LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY AND EFFICIENT SOCIAL SERVICES DELIVERY AT THE GRASSROOTS
(A CASE STUDY OF ENUGU SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE)
ABSTRACT
The title of this research project is “Local Government Autonomy and Efficient Social Services Delivery at the Grassroots”: A Case Study of Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. The researcher were motivated to carry out research on the topic as a result of high degree of financial and administrative dependence of Nigeria Local Governments on the higher level governments to the extent that it is merely a myth to talk about Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria. The researcher in conducting the study, made use of both primary and secondary sources of data with the structured questionnaire as the main instrument used. The population of the study was 86, 739 people of Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. The researcher applied Taro Yamani statistical formula to reduce the figure to a researchable size of 398. The stratified random sampling technique was used to select the sample for the study, whereas the data collected were presented and analyzed with frequency, percentage and tables. The study revealed that to a very high extent Local Government Autonomy is crucial for efficient social service delivery at the grassroots. And identified abuse of autonomy by the Local Governments, constitutional provisions such as State and Local Government joint account, political instability and over dependent on statutory allocation as some of the factors militating against Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria. The researcher recommended for a concerted effort by both Federal and State Government too make Local Government autonomy a reality. The creation of local institutions and associations for checking abuse of autonomy and for transparency and accountability was also recommended by the researchers.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION            
1.1    Background of the study                    
1.2    Statement of Problem                      
1.3    Purpose of the Study                     
1.4    Research Questions                          
1.5    Significance of the study           
1.6    Scope of the study                        
1.7    Limitations of the study                
1.8    Definition of Terms and Agronomy              
References
CHAPTER TWO
Review of related literature
2.1    Theoretical Foundation of the Study               
2.2    The Meaning of Local Government Autonomy           
2.3    Autonomy as a Relative Concept                
2.4    The Concept of Social Goods and     Services        
2.5    Merits and Demerits of Local Government Autonomy 
2.6    Empirical Evidence of Abuse of Autonomy and its Impairment of Social Services Delivery
2.7    Mechanisms for Checking the Abuse of     Autonomy
2.8    An Assessment of Service Delivery in Nigeria Local Governments
2.7    Factors Affecting Social Services Delivery of Local Governments in Nigeria
Reference
CHAPTER THREE:    RESEARCH DESIGN METHODOLOGY    
3.1    Research Design and Method
3.2    Sources of Data Collection
3.3    Area of the Study
3.4    Population of the Study
3.5    Sample Size and Sampling Techniques
3.5.1    Sampling Techniques
3.6    Instrumentation
3.7    Validity of the Instrument
3.8    Reliability of the Instrument
3.9    Method of Data Collection
3.10    Instrument Distribution and Return Rate
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1    Presentation of Data                          
4.2    Data     Analysis                             
4.3    Analysis of Research Questions            
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1    Summary of Findings                          
5.2    Recommendations                         
5.3    Conclusions                               
Bibliography
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE STUDY
The expediency for the creation of Local Government anywhere in the world stems from the need to facilitate development at the grassroots. According to Okolie and Eze (2018:19), the importance of Local Government is a function of its ability to generate sense of belongingness, safely and satisfaction among its population. All forms of government regimes or political systems have so far ensured the attainment of this good. Such strategy for ensuring national administrative development and political efficiency is found in the concept and practice of Local Government. Whatever is the mode of government; Local Government has been essentially regarded as the path to, and guarantor of, national integration, administration and development (Okoli, 2000:101).
    In Nigeria socio-political context, with multiplicity of culture, diversity of languages and differentiated needs and means, the importance of such an organization in fostering the needed national consciousness, unity and relative uniformity as well as preservation of peculiar diversities cannot be over-emphasized. According to Oyeleye (1996:42), central to the creation of Local Government, however, is its ability to facilitate grassroots social service delivery, an avenue through which government and the people intermix, relate and more quickly than any other means resolve or dissolve issues that may have heated the system. Local Government has been perceived as a panacea for the diverse problems of the diverse people with diverse culture.
