CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study 

The idea of local government administration in Nigeria has attracted serious attention both nationally and internationally since the local government reform of 1976. Agagu, (2007), viewed local government as a level of government which is supposed to have its greatest impact on the people at the rural areas. It is a tier of government which is closest to the citizenry and it is saddled with responsibility of guaranteeing the political, social and economic development of its area and its people (Enero, Oladoyin & Elumilade, 2009).

As a result of this development, there has been growing recognition of the importance of rural development as an instrument in the overall development of the contemporary developing world. This is because of the glaring gap between the rural and urban areas in terms of infrastructural, resources distribution, human resources development and employment, which has made rural development imperative (Ogbazi, 1982 in Zakari ya’u, 2014). This imbalance has subjected the rural areas to more disadvantaged economic position. It has induced rural – urban migration, thereby, increasing unemployment situation in the urban areas, while, simultaneously depriving the rural areas of their agricultural workforce (Zakari ya’u, 2014).

The idea of local government is to bring governance closer to people in the grassroots for participation in governance, service delivery to enhance socio-economic development and good governance (Ogunna, 2006 in Okoli, et al, 2015). But unfortunately today, transparency and accountability in Nigerian local government is rhetoric, most local government officials display provocative wealth gotten through criminal institutionalized stealing and corrupt practices (Onah, 2010 in Okoli, et al, 2015).

The failure of local government in the area of service delivery over the years has made the citizens to lose faith and trust in local government administration as an institution in Nigeria.

From historical perspective, modern local government administration in Nigeria can be traced to the British system of local government. But it should be stated however, that local administration did not start with the advent of British Administration in Nigeria, because some forms of system of local government administration pre-dated the British rule. Local government administration is one of man’s oldest institutions. The earliest form of local governments’ administration existed in the form of clan and village meetings. In fact, democracy itself originated and developed along the lines of local governance initiative in the ancient Greek City States. It should be noted however, that in other parts of the world, local governance was developed along the people’s culture and expectations, and the system was tied to the norms and practices of the people (Aghayere, 2007).

According to Gboyega, four points of historical reference can be identified in the development of local government administration in Nigeria. They are: (1) Colonial rule; (2) Local government reforms in the East (1951) and West (1952) respectively; (3) The military coup of 1966; and (4) The 1976 Local Government Reform (Gboyega as cited by Aghayere, 2007 in Oviasuyi et al, 2010).

Local government administration in Nigeria has undergone many changes of which the 1976

Reforms and the Constitutions of 1979 and 1999 can be said to be most prominent. Before 1976, local government administration in Nigeria had passed through many changing environments and this has in no small measure influenced its development. Again, the 1976 Local Government Reforms brought watershed in local government system; the reform brings unified structure and makes local government bedrock for development in the rural area (Agagu, 2009; Ajayi, 2005).

The reform was a major departure from the previous practice of local government administration in Nigeria. The philosophical basis of the reform lies in the conviction that a strong local authority with clearly defined functional responsibilities in a power-sharing relationship with the states is an institutional safeguard against tyranny. Following the 1976 reforms, local government became recognized as a tier of government entitled to a share of national revenue consequent on its constitutionally allocated functions (Imuetinyan 2007 in Oviasuyi et al, 2010)

The provisions of the 1976 reform document were incorporated into the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Section 7(1) of the constitution provides that “the government of every state shall ensure their existence under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils” Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1979).

The power of the state government over local authorities has been wrongly applied to undermine elected and participatory governance and responsibility at the grassroots, and this has made operation of the constitution questionable. The situation of local government administration under the 1999 Constitution is also very confusing and complex. Although, the 1999 Constitution also guarantees the existence of a democratically elected local government system, it however, like the 1979 Constitution, gives the states the responsibility to handle issues of organization and structure (Oviasuyi et al, 2010).

As a result of this development, most of the rural areas in Nigeria are in a pathetic state of development, even, some of the urban local government areas are also deficient in development. Some of these infrastructures where available, are left uncared for. The implication of this is that local governments in Nigeria have been consistent over the years in their failure to enhance their capacity to engage and mobilize human resources towards their needs. Local roads are left unrepaired, rural electricity are in state of dilemma, rural health centres are dilapidated with absence of drugs and necessary health personnel, rural boreholes and water pumps have no water, rural water scheme/projects are deserted (Tolu, 2014).

