CHAPTER ONE
1.0 BACKGROUND OF
THE STUDY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Local government is the closest tier of
government to the people. Local government is not only an institution for
economic but also the bedrock on which the growth and development rural areas
by Federal and State Government super structure 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 in not new in , 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 problem that hinder the
progress of the local government community development includes: Inadequate
findings and withholding of local government funds by the control of federal
government are joint account with the state government. Lack of local
government autonomy over local affair, 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 important of local
government as agent of community development, this work will highlight the
important 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 works will also
examine the performance of local government on community development within it
area of jurisdiction.
1.4 SIGNIFICANT OF
THE STUDY
This work should be useful and
beneficial not only
east local government, but to other agencies involved in grass roots
development efforts. It will also help to contribute to the existing body of
knowledge on east local government area
of and serve as a reference for
further 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 resources both human and materials
through the achieve in conjunction with higher authorities i.e. Federal and
State government to facilitate social economic and political development of
these rural communities.
Local government can be a veritable
agent for grassroots community development when and if the following issue are
critically examine and adopted: the local government statutory power and
autonomy, if given prominence with institutional backing that would encourage
civil consciousness political participation and consultation on policy issued.
It would not bring enthusiasms on the part of the people, but reduces areas of
friction and possible outbreak of violence.
Reliable system of funding devoid of
corruption practice can facilitate quick response for local demand and
aspiration for programmes 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 enlightment
and educational campaign for implementation of policies of central
government.
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 east local
government as a catalyst for the community development and the roles of various
unit of the local government in this regards. It covers in retrospect the
period from the time of local government reform in 1976 as a reference point
till date. Taking into cognizance that the local government ( east) under spotlight was created in
December 1991.
This work would not cover certain area
such as secret files or documents of
east local government and the details of pre 1976 reform period of local government.
The limitation of this work is attributable to various obstacles encountered in
the personnel who usually refer to some document as “Classified documents” and
secret files. Time constraint was another facto as well as inadequate finance.
1.7 ORGANIZATION OF
STUDY
This research work has been carefully
arranged as to contain the following chapters
Chapter one: Chapter of this research
work focuses on the introduction of the study following by the statement of the
problem, purpose and objective significance of the study, research methodology,
scope and limitation of the study, the organization of the study that show how
the work is organized from chapter one to five. The various term used where
define in the definition of terms. Finally reference was made to give account
for the various material used in the research work.
Chapter two: The chapter two of this
research work explain in the literature review of the study, introduction, the
theoretical framework, current trend in thinking, summary of the chapter and
finally concluded by references.
Chapter Three: This chapter of the
research work entices on the research methodology, research population and
sample, data collection instrument, method of data analysis and finally
research problem and references.
Chapter Four: The chapter four of the
research give account for the data presentation and analysis interpretation of
findings, introduction brief history of the case study of east local government, presentation of
data and analysis of data, testing of hypothesis, summary of the chapter and
references.
Chapter five: the last chapter of the
research work that contains summary, recommendation and conclusion, summary of
findings, recommendation, conclusion and bibliography to end the work.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Local government: can be defined as the unit
of administration with constitutionally defines territory and power as well as
a administration authority with relative autonomy.
It can also be describe as an
administrative body for a small geographical area such as city. Town, country,
or state.
It
can also be define as government at a local level exercised through council
established by law to exercise specific powers within defined areas.
Rural
Communities: 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 of farming.
Development: This is a process of social
transformation, which may manifest in visible change in the physical
environment and or the upward movement of such hid ices gross nation product,
per capital income, declining material mortality and increase employment.
Community development: can be defined as
a structured intervention that gives communities greater control over the
conditions that affect their lives.
It also a skilled process and part of its approach is the
belief that communities cannot be helped unless they themselves agree to this
process.
Community development has to look ways: not only at how
the community is working at the grass roots, but also at how responsive key
institutions are to the needs of local communities.
REFERENCES
Akanmere
F.A (2001): Issues and concept in Government And politics of . Silmate Association
Publisher.
Akpan,
U.N (1967): Epitaph to direct rule, a discourse an Local Government in African,
, French
case Ltd.
Bamidele
J.A and Simon J.N (2006): Conceptual Approach To the study of local government
administration ,
Olad Publisher.
Bello
Imam I.B (1990): Local Government Finance: in Nigeria,
, Vintage
Publisher.
Kwara
State Ministry of Rural Development and Water resources (1980) Community
Development Kwara State Experience.
Government Printer.
Williams.
S. (1982): Rural Development in Nigeria
University of Ile-Ife Press .