THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (A CASE STUDY OF OHAJI EGBEMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN IMO STATE)

Abstract

This research work was undertaken with a view to ascertaining the community development in Imo State Imo state of Nigeria with a focus on Ohaji Egbema Local government with in its area of jurisdiction. In doing this, the researcher based his study on the provision of the 1976 local government reform in Nigeria which made community development one of the explicit functions of the local government councils.

In carrying out the research primary and secondary data were used. Related literature were reviewed (secondary data chapter 2) and questionnaire were equally prepared and administered to local government functionaries (primary data chapter 4)

The technique use in analyzing the primary data is the chi-square (x²). The finding of the research was reached using the result of the tested hypothesis.

For the analysis, it was found that many factors act as stumbling blocks on the way of community development in Ohaji Egbema Local government area and the state general. Such factors include,

1. Lack of adequate organization frame work and orientation.
2. Lack of dedication and commitment on the part of the local government councils to the cause of community development.
3. Misplacement of organization priorities and consequently, misdirection of funds.
4. Lack of executive capacity from lack of adequate trained motivated and dedicated staff for effective and efficient implementation of councils.
5.  The Unhealthy political atmosphere existing in the local government councils.
6. And finally the unreliable external funding and inability to generate revenue for development purpose.

 From the above findings, the researcher concluded by  making a sense of recommendations among which are the  coordination of the  development efforts of the various formal and  informal organizations in all over,  the community development programmes, and procurement  of adequately trained personnel for the organizational and educational processes associated with community development.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                       i

Approval Page                                                 ii    

Dedication                                                      iii

Acknowledgement                                            iv

Abstract                                                         v

Table of Contents                                            vi

CHAPTER ONE

1. Background Of Study                               
2. Statement of Problems.                            
3. Objectives of the Study                     
4. Scope and Limitation of the Study              
5. Significance of  the Study                         
6. Theoretical Framework.                            
7. Scope of the Study                                  
8. Limitation of the Study                             
9. Definition of Terms.                                        

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review                                      

2.1 Concept and Definition of Community   Development.                

2.2 Historical Background of Community Development as Obtains in Nigeria.             

2.3 Roles of Local Government Council  in Community Development.                      

2.4 Major Constraints in Ohaji Egbema                            

2.5 Achievement of Ohaji Egbema                            

2.6 Implementation Strategies to Rural Development                                           

2.7 Steps for Effective Rural Development          

2.8 Other Organization Involved in Community   Development.                        

     References.                                                      

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Research Design and Methodology               

3.1 Research Design                                        

3.2 Area of Study.                                          

3.3 Sample Size                                             

3.4 Sample and Sampling Technique                 

3.5 Instrument for Data Conclusion                          

3.6 Validity of the Instrument                                 

3.7 Reliability of the Instrument                        

3.8 Method of Data Collection                                 

3.9 Method of Data Analysis.                            

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANLYSIS                   

4.1 Data Analysis                                     

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Summary of Findings, Conclusion and

      Recommendation                                      

5.1 Summary                                                 

5.2 Recommendation.                                            

5.3 Conclusion                                                    

      References                                                      

      Appendix

CHAPTER ONE

• BACKGROUND OF THE  STUDY

Local governments have and will continue to be of the prime of developments in different part of the world and their important and impact on the daily activities of citizens cannot be over emphasized.

The terms local government refers to a political authority set up by a nation or state as a subordinate authority for the purpose of dispensing or decentralizing political power. In the English sense, it means local self government.

Local government is a political  sub division of a national  government or in federal system, a sub-division of regional government in fact, local government administration is so intentioned with community development that any discussions on one out  of necessity involves en essence was created solidly to bring development to the communities at the grass root.

Community development is defined as a process by which the efforts of the people themselves are lives with those of government authorities to improve the economics, social and cultural conditions of the communities, to integrate into the life of the action and to noble them to fully contribute to the national progress.

Also the role of local government in the promotion of development at the local level is clearly recognized as one of the underlying basis of the 1976 local government reforms which emphasis that none of the  principal objectives of local government is to mobiles human and material resources though the involvement members of the public in the promotion of local government. Many communities had built schools, constructed roads and bridges and organized higher education, scholarship schemes for their children etc. Community development as we recognize today is based on and has grown out of experience of the past.

What is new is that these principles are now becoming more widely recognized than ever before. The principles of community development are not new, but it is the emphasis which makes almost a revolutionary. The concept of community development is based on the faith. In the ability of people to learn to help them self attain an improved standard of living building better communities taking one step at a time.

Rural development has thus remained one of the priority items of the programmes of one administration. In drawing up the blue print for rural development, government of Imo state aims primary at sensitizing and mobilizing the people at the grass root level and deliberately ad actively involving them in effective community development, encouraging integrated and multi-dimension approach community development for the government to achieve the grass roots development, it must get closer to the people. Community development groups and local government should work very closely, because for instance, a service project such as maternity dispensary or school which is built without the full support of the relevant local government, has very lean chances of survival, since the running and main tenancy expenses of such services are usually too heavy to be borne unaided to such community.

ORGANIZATION OF OHAJI EGEMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT