which some selected local government was among then 301 local governments was among them. 1976 The Orlu North East country council made up of Nwabosi, Mbanasa and Arondizuozu was merged to create Ideato local government area with its headquarters at Uratta.

The living conditions of Nigeria in most rural communities of the federation are quite unpleasant resulting in massive rural-urban drift, most of such areas have roads that are not motorable often neglected and poorly maintained, medical and health care facilities are grossly inadequate in most rural communities enslaves and absences in some of them. In most Ideato North and South local government area there is poor electricity supply.

The process of inter-governmental relation is not longer new to us as a nation which is facing new challenges that threaten to redesign its status. Inter-governmental relation process in the federal is basically relations spanning politically, administratively and economically cooperation between the tiers of government with the objectives.

The need for decentralization of government power as a means of creating an enabling environment for wide spread development activities all over the country and the nation at large. Nigeria federation has three levels of government. The federal government, the state government and the local government. These levels are what he refers as the three tiers of government.

These three tiers of government exist mostly in a federal state, this explains the structural arrangement provision with references to federal republic of Nigeria constitution whereby the country under federal system of government has three levels of government. This arrangement is made for the administrative freedom of operation at each level, so each tiers has its areas of jurisdictions and functions. At the same time each interacts with one another for accomplishment of its organism. It is composed of various parts and each of these parts interacts among themselves so as to keep the system functioning at all times.

Inter- governmental relation is defined as the different levels of government within a given state.

Local government generally in Ideato North and South regarded as a powerful instrument for rural development.

The function which are generally allocated to local government those which are designed to provide sources of socio- economic and political development are logunna 1996:58) seeing the complexities of government functions and the tiers system of government practices have evolved to primarily ensure the provision of basic services as best and efficiently as the government can manage such.

Many people of various communities in Nigeria are victim of illiteracy, political ignorance and political apathy, this leads to rural poverty. Rural development as a process could effectively tackle these problems of well programmed and planned, progressive improvement if the economic, political, social and cultural condition of communities through the combined efforts of government and the people of the communities there lies the challenges of inter-governmental relations purpose in different tiers of government, different jurisdiction yet harmonized to less friction and the maximization of social, economic and political benefit to the citizen.

Therefore the local government election has been the affairs of local state and federal government was handled by national electoral commission which was at federal government agency which also undertook the conduct of local government in 1979.

The local government service commission is vested with the responsibility to appoint, train, promote, discipline and transfer of staff in the local government. But inter-governmental relationship has this problem of revenue allocation which is exclusively the preserver of the federal government.

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1.2 Statement of Problems

The problems facing local government and national development as well as inter-governmental relation in Nigeria has gained a very serious attention and widest publicity. One of its major problems are: Inadequate funding and lack of proper financial management, the cash basis of local government has the negative effects of causing errors which might be intentional and difficult to discern.

1. Insecurity of assets, poor internal control and also the limitation of business operator are also problems elicited the attitude of the collectors which is the way of raising money to the state by the local government short fall of expectation.
2. Problem of fraudulence and embezzlement.

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1.3 Objective of the Study

These are the objective of this study

1. To access the working efficiency and performance appraisal of Ideato North and South local government
2. To examine the available human material and financial resources in Ideato North and South local government
3. To examine the essence of revenue allocation which will enable Ideato North and South local government to embark on their development project.
4. To ascertain rapid economic development in Ideato North and South local government area.
5. To examine the web of complex and inter-dependence among the federal state and Ideato North and South local government in Imo state.

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1.4 Research Question

Seeing the nature of relationship that exist among the level of government and the type of problems associated with Ideato North and South local government area that certain research questions arises they include:

• Does the relationship between Ideato North local government area and other local government areas in Imo state enhance development of the area or community.
• Is it important to examine the web of complex pattern of interaction and cooperation among the federal, state and Ideato North and South local government in Imo state.

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1.5 Significance of the Study

It is hope that the outcome of this study will provide research based on inter-government relation and local government that could be used by the future researchers in the organization, administrations and other people who will need it for research purpose.

This research work will accelerate the achievement of self reliance, economy by equipping them with the necessary tools in their actualization their self help project for instance, the application of 50–50 matching grant policy.

Inter-government relation will also help to facilitate the participation of democratic government at the local government area e.g. in Ideato North and South local government.

Also the importance of this work to the government is that it will help to bring government closer to the people in the rural and urban area as well sensitizing them on policies and programmes of the federal government. It will as well ensure effective and efficient utilization of available human and material resources among the three tiers of government in which Ideato North and South local government happens to be one.

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1.6 Scope of the Study

The scope and range of this study would have been wide enough to encompass this work the Impact of Inter-governmental Relations in Nigeria (A study of Ideato North and South Local Government).

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1.7 Limitation of the Study

The limitation of this study is based on;

Information:

That is the reluctance of the respondents to answer the questions as desired by the researcher. That is uncooperative character of the states of the local government.

Finance:

Due to lack of financial problem the researcher not able to have access to all the facts and materials needed to carry out an exhaustive research on this topic.

Time:

Time is another limitation because due to time factor, the researcher could not lay hand on other vital information needed for the project.

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1.8 Definition of Terms

The definition of terms is based on the words used in this research work.

Inter-Governmental Relation:

It is the series of legal political and administrative relationship established among units of government which poses degrees of authority and jurisdictional autonomy.

Local Government:

It is seeing as a government at the local level will exercise power through the representative council established by law to exercise specific power within a definite area.

Development:

It is seen as that which leads to a sustainable change along extrasectory leading to growth

Government:

It is seen as a group of people who are responsible for controlling a country or state.

Grassroots:

It is seen as an ordinary people in the society in an organization rather than the leader or people who make decisions.