ABSTRACT
Thus
research titled “The Role of Local Government in Community Development: A study
of Idemil North Local Government Area” is a contribution to the existing body
of knowledge in the field of rural and community development in Idemili North
local government the broad objective of this study was to find out the role of
local government in community development in Idemili North local government,
the specific objectives of this study were to determine the effect of funding, co-ordination,
trained and professional workers and political and religious involvement in
community development programmes and project.
The theoretical framework of this
study was the communication theory to signify the control of conformation. In
realizing the above objectives, data were sourced both from primary and
secondary sources. The researcher formulated four (4)m hypotheses, the data
collected were systematically analyzed using percentage technique and Chi –
square x2 formular. From the information gathered, several findings
were made among which include: Non- availability of finance the death of
managerial know-how, inadequate co-ordination of staff and political and
religious involvement in community development programmes. Consequent upon
these findings, the researcher among other recommended that: local government
staff should be well supervised, co-ordinated, motivated, screen occasionally
and be encouraged for more performance, the inhabitants and indigenes of the
community should contribute their own quota and finally, local government
should be given political, financial and administrative autonomy.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Local government could be defined as a creation of the
constitution of federal republic of Nigeria. As a political sub-division of the
nation or the administrative unit (federal system of government) which is
constituted by law and has substantial control of local affairs, including the
powers to impose taxes or to exact labour for prescribed purpose.
More so, local government could also
be seen as the third tier of government known as a body corporate which is
administered by law with in elected and appointed representative with a
reasonable autonomy and can be sue and sued.
Furthermore, the realities that
local government has contributed in rural development in Nigeria can therefore
be dated back to the colonial era as what we today called local government
system. Beginning with the indirect rule, where the principle function were the
administration of justice through the native courts and the exploitation and
expropriation of minerals from the hider lands to the metropolis and the
construction of the road to complement the above, local government has
transformed itself through various reforms.
In 1945, following entered of the
Second World War, the British officials realizing that local government can
play an important role in developing Africa , a sense of community obligations
and social responsibility and providing a good ground for political education ,
the idea of democratizing the local government system as a basis of social and
economic development, came in hence the objective of local government system
government therefore defined, and various regional government in Nigeria made
various attempt to improve the means of attaining the new objectives especially
as from 1950 . Therefore in 1954, the British system of local government was
actually introduced in the North through the enactment of the native authority
law and in the east in 1955 vide the local government law and in the west in
1957. These laws were concerned with the restructuring of the local government
system to meet the capacity of carrying out their roles in community development
(As cited in Okpata (2001).
These laws were concerned with
restructuring the local government system to meet the capacity for their new
roles in community development.
This new role of propagating the
development of the rural communities did not come into effect until the 1960’s
when twelve (12) states were created out of the three region (27th
may 1967) . The system of local government then came to be known as development
administration.
According to Okpata (2001) local
government as a body corporate became modemized as the years roll back especially
in 1976, when a deliberate systematic re- organization was initiated by the
military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo, thus led to the
recognition of local government as a third tier of government: More so, upon
1946, local government became a veritable instrument of the National government
for grass root development, because the reforms established a uniform council
in Nigeria.
Finally, according to Nwangwo (1991)
one of the principle objectives of the Nigerian local government reforms of 1976,
was to bring about even and rapid development at the local level through out
the country and to advance the course of rural development.
Lastly, the creation of Anambra
state in 1976 by Mortal Mohammed brought the existence of Idemili
North local government which is made up of ten (10) communities (
Abacha Eziowe lle, Ideani , Nkpor,
Obosi, Ogiki , Oraukwu, Uke, Umuoji and Abatete)
1.2 Statement of Problem
Having know the historical
background of local government in Nigeria and its objective to bring rapid
development and even development to the local level through out the country
(community development). There are some problems that could be encountered in
the process of seeking for success in community development in Nigeria.
Improper funding is a problem to
community development. The government grant which is supposed to eliminate the
problems is not very easy to secure. Bank credit facilities and capital are
very difficult to come by because of collateral security, which is often
demanded by financial house. The lack of fund has been responsible for the non
– completion of most community development programmes all over the state in
particular and the country in general.
Improper coordination is also a
problem to community development because most communities are not well co-ordinate
they lack administrative sense of operation with the acronym “POSDCORB” which
entails planning, organizing, directing, co-ordinating report, staffing and
budgeting. Due to lack of co-ordination, a lot of programmes and resources
committed into the community for the purpose of development has been wasted.
The resources of any programme is dependent on proper co-ordination of effort
involved in the programme implementation.
Lack of trained and professional workers
also affect the successful execution of community development programme the
presence of community development experts will help to ensure success because
the training which he/she acquired well enable him/her stimulate the community
members to be involved in the process of community development.
Problem of identifying needs is some
times a big problem to most communities. A bureaucrat handling federal or state
grant appropriations cannot know the needs of tens of thousands of communities
across the state including that of Idemili North Local Government: One rural
community might need a highway work to attract business while another might
need a new sewer system, electricity or pipe borne water, so therefore,
communities must identify their own needs and request funds from the
appropriate agencies.
Finally, political and religious
differences has been responsible for the non-completion and sometimes complete
neglect of an on – going community programmes or projects, in Anambra State. Of
instance, we have many political parties like APGA, PDP, ANPP, AC, etc, most
times communities that voted mostly during election are the people that will
benefit from the administration while other communities that didn’t vote for
the party or the person in power will not benefit from the administration due
to political differences. More so, religious difference also act is a problem
in community development.
