CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE
STUDY
The
Strategic position of Local Government as the third tier of government closer
to the grassroots had made local government a veritable instrument for rural
development. As the government closer to the people, it has been the machinery for
implementing both federal state and self initiated development programmes fro
the betterment of the people.
Local
Government Administration in Nigeria
therefore dates back to the Colonial Administration for effective
administration of Nigeria
vast territory, basically introduced this system. The colonialist on realizing
it’s incapacity and lack of resources for running the large area of Nigeria ,
hitherto resorted to the system of indirect rule. The main pre-occupation of
this system was the creation of conducive atmosphere for the effective
administration of the territory.
As from
1970’s national leader all over the world and even their followers started to
change their negative attitude towards local government for more positive
application of the role this level of government play.
This
re-awaking vis-à-vis the pivotal role of local government as a district tier of
government has exclusive constitutional legislative list of functional subject.
The fourth schedule of the 1976, 1989, 1995 and 1999 Republic of Nigeria
Constitution outlined the function that should be
performed by the local government (Onwe, 2004:20). Some of these listed
functions are concurrent meaning that they could be secreted in conjunction with
the state government or state private agencies. (Onwe, 2004)
The modern
local government became a veritable for the national government for
grassroots/rural development because the reform established a uniform single
tier, all- purpose local government council in Nigeria . Its features were also
entrenched in the 1979 constitution. The 1979 constitution made it clear that although
local government in Nigeria
has some functional and structural relationship with the state and federal
government, their sustenance became constitutional issues.
Thus
section 7(1) of the 1979, 1999 and even 2010 constitutions provided that “the
system of democratically elected local government council is under this
constitution guaranteed accordingly, government of every state shall ensure
their sustenance under a law which provided for the establishment structure,
composition, finance and function of a such council”. The 1999 constitution
blazed a new part in the local government consequent upon the 1976 local
government reform by implicitly guaranteeing the existence of democratically
elected local government alongside the state and federal government (Okpata,
2004).
In a bid to
enhance the Nigeria
local government system for better service delivery, presidentialism and its
tenet separation of powers/check and balances was restored in the Nigeria local
governments system. local government has been the agency for implementing
federal and state government policies of successive requires both military and
civilian for instance, during the Muhammad Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration
in 1976, the rural development print was known as operation feed the nation
(OFN) Shagari christened his own “The Green Revolution” other programmes
include; the School on Wheel Better Life for Rural Women/Dwellers, Nomadic
Education etc. The government of Obasanjo introduced the poverty eradication
programme, which metamorphosed from his launched poverty alleviation programme
(PAP) a number of programme delivery agencies were also set up, ranging from
ministry of rural development to directorate for employment, directorate of
mass mobilization, social justice and economic recovery (MAMSER).
Based on
self help programme, local government plays siginificant role in spear-heading
the implementation of poverty reduction programmes. Self help programme of rural
communities varies from one locality to another self help programmes in local
government gives the local people the opportunity to acquire skill that will
enable them to be employed or even self employed. It enhance their statue in
the society making it possible with UNICEF assistance especially in the area of
training, other forms of instructional materials are rubber mats, sewing
machines is changing the life of the children. Self help programme need
intensive mobilization and sensitization to enhance its performance.
In 1007,
Chiefg Martin N. Elechi, the incumbent governor of Ebonyi State created the
ministry of Economic empowerment and poverty alleviation, all in the name of
enhancing the local government area in the state for development. The office
was created having known the economic backwardness of the state.
The state
governor’s focus was centered on policies tailored towards addressing the
issues; hence, the creation of this office as a link to reach the people and
reduce poverty by creating an enhancing environments for people to thrive
economically. In respective of these efforts by federal and state government
system, not much results have been realized, Local government have a lot of
problems, truncating their efforts.
Self help
programme enhances development efforts in local government by fostering
community self reliance have significant community participation and
contribution help implove basic economic or social conditions at the local or
social condition at the community or village level, be viable and sustainable
in terms of finance, personnel support, and necessary expertise and services,
fall within the ability of local community to implement, in one year or less.
In
respective of these efforts by federal and state government system, not many
results have been realized. Local governments have a lot of problems truncating
their efforts. For instance; Ani (1999) observed that “one of the reasons why
economic policies failed in Nigeria
was lack of communication and understanding, these communicating gaps between
the formulations of policies and those implementing them. Some officials did
not understand the policies, with the result that each ministry was doing in
its own without focusing on the particular objectives of government.
Recent
appraisal of the achievement in respect of human development and provision of
resources required fro a decent living shows a disappointing Nigeria record.
All these reports underscore the role of government in improving the quality
life of the rural people (Mubogunje 1980:35). Hence, this study enhancing
effort in the Nigeria
local government system, through self help programme: A Study of Ohaukwu
L.G.A., Ebonyi State is timely.
Ohaukwu L.G.A was created in 1989 with headquarter at
Ezzangbo. History has it that it was carved out of Ishielu Local Government
Council and has 15 political wards with sixteen (16) autonomous communities.
Other
factors favouring the research interest includes poor condition of living of
rural people, especially in the area of social amenities and deliberate
negligence pf developing the rural area by elite and political actors both at
the local government and beyond.
1.1 STATEMENT OF
PROBLEM
The standards
of living of those in the rural areas have continued to deteriorate. Local
government has failed to provide the desired development in the rural areas.
There have been cases of overlapping of functions between the local government
and other level of government. Operational problems on the attitude of the
officials of local government and other level have tended to militate against
the development of the local government. The separation of masses for a rapid
socio-economic development of their societies through the activities of local
government have not been fulfilled, hence, the need to enhance the
developmental efforts in the local government to realize the desired
development of the rural area and by extension of the overall national
development. the researcher therefore specially identified the following
problems:
PAYMENT PROCEDURE;
BANK: FIRST BANK
ACCOUNT NAME: EGBE JOHN EDOGI
ACCOUNT NO: 3034851408
GTBANK
ACCOUNT NAME: EGBE JOHN
EDOGI
ACCOUNT NO: 0122005571
PLEASE AFTER PAYMENT SEND THE TELLER NUMBER
AND YOUR NAME THE WAY IT APPEAR IN THE TELLER
TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PHONE NUMBER:
08037940241
08183133884
YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR MATERIAL IN YOUR EMAIL
BOX WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER PAYMENT
THANKS FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH US.