Assessment of local government autonomy and governance: A case study in Nigeria

https://doi.org/10.35912/jgas.v2i1.761
Published: Jan 28, 2022

Abstract:

Purpose: This paper critically examines opportunities and problems confronting the Nigerian local government system. To assess why the practice of complete local government autonomy and governance is difficult in Nigeria and suggest measures that may help improve the collaboration between the federal, state, and local government authorities in Nigeria.

Research methodology: 300 questionnaires were administered to the staff of the Nkanu-West Local Government Area in Enugu State, and 276 were returned giving a response rate of 92 percent. The Marxist theory was adopted as the theoretical framework.

Results: Results show that state interference in local affairs contributes to a lack of local government autonomy and governance, and the constitutional provisions portend intractable inter-government problems which make the local government a whipping child and less autonomous.

Limitations: Nkanu-West local government is the only local government covered by the study.

Contribution: The outcome of the study will be a contribution to the existing literature in the area of local government autonomy and governance.

Keywords:
1. Autonomy
2. Constitutional autonomy
3. Nkanu-west local government area
4. Nigeria
Authors:
1 . Grace Ifunanya Anayochukwu
Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
2 . Vincent Anayochukwu Ani
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, Nigeria
3 . Bernard Nsah
Kumbo West District Health Service, Ministry of Public Health, Cameroon
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How to Cite
Anayochukwu, G. I., Ani, V. A., & Nsah, B. (2022). Assessment of local government autonomy and governance: A case study in Nigeria. Journal of Governance and Accountability Studies, 2(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.35912/jgas.v2i1.761
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Issue & Section
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2022): January
Articles
References

    Abada, I. (2007). “Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: An Appraisal”. Journal of Foundation for American Peace Studies and Global Initiative, 3(1), 244 – 261.

    Adeyemo, D. O. (2005) “Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: An Historical Perspective” Journal of Social Sciences, 10 (2), 77 - 87.

    Akpan, F., & Ekanem, O. (2013) The Politics of Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria Reloaded. European Scientific Journal, 9(35), 193-205

    Andrews, J. (2012) “The Debate on Local Government Autonomy” This Day, Sept. 13.

    Anikeze, N. (2012) “Repositioning the Nigerian Local Government System for Improved Performance” Journal of Policy and Development Studies, 6(1), 166 – 174.

    Azelama, P. (2008) “Challenges of Local Government Administration in Edo State of Nigeria” Journal of Contemporary Research, 5, 215 – 226.

    Charlton, R. (1985) Comparative Government. London: Longman.

    Cockburn, C. (1977) The local state. London: Pluto Press.

    Engels, F. (1942) The origin of the family, private property and the state. New York: International publishers.

    Eyitayo, A. O., & Alani, B. I., (2019) Local Government Fiscal Autonomy and Rural Development; Empirical Evidences from Yewa South and IFO Local Governments of Ogun State. AUDA, 11(2), 97-112

    Ezeani, E.O. (2012) “Delivering the Goods: Repositioning Local Government in Nigeria to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals”. An Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria Delivered on April, 28. Nsukka: University of Nigeria Publication.

    Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999). Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lagos: Federal Government Press.

    Ige, B. (1996): “Man-made Avoidable Local Government Troubles”, The Sunday Tribune. Ibadan

    Mnyasenga, T, R., & Mushi, E, G. (2015). Administrative Legal Framework of Central-Local Government Relationship in Mainland Tanzania: Is it Tailored to Enhance Administrative Devolution and Local Autonomy? International Review of Management and Business Research 4(3).

    Mtasigazya, P. (2019). The Impact of Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers on Local Government Autonomy and Service Delivery in Tanzania. International Journal of Teaching, Education and Learning, 3(2), 68-93.

    Nwaliwa, J. (2006) Project Management in Nkanu West and East Local Governments: unpublished seminar paper, Esut.

    Nwangwu, C., and Ononogbu, O. A. (2016). "Electoral Laws and Monitoring of Campaign Financing during the 2015 Presidential Election in Nigeria", Japanese Journal of Political Science 17 (4), 614-634

    Ogban, O. (2011) “The State Joint Local Government Account and the Fiscal Autonomy of Local Governments in Nigeria: The Case of Enugu State (May, 1999 – May, 2007)” In Tony, O. (2011) (ed) Issues in Local Government and Development: The Nigerian Perspective. Enugu: Praise House Publishers.

    Oguntuase, B. (2012) “Re-engineering Local Government System for Effective Grassroot Democracy and Sustainable Development” Paper Presented at the Town Hall Meeting. Organized by the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) in Akure, Feb. 4th.

    Okafor, J. (2010). Local Government Financial Autonomy in Nigeria: The State Joint Local Government Account. Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance (CJLG July), 6, 127-131.

    Okolie, O., & Eze, F. (2006) Local Government Administration in Nigeria: Concepts and Applications. Enugu: John Jacob Classic Publishers Ltd.

    Okoli, F.C. (1998) “Professionalization of the Nigerian Civil Service” Nigerian Journal of Public Administration and Local Government, 3(1).

    Onyishi, A. O., & Obi, M. A. O. (2004). Local Government functions under the Exclusive List in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution: An Analysis, International Journal of Studies in the humanities (IJOSH), 3(3), 11-21

    Orewa, G.O., & Adewumi, J.B. (1983) Local Government in Nigeria: The Changing scene. Benin: Ethiope Publishing co-operation.

    Osakede, K. O., Ijimakinwa, S. O., & Adesanya, T. O. (2016) Local Government Financial Autonomy in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 5(11).

