THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF SOBA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KADUNA STATE)
ABSTRACT
This work assesses the role of Local Government in rural development - with Soba Local Government of Kaduna State as case study.
Questionnaire and interview are employed in data collection. The study identifies inadequate personnel and finance as the main problems of Local Government in Nigeria.
It is recommended that:
- More qualified personnel should be employed into the Local Government Service while those in the service should be encouraged to acquire higher qualification;
- Favoritism should be discarded in terms of employment, promotion or assigning of duty posts;
- Rural development policy should not be via ad hoc bodies but like the primary health care programme;
- Local Government investment in profitable ventures for increased revenue should be encouraged; and
- More statutory grant from the Federation account should be allocated to the Local Governments for more socio-economic development projects.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DECLARATION iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v
ABSTRACT vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
CHAPTER ONE -- INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 1
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 4
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF TH E STUDY 5
1.4 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION 6
1.5 HYPOTHESIS 13
1.6 METHODOLOGY 13
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION ------------------------------------- 15
REFERENCES 17
CHAPTER TWO - LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEVELOPEMENT PLANNING AND RURAL UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA 19
2.2 LITERATURE REVIEW 35
REFERENCES 50
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 HISTORICAL AND SOCI-ECONOMIC PROFILE
OF SOBA LOCAL GOVERRNMENT 56
3.2 BACKGROUND TO SOBA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA 60
FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES 64
CHATER FOUR
4.1 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 65
4.2 THE IMPACT OF THE ACTIVITES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 66
REFERENCES 94
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATION 95
RECOMMENDATION 97
REFERENCES 101
APPENDICES 104
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The rural sector in Nigeria, and indeed most of those in the developing countries have most often been neglected in terms of the provision of infrastructural facilities.
Therefore, the whole idea behind rural development is for the improvement of the economic and Socio-cultural life of the masses. These rural masses are what Dupe Olatunbosun referred to as the “rural majority” 1 who have become the minority in terms of social amenities.
The basic problems of Nigeria’s rural people emanated right for the colonial period. The colonial government actually did nothing to develop rural areas apart from it’s twin objectives of sourcing raw materials and establishing markets for its finished products. In Nigeria, as was the case with other colonized countries, the colonialists did not provide capital funds for increased investment requirements as their export demands were met.
As from 1945 when the second world war ended, the British colonial government in Nigeria did not find it necessary to ensure that
a sizeable percentage of the budget allocation goes to the rural areas. Even when over 70% of Nigerians lived in the rural areas, within that period, the little budgetary allocation to the rural sector was underspent and underutilized. Apart from boasting cash -crop production no attempt was made towards improving their living condition. The so-called marketing boards that were then set up only ended up cheating and siphoning the cash-crops of the rural people through dubious and unjustifiable purchase system. In essence, during the colonial period there were no social amenities enroute meaningful development.
With the attainment of independence in 1960,it was expected that the situation would have changed. However, in the words of Olatunbosun, “----- exports remained the main source of growth. The only difference was that the resources from the rural sector were now being used to develop the urban sector instead of the metropolis, but the rural sector still remain neglected2
One major outcome of such neglect led to massive migration to the urban areas by the rural people in search of greener pastures for better living conditions.
On the other hand, the urban area became congested while social problems like drug-addiction, prostitution, armed robbery and other forms of criminal activities became rampant.
This experience and the changing world order where overall development is the order of the day led to a twist of attention by the government towards rural development.
The third National Development Plan (1975 - 80) by the Nigerian Government was the first serious effort towards integrated rural development. The plan was aimed at rising agricultural production, providing social amenities like tapwater, medical facilities, accessible roads, electricity, etc. Agricultural Development Projects and River Basin Development projects were established all over the country for prompt rise in agricultural production.
The Fourth National Development Plan also emphasized rapid development of the rural areas and to put a check towards rural - urban migration. As such, various programmes were introduced for rural development such as the National Accelerated Food Production of the Yakubu Gowon regime, the Operation Feed the Nation of the Obasanjo regime, the Green Revolution of the Shagari era, the
Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure of the Babangida regime, the Abacha Family Support Programme, etc.
Despite the above-mentioned efforts, rural development is still at infancy stage compared to the urban areas. Lack of consistency and commitment by succeeding Governments both at the Federal, State or Local level have jettisoned the idea of continuity of programme towards rural development in Nigeria. Each in-coming government feels it has the latest idea or a better formular towards rural development. There is also the problem of policy statement and its actual implementation as a typical Nigerian habit.
Therefore, this study intends evaluating the role of Local Government, if given all the necessary resources; Material, Financial or human by both the Federal and State Government, in rural development.
Soba Local Government is chosen as a case study, as a typical rural Local Government in rural development.
1.2 A STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to assess the activities of Local Government in relation to its Socio-economic development
efforts.
Specific objectives include:
i) Examining the role of Soba Local Government in improving the standard of living of the rural communities.
ii) Determining the extent to which Soba local Government implements Socio- economic programmes designed to alleviate the backward condition of the rural people.