    As important as this tier of government has been, there seems to be some impediments that have been infringing on its performance and functions in recent times. These impediments according to Ofodu (2018), range from political but undue interference of the higher levels of government, especially the State Government.
    In Nigeria constitution makes provision for the establishment of a state/ local government Joint account committee in each of the state.  This is to ensure effective disbursement and channeling of funds from the Federal Account according to Nwatu (2002: 60) and to enable the state supervise the spending patter of the local government.  But in reality the state/ local government joint account exist as virtual drain pipes for the state governments.  This is contain in section 162 of the1999 constitution.
    According to Obasi (200:40), the degree of fiscal and administration depending is so high that it is a myth to talk of local government autonomy, whole some state government recently, the local government council elected officials some have not conducted any local government election, those who conducted witnessed a situation whereby candidates were forced to withdraw their candidature.  Under this situation local council official owe their support and accountability to the state, which is the primary determinant of their return to office, without autonomy and the apparent state allegiance just mentioned.
1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
    The struggle for Local Government autonomy in Nigeria is as old as the history of Nigeria. In the words of Elekwa (1985:29);
It does appear that the ideal Local Government autonomy is still more of a myth than reality. The Local Governments could not demonstrate ability to be autonomous in their relationship with other tiers of governments….
    Before the 1976 Local Government Reforms, Local Government remained under the effective control of regional (and later State) Governments. The strict control by regional governments was changed when the 1976 reforms established what Aliyi (1980:11), called a comprehensive standardization of a system of Local Government within a national framework.  Moreso, local Government as the third tier of government as enshrine in the Nigeria constitution, successive civilian administration since 1979 have seriously ignore the autonomy rule. Ironically the military regimes appeared to be for better in terms of granting autonomy to the local governed (Abonyi 2016:67).
    Proponents of council autonomy believe that it would help the course of grassroots development by eliminating the negative influence and interference of the State Governors. Other benefits of Local Government autonomy include guaranteeing the right of the council heads to govern and manage their natural resources using appropriate planning standards; opportunity to design appropriate policies, programmes and projects suited to peculiar areas; effective delivery of democratic dividends to the grassroots and public accountability (Nwatu, 2012:104). Yet the degree of fiscal and administrative dependence of Local Governments on state Governments is so high that the Local Councils’ Officials are mere servants of the state Governors of their respective States.
    This study will therefore, focus attention on other questions of interest such as to what extents have Local Government autonomy is crucial to efficient social service delivery at the grassroots? What are the factors militating against Local Government autonomy in Nigeria? Does the lack of autonomy at the Local Council a direct consequence of lack of capacity amongst the people at the grassroots to engage the system for transparency and accountability?
    The above problem, draw the attention of the researcher to this subject matter.
1.3    OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
    The general objective of this study is to examine Local Government autonomy and efficient social services delivery at the grassroots in Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are to:
1)    To examine the extent to which Local Government autonomy is crucial to efficient social services delivery at the grassroots in Nigeria.
2)     To investigate the factors militating against Local Government autonomy in this fourth republic.
3)    To examine if the lack of local government autonomy in Nigeria is a direct consequences
4)    To recommend measures to make local government autonomy in Nigeria significantly meaningable.
1.4    RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following questions were formulated to guide the study:-
1.    What extent does Local Government autonomy crucial to efficient social services delivery in Enugu South Local Government?
2.    What are the factors militating against Local Government autonomy in Nigeria?
3.    What are the measures to make Local Government autonomy in Nigeria a reality than a myth for efficient social services delivery at grassroots?
1.5    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
    The study of Local Government autonomy and social services delivery at the grassroots level is very necessary especially now the country’s constitution is undergoing review and amendment process. When the study is successfully carried out, it will strengthen the inevitability of Local Government autonomy in Nigeria.
