LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS AN INSTRUMENT OF RURAL TRANSFORMATION, A CASE STUDY OF ILORIN EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

          Rural development is one of the arms of the ministry of social welfare in the formal northern Nigeria government. It was under ministry of education and community development when kwara state was created in 1967 after about a year, the kwara state government removed local government community development from education and also removed local government section from governor’s office and emerged the two together to become one ministry known as ministry of local government and community development in the year 1969. (Rural development section was under this ministry).

          Presently, ministry of rural development now exist. At its inception, kwara state comprised of two provinces, namely Kabba and Ilorin. The arrangement of rural development activities was based on provisional administration, but at the end of 1968, divisional administration was created. Among the division created form the provinces were Igbomina / Ekiti, Ilorin, Kabba, Kogi etc.

          Rural development is one of the instruments used to obtain popular and renowned participation in development. The discussion, decision, planning and implementation of development projects are jointly done by members themselves and the rural development promotes who parties the programme.

          The attention of local government to rural development activities is due to proper co-ordination and must do assignment of local government administration. Nevertheless, most of these developments are initiatives of rural community members but after all has been said and done, rural community members are not independent of local or state government assistance and support.

          The contributions of local government towards any rural development can never be over emphasized.

1.2   AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

          In view of the importance of local government as an instrument to transform rural areas, this study aims at highlighting the impact of the local government (Ilorin East local government) on rural transformation of its jurisdiction. Also to examine the problems and solutions of economic and social activities of the area.

          Moreover, the research is conducted to expatiate on the step that has been taken by various rural communities and local governments in rural transformation (2005-2008).

1.3   THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

          This study would be useful and beneficial to Ilorin East local government and other agencies of rural transformation. It will contribute to the existing knowledge and serve as a reference to future researchers.

1.4   THE SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

          This project work deals with how Ilorin east local government serves as means of transforming its rural areas. It covers the period of local government reform of 1976 to date.

          There are some constraints encountered in the process of writing this project work among which are collection of writing this project work among which are collection of information from local government personnel who usually referred to some document as “classified document” and secret files which could not be reached or treated for this work.

          Also, finance is another constraint which is the orbit in which every other factors rotates and since it is limited, then one or two problems were encountered, like cost of transportation and typing.

1.5   RESEARCH METHODOLOGY