Oyo state, is not an exception, the period under review 2008-2018, Musa (2011) asserts that local level has turned into a care-taker imposed by state governments. In some cases, care-takership is perpetuated if the outright denial of democratic local government through care-taker committees demonstrates increase in authoritarian holds on the councils by state governors, the case of where elections hold does not give cause for cheers (Okoli, et al, 2015). That is why in Oyo state, each time a governor assumes office, his first official function will be the dissolution or re-constitution of local government officials whether elected or appointed to secure grassroots support by hook or crook (The nation, 2012 in Okoli, et al, 2015). Many argued that the poor performance of local governments in Nigeria is due to state and local government joint account. Many state governors and state assembly members handle local government as if they are not constitutionally guaranteed democratic elected officials (Mark in Okoli et al, 2015). Again, as a result of joint account, most local government chairmen always complain of shortage of funds released to them, due to the interference of state government in their affairs as orchestrated by governors (FRN in Okoli et al, 2015). Generally, as regards to rural development, the following areas (economic sector, health sector, provision of essential amenities, agricultural sector, general security, industrialization, education sector, transportation and communication sector) have been affected by some of these issues stated above and these areas are the primary assignment of local government but instead of performing as expected, end up doing little.

For instance, it is noteworthy that most of the road networks in rural areas in Oyo state and Nigeria at large are maintained through community efforts. This cannot really be effective as the contemporary road development needs of the rural areas are such that mere community efforts cannot adequately address. There is too, very apparently, poor quality education in most rural areas (Ele, 2011; Ijere ,2012) note in this respect too that rural education is characterized by limited functional or work oriented education and disdain for handicraft and technical subjects. Okoli and Onah (2007) make similar observation as they note thus: The privilege of education which, for instance, is supposed to be a birth right of every Nigerian child is an illusion to many poor rural dwellers. In some places, there are no schools at all while in some others the schools are shabby, ill-equipped and poorly staffed.

Oyo rural areas is equally characterized by apparent lack of health institutions as there are hardly any well-equipped hospital health centres, clinics and maternal homes. Onah and Okoli (2007) observe similarly that in most rural areas in Oyo and Nigeria at large, no medical institution of any sort exists at all and that where they do, the people have to travel very long distances to access them.

Water supply in the rural areas has also been discovered to be grossly inadequate and with the spread of water borne disease increased by the accompanying poor sanitary conditions (Ele, 2011; Abah, 2010) observe too that, rural areas in Oyo state is also characterized by depressingly meager annual per capital income, poor liveable houses and various forms of social and political isolation. In summary, there is apparent lack of development in the rural areas in Oyo state as reflected in the near total lack of basic infrastructure, and social services. In Oyo state of Nigeria, for instance, a survey of the development needs of the 471 communities in the state as at 2009 revealed that 385, 342 and 304 rural communities lack access to accessible road, portable water/borehole and cottage hospitals respectively (Oyo state, 2009).

However, good local government administration cannot be underestimated towards rural development in Oyo state. Thus, this paper was embarked upon to establish the nexus between Local Government and Rural Development in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State.

1.2       Statement of Problem

Local government is expected to become more meaningful in facilitating rural development at the grassroots level. The merit in involving the local communities’ inhabitants as a focal point of good governance in the local government administration is that they serve as a point of contact between the local government and the grassroots (Okafor, 2002 in Zakari ya’u, 2014). Communities in Nigeria in the past have maintained a strong tradition in the area of self-help projects (Okafor, 2004 in Zakari ya’u, 2014). 

Basic facilities such as roads, bridges, markets, health institutions, primary and post-primary institutions have been provided in different parts of the country through self-help development programmes. According to Okafor (2004), communities have the capacity to respond to specific local development plans, mobilize their resources in a collective way, adjust their organizations to the required needs and devise their own appropriate management rules to cope with the situation (Okafor, 2004).

Regrettably, the realization of these objectives has been constrained by a number of issues confronting local government development in Oyo state which are as follows: Joint account system, corruption, state interference, loss of autonomy, caretaker ship, poor commitment and poor funding.

Furthermore, in the key areas according to the four point agenda of local government administration, the health centers in most local government is to say the least deplorable. There is abject nonexistence of drugs, medical equipment and manpower.

In the case of essential amenities, basic social amenities as road, electricity, water and recreational facilities are very much lacking in the local government across the state. In the area of agriculture, majority of the rural dwellers depend on this sector but mechanization of the sector remains at a low ebb. 

Again, in the area of education, this is an indispensable index of development but much has not been done by successive administrations to provide functional qualitative education to the rural dwellers.

