LOW PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL IN AKWA IBOM STATE: A CASE STUDY OF OKOBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION 2008-2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            i

Declaration         ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            ii

Certification        ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            iii

Dedication          ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            iv

Acknowledgements     ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            v

Table of Contents        ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            vi

1. SECTION ONE:  BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

1.1    Introduction         ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            1

1.2    Objective of the Study ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            4

1.3    Significance of the Study     ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            4

1.4    Scope/Organisation of the Study  ——  ——  ——  ——            5

• SECTION TWO:  THEORIES AND CONCEPT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTADMINISTRATION     

2.1    Literature Review        ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            6

2.2    Meaning of Local Government Administration —— ——            8

2.3    Theories of Local Government Administration —— ——            10    

vii

2.4    Types of Local Government Administration   ——  ——            13

2.5    Local Government Administrative System before the

Modern Local Government Administration System ——            16

2.6    1976 Local Government Reforms          ——  ——  ——  ——            21

2.7    General Purpose of Local Government          ——  ——  ——            24

2.8    Functions of Local Government in Nigeria     ——  ——            25

2.9    Local Government versus Local Administration      ——            27

• SECTION THREE:  QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL IN OKOBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (2008-2011)

3.1    Analysis of Okobo Local Government Administration

(2008-2011)        ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            30

3.2    Assessment of Factors that leads to Low Performance

ofOkobo Local Government Administration    ——  ——            38

• SECTION FOUR:  SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

4.1    Summary   ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            46

4.2    Recommendations      ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            47

4.3    Conclusion         ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            51

          References         ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——  ——            52

1. SECTION ONE: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

1.1    INTRODUCTION

Just few months ago, Nigeria celebrated her 57^th Independence Anniversary. AkwaIbom State joined in rolling out drums to mark her 27^th Anniversary of the State. But, while we wallow in the euphoria of these celebrations, the ‘dividends of democracy’ and the huge ‘transformation’ recorded by these two (2) levels of government, we forgot the dearest and the most neglected institution that is relevant to the sustenance of these transformation and good governance, that is, the local government administration.

Local government or local government administration is the third and lowest tier of government created by the constitution.  Thus, the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended averred “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils under this constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the government of every state shall, subject to section 8 of this constitution, ensure their existence under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils” (Chapter I, Part II, Section 7 (1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended). It is so created to oversee the political administration of a locality or a local unit in a state.  It is the administration by the people of a locality of their own affairs. The United Nations Office for Public Administration explained local government as “A political subdivision of a nation (in a federal or state system) which is constituted by law and has substantial controls of local affairs including the power to impose taxes or to exert labour for prescribed purposes.  The governing body of such an entity is elected or otherwise locally selected”.

In Nigeria, local governments were created to give self identity and local independence to groups of villagers and to perform localized functions pertinent to their areas of jurisdiction. Since the 1976 Local Government Reforms, local governments have been going through considerable changes to enable them deliver effective services to the people in the rural areas within the jurisdiction of the local government. The 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, in the Fourth schedule categorically states “The major functions of Local Government Councils which include among others to consider and make recommendations to a state commission on economic planning as it affects the council area, collect rates, radio and television licenses; establish and maintain cemeteries, destitute homes, slaughter houses, markets, motor parks; construction, naming and maintenance of roads and streets; participate in the governance of a state in areas of maintenance of primary, adult and vocational educations; development of agricultural and natural resources and provide and maintain health services, etc” (1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, Fourth schedule).

One therefore needs to pause and asked, with all the wonderful works on the theory and practice of local government administration, with all the efforts at reforms and contextualization, with the several seminars/workshops organized for local government administration and with the huge and mouth-watering allocation from the federation government and the ones internally generated in AkwaIbom State, why do we still have these minimal success and performances? Is it in the theory structure or operators? Is Local Government Administration that is apparently embraced and lauded the world over out of place in AkwaIbom State and Okobo in particular? Why does this institution finds it difficult to thrive in this part of the globe?

It is the fact that the performances of Local Government Administration Councils in AkwaIbom State and Okobo in particular are not commensurate with the purposes and needs of their creation that spurred the researcher to embark on this research. It is the researcher’s earnest belief that the recommendations which would be provided in this research work will be carefully applied in the administration of local government councils in AkwaIbom State.

1.2    OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

This research study is aimed at identifying the problems faced by Local Government Administrators which result in their low performances, and the effects of this low performance on the people of the local government area.  It will also make some suggestions on how to tackle these problems so as to have a high performing local government administration.

1.3    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work when completed would uncover the many problems/factors that hinder the performance of local government administration in AkwaIbom State and Okobo in particular. It will serves as a guide/tool whereby public administrators or intending administrators of our local governments can consult in administering their responsibilities. And if the recommendations which would be made in this work are critically studied and implemented, it will go a long way in reducing the low performance of local government administration in AkwaIbom State in general and Okobo in particular.