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 Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of contents v
List of tables vi
Abstract vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
Background of The Study 1-5
Statement of The Problem 5-6
Objectives of the Study 6-7
Research Questions 7
Significance of Study 7
Scope of Study 8
Definition of Terms 8
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 9
Theoretical Framework 9
Federation theory 9
Prebendal 10
Democratic-participatory School of thought 10
Functionalist school of thought 11
Review of Related Concept 13
Concept of Local government 13
Local government autonomy 20
National assembly stance of local government Autonomy 26
Reasons for the establishment of local government 28
Review of Empirical Studies 31
Gap in literature 32
Hypothesis 34
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 35
Introduction 35
Research Design 35
Method of Data Collection 35
Population of the Study 35
Sample, Sampling Techniques 36
Sources of Data Collection 37
Research Instrument 37
Test of validity and Reliability of Research Instruments 38
Methods of Data Analysis 38
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND DATA ANALYSIS 39
Data Presentation 39
Data Interpretation 39
Testing Hypothesis 41
Discussion of Findings 45
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONLCUSION 49
5.1 Summary 49
5.2 Recommendations 50
5.3 Conclusion 51
Reference 52
Appendix 56