1.3       Objectives of Study

In a broad view, this study seeks to look at the role of local government in rural development in Ibadan North Local Government Area. But, being specific, the objective comprises of the following:

        i.            To assess the role of the local government administration in rural development in Ibadan North Local Government Area;

      ii.            To investigate whether job creation and provision of infrastructures by the government led to prevention of rural-urban migration in Ibadan North Local Government Area;

    iii.            To find out the relationship between governments budgetary allocation and rural development in Ibadan North Local Government Area.

1.4              Research Question

        i.            What role did local government administration played towards rural development in Ibadan North Local Government Area?

      ii.            Did job creation and provision of infrastructures by the government led to stoppage of rural-urban migration in Ibadan North Local Government Area?

    iii.            To what extent does government’s budgetary allocation address rural development in Ibadan North Local Government Area?

1.5       Statement of Hypotheses

The following hypotheses are formulated for the study:

Hypothesis One

H0:      Local government does not play significant role towards rural development in Ibadan North Local Government Area.

H1:      Local government play significant role towards rural development in Ibadan North Local Government Area.

Hypothesis Two

H0:      Job creation and provision of infrastructures by the government does not prevent migration in Ibadan North Local Government Area.

H1:      Job creation and provision of infrastructures by the government help to prevent migration in Ibadan North Local Government Area.

Hypothesis Three

H0:      Government’s budgetary allocation does not address rural development in Ibadan North Local Government Area.

H1:      Government’s budgetary allocation addresses rural development in Ibadan North Local Government Area.

1.6       Significance of the Study

This study has both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, the study provides a theoretical framework for the understanding of the role of local government in rural development in Nigeria. Therefore considering the pivotal role of local government in development in general, such information will be of immense help for policy formulation on the development of grassroots. The result of the study will equally be of help to other researchers who may want to research on such topic or related topics on development in the academia in the future.

On the practical significance, the study will draw attention of, and enlighten both the stakeholders and those who implement policies on rural development in Nigeria who may not really understand the central role of rural development on the crucial and inescapable role of local government system. As a result, the rural dwellers will endeavour to participate fully in grassroots democratization and development, while those who implement policy on development in Nigeria will become dedicated to policy formulation, recommendations and implementation.

1.7       Scope of the Study

This study covered the critical analysis of the role of local government in rural development. The scope of this study is limited to the operation of Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State for the period of 2008 – 2018

1.8       Limitations of the Study

In carrying out this study, these limitations were encountered by the researcher:

        i.            Time: Time will limit the conduct of this study and this has impact on the sample study and the questionnaire. If enough time is on the side of the researcher, this study would have chosen more organization in different sectors of the economy for study.

      ii.            Financial Constraints: The researcher was faced with financial constraints which had far reaching effect on the running around for questionnaire, obtain necessary information and cost typing and binding the project since only the researcher will bear the cost of getting the research done.

    iii.            Lastly some of the respondent will not give the right information.

1.9       Definition of Terms

Rural Development: Rural development in accordance to Ayodele (2007) is a strategy which is designed to bring about an improvement in the social and economic life of the rural communities. Furthermore, Ekong (2008) defines rural development as a vital in the general process of rural development. It entrances prompt delivery of inputs to farmers and evacuation of farms produce to market. He also defines rural development as a process of which a set of technical, social-economic condition in order to achieve harmony and balance both on the regional and national levels (Ekong, 2008).

Rural Dwellers: Rural dwellers are the people living in the remote areas of a country and lack basic infrastructure like good road network, pipe borne water, electricity, good health facility etc. The term refers to the ordinary people who are far from political decision making process at the centre. These groups includes small scale farmers, tenants, etc who seek livelihood in the rural areas.

Local Government: According to Remi A. (2013), local government is a political division of nation (or in a federal system, a state) which is constituted by law and has substantial control of local affairs, including the power to impose taxes or exact labour for prescribes or otherwise locally selected. Oxford Concise Dictionary of politics (2014) define local government as a governing institution which has authority over a sub-national territorially defined area, in federal systems a sub-state territorially defined area.

Development: The concept of development has different meanings for different people. For the purpose of this research, we view development as a process of societal transformation from a state of underdevelopment, to a state of growth, progress and fulfillment where the basic needs of life such as food, shelter, clothing, health, education, transportation, water, etc are met with no constraints.

Integrated Rural Development: Aminuzzaman (2008) in Ayodele (2007) defines it as a new and complex organization innovation in which aims to serve target population through multi-agency efforts and in which heterogeneous technologies several sources and collective initiatives are required to attain its broad goals.