1.3 SIGNFICANCE OF TH E STUDY
As about 70 percent of Nigerians live in the rural areas, true national development can only be achieved by improving the living condition of the rural dwellers and ensuring rural development.
The study is justifiable on the attention accorded rural development because it is the most effective method of improving the living standard of the “Rural majority”.
The choice of this topic is out of the keen concern of the researcher for rural development as contained in development
programmes of many Nigerian Governments. Infact, many developing countries are now shifting emphasis from Urban to rural development as evident from the number of rural - concerned programmes being undertaken by various Nigerian Governments as already stated. And this has been encouraging with the assistance of external donors.
As a student of development administration one is prompted to undertake the research topic so as to contribute toward the search for a feasible and workable formular for rural development. And this is of major concern to both policy makers, scholars and students of development administration.
In line with this analysis and as the emphasis of modern day government is on rural development, the choice of this topic is relevant and useful. In the words of H.F.Alderfer , “... at no time in history has the field of local government been so important to material development than today. With increasing availability to the peoples of the world of the fruits of modern technology and organization, the place of Local Government in national progress is being recognized for its own merit and for what it can do to the people”.3
Additionally, the study further hope to point out the lapses between policy formulation and its implementation with specific
reference or focus on Soba Local Government as an instrument of rural development.
1.4 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
For a comprehensive discussion, some key questions such as the definition of a Local Government or Local Administration, rural development, etc. are quite necessary.
Despite the various definitions offered by different schools on what a Local Government is, the 1976 Local Government. Reform and the 1979 Nigerian Constitution definitions of a Local Government appeared most acceptable as;
“Government at the local level exercised through representative councils, established by law to exercise specific powers within defined areas. These powers should give the council substantial control over local affairs as well as staff and institutional and financial powers to initiate and direct the provisions of services and to determine and implement projects so as to complement the activities of state and Federal Governments in their areas and ensure through devolution of functions to these councils and through the active participation of the people and their traditional institutions, that local initiative and response to local needs and conditions are maximized”, 4
and also, “the system of local government by democratically elected Local Government Council.5
Therefore, the operational definition of Local Government in this contextual framework is that of a third tier of government responsible for local affairs within its assigned power and authority to provide services to the local people or communities.
As for Local Government role, it refer to those functions, duties and responsibilities meant to improve the living condition of the rural areas - politically, socio-economically and otherwise, as stated by a former Nigeria Military President in his National Day Broadcast to the nation on October 1, 1988, inter alia that Local Governments, “are there to ensure collective participation in governance, motivate physical and economic development, create the condition for employment opportunities, and provide social services which can improve the well being of our people”.6
Moreover, there are other functions, mandatory and permissive functions, law and order functions and service functions that are the roles of Local Government in rural area development.
Mandatory functions are those functions that must be performed unless on exceptional or temporary circumstances as contained in
part ‘A’ of table .1. of the National Guidelines on Local Government Reforms as stated thus:
- Market and Motor Parks.
- Sanitary Inspection, Refuse and Night soil disposal
- Control of Vermin.
- Slaughter Houses, Slaughter Slabs
- Public conveniences
- Burial Grounds
- Registration of births, deaths and marriages
- Provision of community and local recreation centers
- Parks, gardens and public open spaces;
- Grazing grounds and plantations;
- Licensing, supervision and regulation of bake houses and laundries;
- Licensing, regulation and control of the sale of liquor;
- Licensing and regulation of Bicycles handcarts and other types of vehicles except those mechanically propelled and canoes;
- Control or keeping of animals;
- Control of hoarding, advertisements, use of loud speakers in or near public places, drumming;
- Naming of roads and streets, numbering of plots /buildings;
- Control and collection of revenue from forestry outside the forest estate of gazetted forest reserves
- Collection of vehicle parking charges;
- Collection of property and other rates, community tax and other designated revenue sources.” 7
Part ‘B’ of the table .1. of the National Guidelines on Local Government Reforms defines permissive functions as those functions virtually considered a Local Government’s responsibility, but from time to time, state government or other agencies/organization may perform if the Local Government for one reason/problem or the other, financial, material or human cannot perform effectively and efficiently.
These permissive functions are itemized thus:
- Health centers, maternity centers, dispensaries and health clinics, ambulance services; leprosy clinics and preventive health services;
- Nursery and primary and adult education;
- Information and public enlightenment;
- Provision of scholarships and bursaries;
- Provision of public libraries and reading rooms;
- Agricultural extension, animal health extension services and veterinary clinics;
- Rural and semi-urban water supply;
- Fire services;
- Provision of roads and streets (other than trunk roads) their lighting, drainage;
- Control of water and atmospheric pollution;
- Control of beggars, of prostitution and reparation of the destitute;
- Provision of homes for the destitute, the infirm and orphans;
- Provision of public utilities except where restricted by the other legislation; specifically including provision of roads and inland water transport;
- Public housing programmes, operation of commercial undertakings, control of traffic and parking;
- Regulation and control of buildings, town and country planning;
- Piped sewage system”.8
Law and Order functions are those performed through the Police /Security Committee of the Local Government for the
prevention of offences and crimes, so as to maintain peace, Law and Order within the Local Government area.
