IMPACT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Introduction

1.0 Background Of Study

Poverty means the absence of basic necessities of life. Poverty is a situation where an individual is unable to take adequate care of his /her basic needs such as shelter, food and clothing. It also mean inability to meet social and economic obligation , lack of sound education, lack of self concept, lack of gainful employment and exposure to poor social and economic infrastructures such as, good health care centre, clear water supply, electricity , sanitation and ultimately lack chance of advancing his/her welfare to the limits of his/her capacities.

Poverty connotes deplorable living standard of people and communities in a state. In our contemporary world, it simply mean people who are below a certain minimum income level and have no access to basic necessities of life needed for the acceptable living condition.

Poverty is the worst disease that afflicts people all over the world. It is undeniable mark of underdevelopment. Poverty is a terrible and undesirable chain which keeps the poor in a pitiable state of destitution.

As a matter of fact, poverty is a plague that demands urgent attention in order for the people to live a fulfilled and enviable life. Therefore, is not a thing of surprise that every government both past and present made poverty alleviation one of their cardinal focuses? In view of this concept, this research work tries to identify and determine the various impact of local government administration on poverty alleviation in Nigeria, using Ikeja local government Area of Lagos state of Nigeria as a case study.

The reason to employ local government administration in this research work emanate from the fact that local government are closer to the people at the grass-roots’ and ordinarily grass-roots are meant to offer development such as, health care centre, education, water supply, roads. Neglect of any of these in a part of the country will be reflected nationally in disease, ignorance and poor communication nature.

Thus, the significance of local government “has to rest on something more substantial than its efficacy for the disposal of sewage or refuse”. The functional terms, local government provides organizational unity for the performance of various services to match the socio-economic entities which local government communities are.

Furthermore; the constitutional duties of local governments are among other things to enhance the well-being of the people, thereby having alleviation of poverty in the lives of the people as one of its constitutional duties. However, various research works neglected this essential aspect of local government administration but focused on the evolution, development, finances etcetera, of local government.

Ikeja local government of Lagos state, which is being used as a case study in this research work, has its headquarters at its present location along new garage Ikeja. Like any other local government within the federation, courtesy to 1976 local government reforms, it started functioning with a chairman at the helms of affairs, deputy chairman, a secretary and other officials to see to the administration of local government which was at that time under a non-representative administration. However, Ikeja local government is today routed in the laws that empowers it to function as a legitimate and democratic local government with all obligations and responsibilities as bequeathed to it through the 1976 local government reforms, which makes it worthwhile as a case study in this sensitive research work. Proof of poverty facilities in Nigeria, inadequate water supply, lack of roads, lack of health care, lack of educational system, lack of gainful employment, lack of financial resources, lack of skill, lack of social amenities such as electricity, limited access to socio- economic infrastructures.

The aforementioned historical background of poverty and of the local government being used as a case study places us on a better setting as we progress on the study.

In the case of the local government, it provides us the chance of determining the basis for evaluating how its constitutional duties impacted positively on the lives of the people to alleviate poverty. On the other hand, poverty itself, create opportunity to examine how afflictions and endemic it is to the lives of the community and while it should be urgently addressed and ultimately reduced to the barest minimum if not completely wipe out.

1.1 Statement Of Problems

This refers to any situation which creates difficulty in understanding. This is what the researcher intend to find solutions to by carefully looking into the following statement:

1. Political considerations have overshadowed the premium hitherto placed on economic viability in the creation of local government.
2. Most local government has come to rely heavily on subvention from the federal government thereby viable economic resources base are left untapped.
3. Legal-rational authority is not institutionalized. Since those in authority lack legitimacy, illegality quickly assumes acceptance from the people.
4. The encroachment of higher levels of government on local governments power is a negation of its declared objective.
5. The constitutional duties of local government include inter-alia the alleviation of poverty in the lives of the local citizens.

1.2 Significance Of Study

This research work is expected to assist and expose individuals who may in the future find us in an elected or appointed position in government.

This study will not only be helpful to the staff of local government but also be of great importance to others researchers who might want to explore the same area of study.

This study is not an exhaustive discourse on the topic but a quick overview to sensitize us to those aspects of the local governments that has proven crucial to local government poverty alleviation.

The research will help us to understand the problem realistically and identify concrete initiatives that are likely to have impact.

The study will show practical and policy- oriented suggestions for poverty eradication.

