Existentiality of Local Government in Nigeria an Answer to Grassroots Development, but for Unsolicited Socio-Political Factors

Abstract

As an administrative mechanism, LG is designed to facilitate development at the grassroots. The central thesis of this work is that an effective LG system is requisite for the realisations of Nigeria’s vision of rural development. Through the 1979 and 1999 Nigeria constitutions, it was transformed to third tier government for effectiveness. This work recognises LG as a political/administrative therapy to sustaining rural development in Nigeria; but has failed owing to some socio-political factors. To make LG more fulfilling as the third tier of government, there is need for constitutional reforms separating its powers from the state/federal government, the paper suggests.

Keywords

• constitution; development; local government; native authority; reforms