CHAPTER ONE
1.0 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
1.1
INTRODUCTION
Local government is the classiest tier of government
to the people. Local government is not only an institution for economic
development but also the bedrock on which the growth and development rural
areas by federal and state government superstructures are laid
Throughout West Africa, the history of local
government introduced by the British Colonial administration to the former West
African territories was imported from Britain experience in it Colony in India
and had little or no relationship with the history and characteristics of our
people. Though Community development is not new in Nigeria, it is the emphasis
on it now which makes it almost a revolution.
However, community development as a process in which
the inhabitants of a local government community organize themselves to provide
social amenities on their own with or without government assistance.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The major problems that hinder the progress of the
local government community development includes: Inadequate funding and
withholding of local government funds by the control of federal government and
joint account with the state government. Lack of local government autonomy over
local affairs, selection rather than election of local government executives by
state government. Corruption nepotism and favoritism.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
In view of the importance of local government as agent
of community development, this work will highlight the
Impact
of the local government in community development. It will also examine the
impact of local government area council in its social economic and political
activities. This work will also examine the performance of local government on
community development within it area of jurisdiction.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This work would be useful and beneficial not only in Moro
local government, but to other agencies involved in grassroots development
efforts. It will also help to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on Moro
local government area of Kwara state and serve as a reference for future
research work.
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The local government administration objectives which
are both political and administrative in nature can be streamlined to
effectively mobilize local resource both human and material through the active
in-conjunction with higher authorities’ i.e. federal and state government to
Facilitate socio-economic and political development of these rural communities.
Local government can be a veritable agent for
grassroots community development when and if the following issues are
critically examined and adopted: The local government statutory powers and autonomy,
if given prominence with institutional backing that would encourage civic
consciousness, political participation and consultation on policy issues. It
would not only bring enthusiasms on the part of the people, but reduce areas of
friction and possible outbreak of violence.
Reliable system of funding devoid of corrupt Practice
can facilitate quick response for local demand and aspiration for programs and
projects that would have direct impact on inhabitants. Planning process and
implementation carried out from local level would have absolute support of
local community. The federal and state Government can interface through filed
agencies with local communities by enlighten and educational campaign for easy
implementation of policies of central government.
Local government would provide educational and skill
acquisition (vocational) centers in rural communities. This would facilitate
proper use of government properties like agricultural implement, school
teaching data, Clinic and dispensary including other infrastructures. There
would be proper utilization of available resources, prevent misuse,
misappropriation and prevent acts that would be inimical to growth and
development of rural communities.
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study presents the research on local government
as agent of community development. It covers the role of Ilorin east local
government as a catalyst for community development and the roles of various
units of the local government in this regards. It covers in retrospect the
period from the time of local government reform 1976 as a reference point till
date. Taking into cognizance that the local government (Moro local government)
under spotlight was created in December 1991.
This work would not cover certain areas such as secret
files or documents to some documents as “classified documents” and secrete
files. Time constraint was another factor as well as inadequate finance.
1.7 ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY
This
research work is divided into five chapters.
Chapter
one contains background of the study, introduction, statement of the study,
significance of the study, research hypothesis, scope and limitation of the
study, definition of terms and references.
Why
chapter two contains literature review, introduction, theoretical frame work,
current trend in thinking, summary of the chapters and references.
Chapter
three contains research methodology, sample and the population of the study,
source of data and data collection, method of data analysis and research
problem.
Chapter
four contains data presentation analysis and interpretation of findings,
introduction, and brief history of Moro local government, analysis of
hypothesis, testing of hypothesis, summary of the data and references.
Chapter
five contains summary, conclusions and recommendations, summary of findings,
conclusions, recommendations and bibliography.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Local government is a concept that carries a myriad of
definition and meaning. There is no system of local government that is common
to all countries of the world, hence no uniform structure, power and function
for local government. Therefore it is difficult to find a common definition
that fit ails.
Bello-
Imam [1996] defines local government as that unit of administration with
constitutionally defined territory and powers as well as an administrative
authority with relative autonomy. Such administrative authority could be, be
not always elected,
The federal republic of Nigeria [FRN] 1976 conceives
kcal government as government at local level exercised through council
established by law to exercise special’s powers within defined areas.
The report of the political Burien [2987]. Local
government is widely acknowledged as a viable instrument for rural
transformation and for delivery of social service to the people.
Rural communities generally refers to the country side
and is demographically defined as that setting that has less than ten thousand
people inhabiting a particular area or location. The economic activities of a
greater percentage are farming.
Development, however, is a process of social
transformation, which may manifest in visible change in the physical
environment and or in the upward movement of such hid ices gross nation
product, per capital income, declining maternal mortality and increase
employment.
Rural community development world therefore be
conceive as a process of rapid social transformation and increase level of per
capital income in the rural community economic sector that would translate to a
meaningful rise in the standard of living of the rural population.
REFERENCES
Adeyemo, R. (1984),
“community development: instrument for improving rural quality” rural
development in Nigeria. Ibadan, F A CU.
Bamidele J.A and Simon
J.N (2006); Conceptual Approach to the study of
local government administration Ilorin Olad publisher
Popoola A.A. (2006);
Essential of local government finance and public enterprises management Ilorin Olad
Publishers.
National committee on
Rural Development (1993) National Rural Development
policy for Nigeria federal Department of Rural Development. Lagos