1.3 Research
Question
The following research questions,
will guide the study:-
1.
What are the
implications of lack of fund or inadequate funding in
the development of communities in Nigeria especially in
Idemili North local government?
2. To
what extent does improper co-ordination affect sustainable community
development in Idemili North Local Government?
3. How
does lack of trained and professional personnel affect the standardization of
projects in community development?
4. To
what extent does politics and religion affect community development in Idemili
North Local Government?
1.4 Purpose of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to find out the
roles of Local Government in community development in Idemili North Local
Government.
The
following. Are the specific objectives of this study.
To
determine the effect of funding in the community development.
1.
To establish the fact that proper
co-ordination can boost the
development of communities in Idemili North Local
Government
2.
To establish the
use of trained and professional workers in
community development as a tool for a standard
community
development.
3.
To ascertain the
effect of political and religious involvement in
community development programmes/projects.
1.5 Significance of Study.
Some how, most communities in Idemili North local government
area seem to be lagging behind in community development because of the above
mentioned problems. As such, this study will be of benefit to many people.
This work is expected to assist our policy makers who
has taken it upon themselves to sensitize the rural dwellers in Idemili North
local government. This is because through the finding of this work, they would then
appreciate the importance of identifying the needs of the communities before embarking
no any project in a community.
This work will serve as an additional knowledge to the
researcher, in order to learn more about the roles of local government in
community development. It is significant not only as a guide to improvement but
also as a source for enhancing progress in community development.
The research work will also be beneficial to students of
public administration for more knowledge about the roles of local government in
community development.
1.6 Scope of Study
The study is limited to finding out the roles of local
government on community development in Idemili North local government area
since its inception in Anambra State when it was created out of Idemili local government
area, in 1989 till date. The research also covered the whole communities in
Idemili North Local Government Area (Ogidi, Abacha, Abatete, Eziowelle, Ideani,
Nkpor, Obosi, Oraukwu, Uke and Umuoji) with the total population of 431, 005
people. The study also focuses on the social, political and economical roles of
local government in community development in Idemili North local government area
from 1989 till 2012. In doing this, particular attention is to be paid on the
impact of developmental programmes in the different communities of Idemili
North local government.
1.7 Research Hypothesis of The Study
The hypothesis to be tested in this work are
Ho1: The availability of finance to local
government does not determine
the extent to which local government staff would
perform their roles.
HA1: The
availability of finance to the local government determine the extent to which local government staff
would perform their roles.
HO2: The dearth of managerial know-how does not affect the
performances of local
government in community development programmes
HA2: The dearth of managerial
know – how affect the performance of local government in community development
programmes
HO3:
The
system of coordination of local government staff does not affect the
performances of local government in community development programmes
HA3: The system of
coordination of local government staff affects the performance of local government
in community development programmes.
HO4:
Political
and religious involvements does not affect the development programmes and
project in community development
H:4 Political and religious involvements affect the
development
programmes and project in community development.
1.8 Limitations
of the Study
In
an attempt to make this work an interesting and comprehensive one, 1 encountered
some hindrances.
The
following were the hindrance that I encountered in the process of making this
work a quality research work:-
1. Low
co-operation from respondents and reluctance of staff and management of Idemili
North local government and Anambra state local government service commission to
release relevant data required for the study.
2. Most
of the respondents interviewed and administered with the questionnaires where
illiterates and semi-illustrates and they saw the exercise as a means of
collecting information for tax assessment.
3. Lack
of material and relevant literature also limited the quality of this research
work.
1.9 Theoretical
Framework
The importance of theoretical framework in any
research work cannot be over emphasized. To the scientist, a theory refers to
the facts in some meaningful way (Good: 1952) it also means “a. advice or
scheme for adopting or applying the assumption and analysis of researcher
problem (Obasi 1999:43).
It equally service as a way of
describing, analyzing, interpreting, predicting phenomena. Hence, it enhances
the internal logical constituency of research activities, also provides useful
in sight into the study of a problem.
In this research work, communication
theory (cybernetis) constitutes a basic of analysis, the theory was developed
by Norbert Wiener (1950) to signifies the control of information which can be
analyzed as it reach the organ of decision making in any given political system.
The theory treats government as a
decision making system depending on the amount and quality of information flow
between government and people.
This theory demand that there have
to be reciprocal relationship between the government and the people through an
effective communication channels, which is necessary for development.
Hence, the goal of the government (Idemili
North local government) can not reach a satisfactory level unless it receive
the feedback concerning the position of the goals and re-adjustment to the
demands from the external environment.
As Udall and Udall (1975) defined
communication as “the process by which one person or a group of persons shares
and impact information to another person or group clearly so that both people understands
one another.
This is also attributed to the local
government and the people of the communities under it, an effective
communication between the people and the government will help the local
government in administering its roles in community development.
Communication can also facilitates
goals achievement in an organization, this is because whatever the goals or
objectives of an organization may be without someone properly articulating and
communicating them to the members of the organization and proper orientation
done through effective communication process for awareness which cannot be said
to have been done (Okpata, 2004)
Through communication, local
government can be able to identify with the people of the community and their
needs in order to assist them in solving these needs they can also organize
some lectures and seminars for the rural people on some certain things which
has been a problem to them and for the rural dwellers to be able to have the
knowledge of the cause and the possible solution to those problems.
Finally, the truth of the theory
lies on the fact that for community development to take place there must be a
joint effect of both the government and the people, which is necessary for rural/community
development in Idemili North local government hence, community development is a
joint enterprise.
A
RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
FACULTY
OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
IN
PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES AND EXTENSION