    The study will help the Nigeria law makers to perceive Local Government autonomy as a tool for efficient social services delivery at the grassroots. It will therefore, help them to see the need to end the unnecessary and undue State Government interference and control over Local Government in Nigeria.
    The study will as well be vital to the higher levels of governments, especially the State Governments who continued to agitate against Local Governments autonomy through their State Governors forum Meeting. The findings of the study will help them to see the need for Local Council autonomy and end their selfish and baseless agreements.
    The study will help the people of Enugu South Local Government in particular and the general people at the grassroots level in Nigeria to see the reason to engage the Local Government Officials for transparency and accountability.
    The study will as well serve as a reference material for further researches in the area, for this study exposed new and current thoughts as regards Local Government autonomy and efficient social services delivery in Nigeria.
1.6    SCOPE OF THE STUDY
    The study focused primarily on Local Government autonomy and efficient social services delivery at the grassroots in Nigeria, a case study of Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State.
    The study focused on the extent Local Government autonomy is crucial to efficient social services delivery at the grassroots in Nigeria. It also investigated the factors militating against Local Government autonomy in Nigeria in this fourth republic. The study examined if the lack of Local Government autonomy in Nigeria is a direct consequence of lack of capacity amongst the people at the grassroots to engage the system for transparency and accountability. The study as well investigated the measures to make Local Government autonomy in Nigeria a reality than a myth for efficient social service delivery at the grassroots.
    The study covered only Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. The researcher however, believe that the findings made from the Local Government could be applied generally to appreciate better the inevitability of Local Government autonomy for efficient social service delivery at the grassroots level in Nigeria.
1.7    LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
    This study, like every other human academics quest is faced with constraints which to a large extent limits the geographical coverage of the study.
    Finance was among the factors that actually hindered a wider coverage of this research work. Some of the areas needed to carry out this study were not actually visited to the satisfaction of the researcher as a result of finance. The researcher also have to finance other aspects of the study such as questionnaire printing typing of the work and other academic activities as students.
    Another problem that hindered the process of this study was the scarcity of relevant materials and the signs of disappointment showed by the people of Enugu South Local Government by not cooperating well with the researchers. They show a high level of unhappiness as regards the State interference and control over Local Governments in Nigeria
    Above all, the researcher were subjected to a stipulated time limit which the study is to be completed. The time given was not enough to meet with the requirements of the study and other academic activities as students.
    Notwithstanding these problems, the study still recorded a huge success as the efforts of the researcher yielded a reasonable and rewarding project.
1.8    DEFINITION OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS
    Some major concepts and term used in this study were defined in accordance to their usage in the work as shown below.
Autonomy: - Autonomy can simply be defined here as the enjoyment of self-govern status. In other words, it refers to the right or freedom of a body to set the parameters of its operations.
Local Government: - Broadly define here as the third tier of government. It is government at the minimal stage, called grassroots government in Nigeria.
Local Government Autonomy: - This means the right or freedom of a Local Government to set the parameters of its operations. It refers also as the right of a Local Government to exist independently of other levels.
Social Services: - Social services here covers all social goods and services which can hardly be effectively and efficiently provided by the private business sector since they cannot recoup the investment made in it from other users. Such goods and services include: roads, national security, public parks, good environmental condition, and electricity e.t.c.
Democracy: - In this study, democracy means government of the people, by the people and for the people. A government in which the views and aspirations of the people are aired.
Inter-Governmental Relations: - Intergovernmental relations here mean the interactions that take place among the different levels of government within a country. Usually, the concept is associated with states having a Federal administrative system where the relationships between the Central Government and the major units are formally spelt out in the constitution.
 
REFERENCES

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Elekwa, N. N. (1985). “Local Government Authority: Myth or     Reality “Nigeria Journal of Public Administration and Local     Government (NJPALG).Vol. III No. 2.

Nwatu, R. (2012). Inter-Governmental Relations: An Introduction,    Enugu: Majesty International.

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Ozor, E. (2000). “The Struggle for Public Accountability through
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