LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS AN AGENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

The Federal government of Nigeria recognized local government as the third level of government. This was the effort made by the Federal government to reach the community development. This could be called government at grassroots level, taking cognizance of development objectives of government.

Ademolakun quoting Brigadier Shelu Musa Yar'Adua saying, “The federal military government has therefore decided to recognized local government as the third tier of government activities in the nation. Local government should be precisely what the word government implies i.e. governing at the grassroots or local level.

The above quotation confirms local government positions as the third level of government. But before the advent of colonization with its subsequent indiscriminate imposition of uniform nature authority, system, each regulation or status in Nigeria had a different political and administrative system, which was peculiar to their respective historical, economic and socio-cultural circumstances and conditions.

This traditional system of local administration was also used to foster development among them. Like in Igbo setting, the Umunna organized them in the form of local government. They agree on what to do and reach target.

However, this traditional system went through some modification, resulting to uniform nature, authority system. in the view of the fact that these traditional system differed from one part of the authority to another, the uniform native authority system that was imposed by the colonial masters, while recording some resource success in the North, simultaneously recorded monumental future in the southern part of the country. So, before the coming of the British people in Nigeria, Nigeria has system of government centralized and non-centralized.

The presence of the British people in Nigeria introduced a different system of government known as “Local Administration”. This was administered through individual rule system of government. Here powers and functions were developed to the local authority to run the affaires of the government at the local level.

However, in 1950, a modern system of local government was introduces in eastern Nigeria, this system had elective principle. It created a three system of government; that is the country, district and local council. This was based on the British model with specific powers and functions. Subsequently in 1952 and 1955, native authority system of administration in both the earthen and western part of the country was abolished, and a more forward, looking system of local government predicted the principles of participatory democracy was introduced.

More so, in 1976, 1984 and 1999 respectively, there were reforms. All these geared towards community development, government embarked on splitting up of areas into smaller units to encourage even development of communities.

According to Ofoeze (1999:108), the military regime which instituted the system, designed it structurally to be development oriented. The military have the following reasons for creating local government areas. To prevent instability that is prevalent in the grassroots level of government according to Yar'Adua government had in mind, to stabilize and rationalized government at the local level through decentralization of some significant function to local levels in order to harness local resources for rapid development.

Secondly, local government was created to ensure the involvement and participation of the people at the local level in decisions and plans for their own process and development, that is why Yar'Adua said that the reforms aimed at intrusting political responsibility to where it is most beneficial, that is the people with the hope that the reforms would enshrine the principle of participatory, democracy and political responsibility to every Nigeria.

The most striking reason as far as this write up is concerned is this one that says that local government was created to mobilize the people at the local level so as to harness their energies and resources towards national development. Yar'Adua also through an effective local government system that human and material resources could be mobilized for development in the communities. Local government so far has been an instrument for community development.

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1.2 Statement of the Problem

In spite of all the efforts of the government to see that development is extended to the community , some people still nurse that believe that local government has woefully failed to really generate and concretize socio-political and economic development of the local areas and their people.

They argue that local government has not been able to wipe out unemployment and under employment, illiteracy, provides basic amenities such as health centers, pipe borne water, electricity, hunger and poor sanitary conditions, high rate of preventable discuses low life expectancy of the communities, high rate of infant ass materials portability, lack of educational institutions etc. And that all these had led to community development migration with all this negative implications for natural development such as congestion of the cities, armed robbery, prostitution etc.

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1.3 Objectives of Study

Many people do not know the significance of having a third tier of government in this country. Some people believe that the establishment of local government in Nigeria is a waste of resources, therefore the study would highlight the importance of local government in this country, look into their activities so far using Ahiazu Mbaise local government as a case study.

And to encourage both federal and state government to manage local government effectively and give them financial and adequate supports for effective development of the communities. So some people are of the opinion that local government has generated development for the community development. Some citizens of Ahiazu local government in particular are not left behind in this belief.

This is a problem that needs to be resolved people should be meant to understand the good gesture which the federal government made in allowing local government to come into existence as the third level of government.

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1.4 Research Question

• What pattern does local government portray in the community?
• What is the level of involvement of local government as an agent of the grassroots level?

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1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is geared towards correcting the misconception some people have as regards the value of local government. It will go a long way in detecting the idea that local government is an extension through which federal. Those in the authority in particulars share government money or wealth to politicians or their supporters this write up will expose the usefulness of local government to the citizenry.

It will also ginger the society towards community development. It will help those working in the local government (Chairman and councilors) to understand why they are there and those asperities to be there to know why they should be there.

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1.6 Scope of Study

As a result of the numerously of local government areas in Nigeria, this is narrowed down to our local government area that is Ahiazu local government area in Imo State. They emphasis therefore should be Ahiazu local government as an agent of communication development. I would used the primary method of data collection for the study while will be administered to uniformity from respondents in Ahiazu local government area.

Lots of constraints was encountered in the course of this project, ranging from time, financial constraints, scarcity of materials and ignorance on the part of the respondents. But by the grace of God I was able to assemble to the best of my ability, the key information that will form a future of what the constraint will pave way in subsequent studies to make for enhancement where necessary.

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1.7 Limitation of the Study

The limitation of this study is as a result of financial constraints and time the researcher encounter in carrying out the research work.

The first limitation is lack of finance was an expensive venture the researcher spent a lot of money on transport, and collection from respondents. Also the typing of the project is very much expensive for the student.

Another limitations is the study of time factor. The research was not given sufficient time to conduct a thorough research on the issue of moral re-orientation of youth and attainment of political stability in Ahiazu local government area of Imo state.

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1.8 Definition of Terms

In this research work, there are certain words and terms which need to be defined on the way and manner in which they are applied. Some of these terms are itemized as shown below.

The key terms in this work are local government at the local level of grassroots; government exercised through elected representative councils to perform specifies functions.

(Awa 1980) sees local government as a political authority set up by a nation or state as a subordinate and for the purpose of dispersing or decentralizing political power.

Agents:

According to Longman Dictionary of contemporary English, defines an agent as a person or company that represents another person. It also defines it as someone who works for a government or police department in order to get secret information about country or organization.

Community:

According to Longman Dictionary of contemporary English, defines community as a place where people live in the same area, town, an arts center built to serve the whole community.

Development:

According to my own understanding, the word development means changes. It also means the gradual growth of something, so bigger or more advanced. It has to do with improving the standard of living, a change or growth patterned towards realization of human being in any given society.