    Saaleh, Y., & Stanley, A. (2011) “The Politics of Funding of Local Government in Nigeria” Nigerian Journal of Administrative Science, 9(182), 278 – 288.

    The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Federal Government press. Lagos.

    Tony, O. (2011) (ed.) Key Issues in Local Government and Development: A Nigerian Perspective. Enugu: Praise House Publishers.

    Ugwuanyi, B. I. (2014) Local government autonomy in Nigeria: a discourse on the constraints to its realization and the implications for national development. The Business & Management Review, 5(2).

    Wolman, H., McManmon, R., Bell, M., & Brunori, D. (2010). Comparing Local Government Autonomy across States. In The Property Tax and Local Autonomy, The Lincoln Institute.

  1. Abada, I. (2007). “Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: An Appraisal”. Journal of Foundation for American Peace Studies and Global Initiative, 3(1), 244 – 261.
  2. Adeyemo, D. O. (2005) “Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: An Historical Perspective” Journal of Social Sciences, 10 (2), 77 - 87.
  3. Akpan, F., & Ekanem, O. (2013) The Politics of Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria Reloaded. European Scientific Journal, 9(35), 193-205
  4. Andrews, J. (2012) “The Debate on Local Government Autonomy” This Day, Sept. 13.
  5. Anikeze, N. (2012) “Repositioning the Nigerian Local Government System for Improved Performance” Journal of Policy and Development Studies, 6(1), 166 – 174.
  6. Azelama, P. (2008) “Challenges of Local Government Administration in Edo State of Nigeria” Journal of Contemporary Research, 5, 215 – 226.
  7. Charlton, R. (1985) Comparative Government. London: Longman.
  8. Cockburn, C. (1977) The local state. London: Pluto Press.
  9. Engels, F. (1942) The origin of the family, private property and the state. New York: International publishers.
  10. Eyitayo, A. O., & Alani, B. I., (2019) Local Government Fiscal Autonomy and Rural Development; Empirical Evidences from Yewa South and IFO Local Governments of Ogun State. AUDA, 11(2), 97-112
  11. Ezeani, E.O. (2012) “Delivering the Goods: Repositioning Local Government in Nigeria to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals”. An Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria Delivered on April, 28. Nsukka: University of Nigeria Publication.
  12. Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999). Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lagos: Federal Government Press.
  13. Ige, B. (1996): “Man-made Avoidable Local Government Troubles”, The Sunday Tribune. Ibadan
  14. Mnyasenga, T, R., & Mushi, E, G. (2015). Administrative Legal Framework of Central-Local Government Relationship in Mainland Tanzania: Is it Tailored to Enhance Administrative Devolution and Local Autonomy? International Review of Management and Business Research 4(3).
  15. Mtasigazya, P. (2019). The Impact of Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers on Local Government Autonomy and Service Delivery in Tanzania. International Journal of Teaching, Education and Learning, 3(2), 68-93.
  16. Nwaliwa, J. (2006) Project Management in Nkanu West and East Local Governments: unpublished seminar paper, Esut.
  17. Nwangwu, C., and Ononogbu, O. A. (2016). "Electoral Laws and Monitoring of Campaign Financing during the 2015 Presidential Election in Nigeria", Japanese Journal of Political Science 17 (4), 614-634
  18. Ogban, O. (2011) “The State Joint Local Government Account and the Fiscal Autonomy of Local Governments in Nigeria: The Case of Enugu State (May, 1999 – May, 2007)” In Tony, O. (2011) (ed) Issues in Local Government and Development: The Nigerian Perspective. Enugu: Praise House Publishers.
  19. Oguntuase, B. (2012) “Re-engineering Local Government System for Effective Grassroot Democracy and Sustainable Development” Paper Presented at the Town Hall Meeting. Organized by the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) in Akure, Feb. 4th.
  20. Okafor, J. (2010). Local Government Financial Autonomy in Nigeria: The State Joint Local Government Account. Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance (CJLG July), 6, 127-131.
  21. Okolie, O., & Eze, F. (2006) Local Government Administration in Nigeria: Concepts and Applications. Enugu: John Jacob Classic Publishers Ltd.
  22. Okoli, F.C. (1998) “Professionalization of the Nigerian Civil Service” Nigerian Journal of Public Administration and Local Government, 3(1).
  23. Onyishi, A. O., & Obi, M. A. O. (2004). Local Government functions under the Exclusive List in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution: An Analysis, International Journal of Studies in the humanities (IJOSH), 3(3), 11-21
  24. Orewa, G.O., & Adewumi, J.B. (1983) Local Government in Nigeria: The Changing scene. Benin: Ethiope Publishing co-operation.
  25. Osakede, K. O., Ijimakinwa, S. O., & Adesanya, T. O. (2016) Local Government Financial Autonomy in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis. Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 5(11).
  26. Saaleh, Y., & Stanley, A. (2011) “The Politics of Funding of Local Government in Nigeria” Nigerian Journal of Administrative Science, 9(182), 278 – 288.
  27. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Federal Government press. Lagos.
  28. Tony, O. (2011) (ed.) Key Issues in Local Government and Development: A Nigerian Perspective. Enugu: Praise House Publishers.
  29. Ugwuanyi, B. I. (2014) Local government autonomy in Nigeria: a discourse on the constraints to its realization and the implications for national development. The Business & Management Review, 5(2).
  30. Wolman, H., McManmon, R., Bell, M., & Brunori, D. (2010). Comparing Local Government Autonomy across States. In The Property Tax and Local Autonomy, The Lincoln Institute.