THE IMPACT OF DEMOCRACY ON THE GRASSROOT DEVELOPMENT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The introduction of democratic government into grass root level i.e local government system can be said to have started specifically from the 1960 local government reforms, which made it possible for local government to function as the third tier of government along with federal and state government. The 1976 local government reforms therefore led to the introduction of grass root democracy into the administration of local government in Nigeria. By democracy, we mean that the government is for the people, and is being handled by the people for the development of the grass root i.e. for the entire people within the locality. However, since 1976 to date, there has been no significant improvement in the lives of ordinary citizens despite the proliferation of local governments in the country. The questions that come to the mind therefore are; To what extent has democracy affected the grass root level, how does grass roots democracy affect the administration of the local government using Idah local government area as case study, this study seek to investigate the impacts of democracy on the grass root development.

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Since the introduction of grass root democracy in to the local government system in Nigeria in 1976, there have been crisis of political wrangling in the affairs of local government to date. This has led many people to believe that democracy is inimical to local government administration. Those who support this assertion argue that, because of the immaturity of the people at the grass root level to differentiate between political and administrative issues, one elected into the council, the politicians always take the local government as personal estates and would like to dabble into issues, which are purely bureaucratic and thus, hamper the efficiency of local government administration as well as grass root development. The excessive politicking in the administration of local government there has made it closely impossible for the local government to achieve the objectives of the 1976 local government reforms. Taking the above problems into cognizance, this study will therefore seek ways of ensuring stable democracy for grass root development.

1.3  OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study shall be to:

Examine the extent to democracy has affected the grass roots development

To examine if democratic setting have given the people in the rural areas equal chance to participate in the decision making and administration of their state.

To identify the problems facing the rural dwellers and proffer suggestions, recommendations and solutions to them and

To recommend possible ways of ensuring grass root development under democratic government.