Appropriate Role of Local Government in Nigeria’s Federal System

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MA in International Relations & Democratic Politics
What is the Appropriate Role of the Local Government in Nigeria’s Federal System of
Governance? (A Case Study of the South-West)
Word Count:
Presented for the award of MA in Politics at University of Westminster

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Acknowledgement
The completion of this Master Dissertation would not have been possible without the help of
various people in my personal and academic life. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank my supervisor, whose constant guidance and motivation aided in the support to
complete this dissertation. To begin, I would like to thank God almighty for giving me the
knowledge, wisdom, understanding and perseverance to complete this research study.
Secondly, I would like to thank family and friends for their continuous support both
physically and mentally to ensure the completion of this study on time. Lastly, I would like to
take this opportunity to thank the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Governors, Secretary of
State and Management staff for providing the opportunity to access information for the
project which helped in providing detailed information and in-depth analysis and the lectures
and staffs at the university of Westminster. Without their support and guidance, this project
completion would not have been possible.
Yours Sincerely

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Executive summary
The aim of study is to evaluate role and purposes of local administration in context of
southwest Nigeria. The assessment of influence of the local administration has examined for
the development of the south-west Nigeria. The findings of the report include that local
government deals with the issues or challenges while performing their functions. The local
government deals with the different challenges that affect them to perform the roles as well as
functions. The study is done by the research not only for the south-west Nigeria but the states
of the south-west that include Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. The study done by
researcher includes both primary and secondary data for gathering information that remains
accurate as well as reliable for this assessment. The sources from which the data is collected
include books, journals and others for secondary data. However, for primary data is gathered
with the help of interview has been conducted which provides the insight of the role of local
administration in Nigeria. The results revealed are discussed in the findings and analysis that
shows that the role of local government is essential but at some of the challenges and issues
affect the working of the administration. Moreover, this is found that Yoruba race is the
major segment that has been witnessed in the south-west Nigeria in terms of the human
geography, which is very clear with the number, that 21% people belongs to the same
community. The suggestion that can lead to the changes are also asked from the participant’s
in order to reduce the challenges that are provided by them which shows that there is need of
improvement in the local administrative management in south-west Nigeria.
Abbreviations
LG- Local Government
NCNC- National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons
AG- Action Group

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NPC- Northern People's Congress
Contents
Executive summary..................................................................................................................3
Chapter 1 Introduction............................................................................................................5
1.1Problem Statement.............................................................................................................8
1.2 Research Overview on Nigeria’s South Western Region...............................................10
1.3 Research Aims and Objective........................................................................................11
1.4 Structure of Study...........................................................................................................11
1.6 Conclusion......................................................................................................................14
Chapter 2 Literature Review................................................................................................15
2. 2.1 Theories of Local Government of Nigeria from the School of Thought....................18
2.3 Evolution of Local Government System in Nigeria.......................................................20
2.3.1 Local Government in Pre-colonial Era....................................................................20
2.3.2 Local Government System in Colonial Nigeria.......................................................21
2.3.3 Local Government in Post-colonial Era...................................................................22
2.4 Background of South West Region of Nigeria...............................................................23
2.4.1 Political formation...................................................................................................23
2.4.2 Geographical location of Nigeria.............................................................................23
2.4.3 Human Geography/ Culture.....................................................................................24
2.4.4 Administrative Structure since 1960........................................................................24
2.5 Assessment of the Appropriate Role of Local Government in South-West Nigeria......25

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2.6 Local Government Administration in South-west Nigeria.........................................27
2.7 Conclusion......................................................................................................................28
Chapter 3 Findings...................................................................................................................29
3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................29
3.2 Discussion.......................................................................................................................29
3.3 Conclusion......................................................................................................................36
Chapter 4 Analysis...................................................................................................................36
Chapter 5 Conclusion and recommendation............................................................................43
4.1 Recommendations..........................................................................................................44
6.0 References..........................................................................................................................46
7.0 Appendix 1 Participants Consent Form.............................................................................56

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Chapter 1 Introduction
1.0
There have been different approaches and strategies adopted across the world’s government
in the aim of distribution of state resources to reach the grassroot people for good
governance. However, there has been debates on which strategy is best suited to the rural
area’s administration (Asaju, 2010). As such Dalhatu (2006) argues that the excessive
concentration of economic and political power at one level, would inevitably lead towards
marginal constipation which according to him, the purpose of decentralisation is based on the
principle establishment of local government. Additionally, he added that the foundation of
local government is inseparably linked to the decentralisation principles in which he states
that local government is the result of decentralised administrations. Dalhatu (2006) defined
decentralisation as the agreement of the public affairs management of a country that is shared
by providence, states, central and local government in a way that the local government is
provided with rationale ways to raise funds and the use the resources generated to provide a
variety of established programmes and socio-economic services to increase the welfare of
residents in those regions of authorities. In the political view, decentralisation encompasses
the transference of authority based on geography which is informed by the devolution (Asaju,
2010). Furthermore, Asaju, (2010) stated that the decentralisation by devolution is mostly
preferred by most nations to promote a countries quick development which he states
establishes itself in the manifestations of local government. Whereas other argue that
decentralisation aids in the preventions of too much emphasis of economic and political
power at one level which they state leads to the inevitable managerial constipation. Based on
this research, the devolution of power to the local people inspires them to participate in
political issues which restrains dictatorship and domination that may result in the central
government being isolated from the local people (Amah, 2018).

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On another note, others argue that the decentralisation of power under the federal government
aims to transfer economic, administrative and political authority from the central government
to the local communities with the aim of promoting decision making participation from the
communities to the effective management of resources in all developments across the country
through their local government (Amah, 2018).
According to Steytler, (2005) countries that follow a government system apply a three-level
system of federal, state and local government which is mainly common in all federal systems.
However, the role and place that the local government plays in those systems varies, whereas
in others it is perceived as the ability the state government. Nonetheless, the role of local
government in governing federal countries has increased which has placed new demands on
practice and theory of federalism, its effects, the title has transformed to its new role. As early
as the 1950’s when Nigeria’s federal system began operation, the local government
administration have been a centre focus by many scholars (Bamidele, 2013). Adeola (2008)
cited Gboyega (1987) research in stating that there have been four main eras in the Nigerian’s
local government system. First, was the colonial rule in early 1930’s up until the 1950’s
which was mainly centred on the traditional administrative system where the innate system of
authority became out-dated. Secondly, in the 1950’s the introduction of a more participatory
and liberal method to local governance. Thirdly, the arrival of military rule replaced the
classics of the grass root participating democracy with military domination and a unified
command structure and lastly the 1976 inclusive reform of the local government
administration restored the values of liberal participation. Furthermore, others argue that the
introduction of centralisation under the military rule in 1976 remains a significant influence
between the local government and federal government and continues to form consequent
reforms and discourse which to researchers in this field established the local government

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system as a government at local level that was established by law with defined powers
(Oyediran, 2001).
Saulawa, (2017) states that the Nigerian local government system has faced various
challenges such as the various reforms over time to the current system of the local
governments in Nigeria, to the different political system in the pre-colonial time such as the
Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. Furthermore, Saulawa states that Nigeria is amongst various
countries that operate a three-tier government as a Federal, State and Local Government as a
Federal System of Government. As of 2017, Nigeria comprises of a Federal Capital Territory
which includes 774 Local Government Areas (LGA) and 36 Sates with the government at the
centre of the structure of the system (Saulawa, 2017, p.1).
However, other argue that the development of local government in Nigeria was to bring the
government closer to the grass root people of their community. In Nigeria, the local
government reforms aimed both to accelerate development and to enable the local population
to participate and hold those in power accountable for their governance roles. Nonetheless, an
accurate third tier in Nigeria’s government structure has never taken off, in spite of the
extensive local government endorsements as an effective system to mobilise the people for
local participation in governance (Oyediran, 2001). Although, various studies have
highlighted the challenges faced by the Nigerian local government system which includes
various issues such as poor service delivery, paucity of human capital and funding corruption.
However, hardly any attention has been given to the insufficiencies in the reforms and
constitutional framework that has over the years shaped the local government operations in
Nigeria (Saulawa, 2017). As such, this research aims to examine and evaluate the rise of
debates regarding the constitutional provision and reforms to assess what the role of local
government in Nigeria’s South West region.