The Justification Of Local Government Autonomy On Socio-Economic Development: A Case Study of Sagamu Local Government Area, Ogun State

Abstract

The study was on the justification of local government autonomy on socio-economic development of Sagamu local government area. The general objective of the study was to establish the nature of relationship between financial control mechanisms and autonomy with a view to exposing the contradictions between policy objectives of government and the actual realization of the objectives of local government in Ogun State. 

The specific objectives of the study were to: to establish whether Federalism guarantees local government autonomy, to determine if the financial dependence of local governments on statutory allocation from federal government undermines provision of social amenities in Sagamu local government Area of Ogun state, to suggest measures that can be adopted to ensure local government autonomy in Ogun State and Nigeria, to examine the extent to which the nature of personnel relationship have promoted the autonomy of local governments in Ogun State, to examine the extent to which local government autonomy has affect the socioeconomic development.

 The data for this study were gathered through questionnaires, books, journals, government publications, and internet materials. Tables and frequency distribution were used for data presentation. Simple percentages and chi-square test analysis techniques were adopted for data analysis. From the findings, for hypothesis one, it was deducted that X2 calculated 8.86 is greater than the X2 tabulated 3.84. Therefore, the result shows that the financial  dependence of  local  governments  on  statutory  allocation from  federal  government undermines  provision  of socio-economic development, for hypothesis two, it was deduced that X2 calculated 0.348 is less than the X2 tabulated. Hence, the result revealed that there is no justification for local government autonomy.

The study identified external financial control mechanisms to have had a more negative impact on autonomy than internal financial control mechanisms. Beside the diversion of Federal Allocation to local government by the state government, the burden of the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries by the councils have reduced the available funds to Ogun State Local Governments, making it depend heavily on the higher tiers of government. It also justify the fact that the financial  dependence of  local  governments  on  statutory  allocation from  federal  government undermines  provision  of socio-economic development which require not just the legal and physical existence of an apparatus of government like legislative, assembly, governor, court etc. but that each government must exist not as an appendage of another but as autonomous entity in the sense of being able to exercise its own will in the conduct of its affairs free direction of another government.

In the light of the above findings, the researcher made some recommendations including but not limited to the following; the improvement in statutory allocation of the council, that the state government should abide by the 1999 constitution by paying their 10% internally generated revenue to local government to justify her constitutional responsibility in terms of contributing to the council towards fostering socio-economic betterment of the local population in a more realistic and lasting approach, a paradigm shift approach in the operational leadership level in the local government which should be dynamic and pragmatic with vision and ideas, thus making the leadership to be encapsulated with quality content and character with these; meaningful task, effectiveness and efficiency will enhance the goals and objectivity of the system.

Keywords: Local Government Autonomy, Socioeconomic Development, Fiscal Autonomy

Word Counts: 539

Table of Content

Pages

Title Pagei

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of contents v

List of tablesvi

Abstractvii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION1

Background of The Study1-5

Statement of The Problem5-6

Objectives of the Study 6-7

Research Questions7

Significance of Study7

Scope of Study8

Definition of Terms8

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW9

Theoretical Framework9

Federation theory9

Prebendal10

Democratic-participatory School of thought10

Functionalist school of thought11

Review of Related Concept13

Concept of Local government13

Local government autonomy20

National assembly stance of local government Autonomy26

Reasons for the establishment of local government28

Review of Empirical Studies31

Gap in literature 32

Hypothesis34

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY35

Introduction35

Research Design35

Method of Data Collection35

Population of the Study35

Sample, Sampling Techniques36

Sources of Data Collection37

Research Instrument37

Test of validity and Reliability of Research Instruments38

Methods of Data Analysis38

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND DATA ANALYSIS39

Data Presentation39

Data Interpretation39

Testing Hypothesis41

Discussion of Findings45

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONLCUSION 49

5.1Summary49

5.2Recommendations50

5.3Conclusion51

Reference52

Appendix56