The research provides useful overview of different modalities used in different countries, and thus offers a menu of options and solutions for other countries in the region and beyond, based on a thorough understanding of the local government situation.

1.3 Objectives Of Study

The cardinal objective of this study is to strictly examine the impact of local government administration on poverty alleviation, using ikeja local government in Lagos state as a case study.

To know and evaluate the various constitutional duties of local governments in Nigeria as it relates to poverty alleviation in the live of the people.

The study will further identify and discuss factors contributing to poverty or inimical poverty alleviation programmes in local government administration in Nigeria

The study will look critically into the contributions of local governments in poverty alleviation or eradication

Identify those things that can be indicated as improvement in the live of the people of ikeja local government area as a result of effective administration of the local government

The study addresses particular weakness of local government in poverty alleviation programmes: the appropriation of fund in the political system by political officials, lack of transparency about money flows in politics, interference from higher power, poor personnel, and how high level of corruption limit poverty alleviation in local government area of Lagos state.

1.4 Research Questions:

This study will provide answers to the following research question:

1. What are the visible elements impending poverty alleviation policies in local government administration in Nigeria?
2. What can one conveniently link as improvement in the lives of the people under local government in Nigeria?
3. What are the statutory functions of local government on poverty alleviation?
4. What will be the accumulative effect if local governments refuse to put in place program/policies on poverty alleviation?
5. What are the areas local governments can contribute towards poverty alleviation in the lives of the local people?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

We have null hypotheses (H0) that is the hypotheses of interest; the one of the researcher is interested in testing. We also have alternative hypotheses (H1) which is usually accepted whenever the null hypotheses is rejected.

Similarly, a hypothesis is either true or false. Thus there are two errors which are likely to be committed.

Type I error: Is rejecting a true hypotheses

Type II error: Is accepting false hypotheses

This study will be guided by the following research hypotheses:

1. H0 (Null hypothesis): Poverty alleviation polices of local government in Nigeria has no significant influence on poverty alleviation.
   H1 (Alternative hypothesis): Poverty alleviation polices of local government in Nigeria has significant influence on poverty alleviation.
2. H0 (Null hypothesis): There is no relationship between the impacts of local government administration and the level of poverty in its local citizens.
   H1 (Alternative hypothesis): There is relationship between the impacts of local government administration and the level of poverty in its local citizens.
3. Ho (Null hypothesis): There is not going to be a relationship between statutory functions of local government and poverty alleviation.
   H1 (Alternative hypothesis): There is going to be a relationship between statutory functions of local government and poverty alleviation.
4. H0 (Null hypothesis): The implementation of poverty alleviation policies has significant influence on the live of its citizens.
   H1 (Alternative hypothesis): The implementation of poverty alleviation policies has no significant influence on the live of its citizens.
5. H0 (Null hypothesis): The contribution of local government on poverty alleviation policies has significant influence on poverty alleviation.
   H1 (Alternative hypothesis): The contribution of local government on poverty alleviation policies has no significant influence on poverty alleviation.

1.6 Limitation Of Study

The financial refinement of the research work couple with the limited time will serve as a limiting factor, also the assumption that personnel to be interviewed may not be easily accessible to give sensitive information regarding the local government. In addition, the research will be limited by inadequate study material such as journals, text and classified government reports.

1.7 Scope Of Study

This research work is intended to look into the various impact of local government administration on poverty alleviation in Ikeja local government area. The research work is on the Ikeja local government out of the 774 local governments in Nigeria and will not extend beyond it.

1.8 Definition Of Terms

Government:

The system by which a state or community is governed. Government is the machinery by which the will of the state is articulated, implemented and achieved.

Administration:

Administration is the organization and running of a system. Government in power. Administration is the use of both human and material resources to achieve declared goals.

Local government:

Government at the grassroots. Constitutionally, local government is third tier of government after the federal and the state government.

Poverty:

The state of being very poor. Poverty connotes lack of basic necessities of life such as shelter, clothing and food.

Alleviation:

To make problem less severe. To reduce or lessening negative effect to a bearable minimum.

Constitutional role:

Notable roles as entrench in the constitution of a given political community.

Policy:

Policy is a set of decision made and actions taken from various options by the actors in response to certain problem.

Grass-root:

The most basic level of an organization, community or country.

Reforms:

To makes changes in something so as to improve it. Make someone, organization or institution improves their behavior.

Obligation:

A responsibility which one must carry out.