While service functions refers to the provision of social infrastructure such as pipe-borne water, dispensaries, sewage and refuse disposal, rural electrification, construction of drainage and other public conveniences.
These are therefore the operational definitions.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
In the words of Salah El Din Noah, “ rural development ‘ Implies a quantitative concept that might be understood as economic growth, and a qualitative concept, which has much to do with the idea of well-being, which encompasses such various factors as the level of the satisfaction of the needs of the population, in terms of food and nutrition, housing, health, recreation, security, spiritual satisfaction; e.t.c.”9
There are also economic, Socio-ethnic and even geographical dimensions attached to the word ‘rural’ as far as this study is concerned. Again, the word’ rural’ has both spatial and occupational
natures as rightly depicted by Olatunbosun that, “the spatial index tells us the percentages of people who live in the rural areas and the occupational index indicates the proportion of labour force whose preoccupation is wholly agriculture”. 10
In the same context, another scholar has clearly defined rural area as, “applying to an area in which people depend mostly on primary industries for their living and in which most of the Modern amenities are lacking”.11
On the operational definition of ‘rural development ‘, Mbithi, P.M, defined it as “A special as well as a technical or economic process. It is constrained by consideration for human welfare in areas such as nutrition, public health, the family setting and community co- involvement as well as by technical considerations like rural access to roads, credit, tractors, plough, e.t.c”.12
Despite the complex nature of defining rural development, the general consensus is that which views rural development as a multidimensional phenomenon. This is for the fact that rural development is a chain of processes of changes within a particular
rural area that finally lead to an improved living condition of the rural population.
As the primary goal of rural development is the improvement of the living condition of the rural populace, the final definition of Williams that, “rural development is a set of economic and social development activities peculiar to the process of transforming the traditional sector as a whole,”13 is hereby chosen as the operational definition for this thesis.
1.5 HYPOTHESES
The hypotheses for this research work are:
1. The extent to which Local Government can provide socio-economic infrastructural facilities for the rural dwellers depends on availability
of human, financial and material resources.
2. The availability of financial resources has affected the performance of Local Government in the area of the provision of infrastructural facilities.
1.6 (I) METHODOLOGY.
This research work has adopted two main data sources: primary and secondary sources.
Under primary sources questionnaire and interviews will be used while Local Government estimates, development plans, financial
memoranda, Local Government service regulations, library books, journals and articles will be used under secondary sources to test the research hypothesis.
Individuals in the Local Government service or those that have connection with it such as the management staff of the Local Government, officers of the state or federal agencies attached to the Local Government, district heads and the Local people. And as the rural farmers can neither read nor write, a special interview method was designed to gather information which will be merged with other datas for corroboration with the questionnaire method.
As the questionnaire was directly administered by this researcher it offered the opportunity for clear cut explanation of the basis of the research to the
respondents which in turn motivated them to give full cooperation and sincere response.
(ii) SAMPLING DESIGN.
For even representation of the sample drawn, this research applied stratified sampling technique.
The questionnaire was administered on the sample of 40 people drawn from the two districts of Soba local government.
The entire population was divided into two strata based on the districts in Soba local Government - which is the area of research.
Also, the income level of respondents was taken into consideration such as those earning N5000 to N10, 000 per annum; N10, 000 to N20, 000 and over. Each survey area was chosen based on it being experiencing the Local Government’s programmes for rural development or expecting such. The choice was also on prior information from the villagers or the Local Government.
In addition, as the researcher is a staff of the Local Government with a work experience of nine years, and can speak the two languages of the area there was the advantages of comprehensive communication without recourse to any interpreter or any communication problems.
(iii) DATA ANALYSIS.
The statistical method of data analysis was used to analyze the data for this research. This involved calculation of percentages, frequencies and tabular presentation of such calculated figures.
The advantage of this technique was to ease evaluation of the role and functions of the Local Government towards rural development, which is the topic of the research.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION.
This study is not meant to evaluate the functions and objectives of the Local Government on a state or nation wide basis but just narrowed to Soba Local Government area covering its 2 districts.
Lack of resources such as money, material and time led to the limitation of this study to only Soba Local Government. However, this limited scope has alternately allowed for a thorough analysis of the research topic.
The study has covered the time frame of five years: 1996 to 2000. Also, an examination of the specified functions of the Local Government will be carried out in this study just as stated in part A-C of the National Guidelines on functions, aims and objectives of Local government:
“To make appropriate services and development activities responsive to Local wishes and initiatives by developing or delegating them to local representative bodies.
To facilitate the exercise of democratic self- government close to the local levels of our society; and to encourage initiative and leadership potentials.
To mobilize human and material resources through the involvement of members of the public in their local development.”14
.