Nigerian Local Government System: Problems of Service Delivery
Ezechikwelu, Emenike (2009)
2009
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The method of service delivery in the Nigerian local government system has been in existence even before the coming of colonial powers but the agitation to improve the quality of services provided by this tier of government brought to the 1976 local government reform which re-organizes local governments as a single tier of government that will be free from state and federal control. Meaningful services can be provided by providing service like collection of taxes, levies, fines, maintenance of public utilities like parks etc. in a more efficient and effective way.
Hence, the researcher has highlighted some problems that affect local governments in Nigeria like lack of motivational measures and competitive market, influence and control by the federal together with the state government, popular participation of citizens, adequate financial system and autonomy, lack of effective planning and control of their resources and finally, unethical issues like corruption, mismanagement and maladministration in the Nigerian local government staffs. Based on the problems above, the researcher adopts the theory of Peters Guy in the area of marketing and participatory state which is centered on the decentralized and flat structure, adopting private management techniques, policymaking and flow of information and public interest for a functional local government administration in Nigeria. Additionally, the researcher centered the whole concept on a decentralized local government system in terms of devolution and deconcentration so that they will be given autonomy to manage and control their own affairs, more so, that there should be a flatter local government structure rather than a strong bureaucratic setting in their system.
The method and material use in this research work is qualitative and the researcher after analyzing of their problems concludes that local government services will improve in their service delivery by adopting some measures as stipulated in the findings. It is significant to note that this research work is undertaken to address the problems associated with service delivery in the Nigerian local governments. It is expected that this study will help correct these problems and suggest possible solutions in order to make the system be more efficient and effective. This can be achieved by making sure that adequate resources both human and material are used to accomplish its stated objectives.
Lastly, the need to improve the quality of service delivery has become a concern to all and sundry and this has brought upon reform of this tier of government in other to bring government closer to the people. Therefore, the aim of creating local governments in Nigeria as enshrine in the constitution for effective and efficient services delivery will be achieved by adopting some core principles of NPM.
Hence, the researcher has highlighted some problems that affect local governments in Nigeria like lack of motivational measures and competitive market, influence and control by the federal together with the state government, popular participation of citizens, adequate financial system and autonomy, lack of effective planning and control of their resources and finally, unethical issues like corruption, mismanagement and maladministration in the Nigerian local government staffs. Based on the problems above, the researcher adopts the theory of Peters Guy in the area of marketing and participatory state which is centered on the decentralized and flat structure, adopting private management techniques, policymaking and flow of information and public interest for a functional local government administration in Nigeria. Additionally, the researcher centered the whole concept on a decentralized local government system in terms of devolution and deconcentration so that they will be given autonomy to manage and control their own affairs, more so, that there should be a flatter local government structure rather than a strong bureaucratic setting in their system.
The method and material use in this research work is qualitative and the researcher after analyzing of their problems concludes that local government services will improve in their service delivery by adopting some measures as stipulated in the findings. It is significant to note that this research work is undertaken to address the problems associated with service delivery in the Nigerian local governments. It is expected that this study will help correct these problems and suggest possible solutions in order to make the system be more efficient and effective. This can be achieved by making sure that adequate resources both human and material are used to accomplish its stated objectives.
Lastly, the need to improve the quality of service delivery has become a concern to all and sundry and this has brought upon reform of this tier of government in other to bring government closer to the people. Therefore, the aim of creating local governments in Nigeria as enshrine in the constitution for effective and efficient services delivery will be achieved by adopting some core principles of NPM.