Appropriate Role of Local Government in Nigeria's Federal System

This MA dissertation examines the appropriate role of local government within Nigeria's federal system, focusing on the South-West region. The study investigates the historical development of local government, analyzes the human geography of the South-West, and evaluates the roles and challenges of local government administration. It explores the impact of local government in the six states of the South-West, using both primary and secondary data, including interviews with local government leaders. The research highlights the challenges faced by local governments, such as issues with finance, service delivery, and the influence of state governments. The findings suggest a need for improvements in local administrative management to enhance the effectiveness of local governments within the Nigerian 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.

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1.1Problem Statement
In most political systems across the globe, the culture of politics outlines the attitudes and
principles that form the way government is designed and the decisions reached by political
leaders. However, Akpan and Ekanem, (2013) highlights in his research that such political
ethics mentioned above lacks in Nigeria as this research argues that Nigerian psyche are
based on characteristics that are predominant such as corruption, ethnicity and nepotism.
Furthermore, Akpan and Ekanem states that these indicators are at the centre of the national
identity, form politics and public policies at local, state and federal spheres of government.
As such, this highlights the government struggle to control the local government by the
federal government is a case of what the government stands to benefit, instead of how this
control can bring political surpluses to the local level people (Akpan and Ekanem, 2013).
Since the apprehension of the multi-tiered federation concept, there have been variable
explanation of the local government constitutional status as the federation’s third tier. While
there were attempts to clarify this in the local government reforms in 1976, the reforms did
not make provisions for a legal framework to fortify any important reformation. Likewise,
both the 1999 and 1979 constitutions have failed to ensure vital constitutional support to
materialise the change (Khemani, 2001). This gap formed an opportunity for the state and
federal government to manipulate with emphasis of the 1999 constitution of Section 7(1)
which states that democratically elected system of local government council is guaranteed
under this constitution, as such the state governments are subject to the constitutions section 8
which provides their survival for finances and functions, structure and composition of such
councils. Khemani (2001) argues that the constitution presumes that the state house of

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assembly would create the laws regarding the local government. Hence, this research argues
that the legal framework does not visualise local government as government third tiers, but
only acknowledges the local government as a state government attachment where the latter
relishes complete discretion over the former (Khemani, 2001).
On another hand, other argue that the 1999 constitutions fourth schedules that the local
government functions are listed shows that state local government councils are an efficient
unit of the state government administration. Furthermore, this research argues that this
provides states government with autonomous decision to decide what their local government
can and cannot do (Abdulhamid and Chima, 2015). Likewise, Khemani, (2001) states that the
1999 Part II (sections 90–129) of the same chapter of the constitution provides judicial arms
of government at state levels which ensures that executive functions and power of state and
federal government are made. This research argues that based on the above clauses in the
constitutions, the state and federal government are provided with automatic sovereignty and
legal framework to the local government operations, which he argues that there are no such
provisions set aside for local government (Khemani, 2001). Based on this, Khemani states
that the constitutional assurance of the third- tier status should be handled as suspicious.
Furthermore, Khemani argues that the 1999 constitution only categorises two types of
legislative power such as the Concurrent Legislative Exclusive Legislative list, which he
claims makes no mention of local government in the Concurrent Legislative List, as such
further undermines the local government third- tiers status (Khemani, 2001). As such, this
research will argue based on previous researches that autonomy that the state and federal
government of Nigeria decentralises the local government through their constitutions which
are mainly determined by the type and character of the politics in the state. Additionally,
previous researches on the local government of Nigeria have focused on the challenges,
issues and prospects of the local government administrations, with no specific focus. As such,

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this research aims to focus on the role of local government in specific regions to bridge the
gap
1.2 Research Overview on Nigeria’s South Western Region
Nigeria is also known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is a federal state, situated in
West Africa and made up of 36 cities and the Federal Capital Territory, where the capital is
situated in Abuja. Nigeria gained independence in 1960, however democracy was only
regained in the presidential era of Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. Nigeria is made up of four
regions, the North dominated of the Hausa-Fulani, East dominated by Igbo and West the
Yoruba’s (Nunn, 2007). The South West states in Nigeria are native for the Yoruba people
who are mostly academically advanced geopolitical zone in Nigeria. South West Nigeria
comprises of six states which are Ekiti State, Lagos State, Ogun State, Ondo State, Osun
State and Oyo State. The region is majorly a Yoruba-speaking region. However, there are
different Yoruba dialects among the people of the region. Ekiti State Ekiti is known as the
Fountain of Knowledge due to pioneering Nigerian professors and academician came from
Ekiti State which is marked with irregular hills scattered across the state. Ekiti people form
one largest tribe in Yoruba land and they speak basically English and the Ekiti dialect.
Although they do have some varying dialects among them. Lagos State Lagos State is known
as the Centre of Excellence. It was created on the 27th of May 1967 and was the former
capital of Nigeria. Lagos State is divided into fifty-seven Local Government Areas. Ogun
State is known as the Gateway State. Founded in 1976, it is also one of the oldest states in
Nigeria and divided into twenty Local Government Areas. Ondo State Ondo State is known
as the Sunshine State. It is also one of the oldest states created from the former Western State
of Nigeria and has nineteen Local Government Areas in Ondo State. Osun State Osun State is
known as the state of the Living Spring. It was created from the old Oyo State in August

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1991 and has thirty Local Government Areas in Osun State. Wenger’s Oyo State Oyo State is
known as the Pace Setter State. The state is one of three states created from the defunct
Western State of Nigeria. Osun was later carved out of Oyo state with three Local
Government Areas in the state (Raheem, Oyeleye, Adeniji and Aladekoyi, 2014).
1.2 Rational of the study
The aim of this study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of “What is the Appropriate Role
of the Local Government in Nigeria’s Federal System of Governance? Using the South-West
region as a Case Study which will include participants such as local government officials and
secretaries to determine the role, functions and challenges of the local government of this
region, and town centres officials to identify the human geography of the south west region.
1.3 Research Aims and Objective
This research aims to assess the role of local government administration in the south-west
region of Nigeria and thus study will focus on the following objectives;
 To investigate the historical development of local government in Nigeria
 To observe the human geography of the Southwest region of Nigeria
 To evaluate the roles and challenges of local government administration in Nigeria
 To examine the role and functions of local government areas in the six state of the
south-west region of Nigeria.
1.4 Structure of Study
The first chapter of this research gives a brief overview of the background for conducting this
study. It provides the historical concept of Local Government and challenges faced in the
Nigerian’s government system. Furthermore, it provides the reader with the rational of the
purpose of the study by providing a summary in the problem statement. Additionally, it
provides an overview of the Nigeria’s South Western Region for conducting this study. The