Local government autonomy in Nasarawa Sate: Panacea for grassroots development

Abstract

The paper examined and articulated some measurable instruments and conditions for effective management of autonomy for local government in Nasarawa State. This is with a view to investigating the challenges of efficient and effective management of this level of government. The methodology used in the study was descriptive qualitative analysis. The management of local government finance was analyzed using efficiency theory. It was discovered that management of local government finance in Nasarawa has been bedeviled by lack of long-term financial planning, corruption, the use of inappropriate budgetary system, and so on. It was the contention of the paper that appropriate constitutional amendments to remove certain cogs in the wheel of making local governments an independent but coordinate part of Nigeria federalism will ensure efficiency in the management of local government finance. Long-term financial planning and appropriate budgetary system will be ensured.

Keywords

• autonomy
• budgeting
• efficiency
• local government
• management