THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN KOGI STATE
ABSTRACT
This research work is centred on
‘’The Role of Local Government in Development of Democracy’’ with
emphasis on Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State. The major objective
of the work is to look at the level of development in Ijumu Local
Government, primary and secondary sources of data were used while simple
percentage method was used in analyzing the data. The findings revealed
that majority of people who involved in democratic process in Nigeria
has been ground one way or the order form local level. At the end of the
research, the researcher recommended that: local government in Nigeria
should be made to be more financially stable and independent.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Democracy is a form of government in
which all eligible are meant to participate equally either directly or
through elected representatives, indirectly in the proposal development
and establishment of the laws by which their society is run.
The term ‘’Democracy’’ originates from
Greek (Demokratia) ‘’Rule of the people. Kari Popper defined democracy
in contrast to dictatorship, thus focusing on opportunities for the
people to control their leaders and to quest them without the need for a
revolution.
Several various of democracy exist, but
there are two basic forms both of which concern how the whole body of
all eligible citizens executes its will. One form of democracy is direct
democracy in which all eligible citizens have direct and active
participation in the political decision making.
In most modern democracies, the whole
body of eligible citizens remain the sovereign power but political power
is exercised indirectly through elected representative. This is called a
representative democracy or democratic republic.
For George Norvack (1971), democracy
required submission of the minority to the mandate of the majority
expressed through representative bodies, some of the ingredients of
democracy will definitely include political equality, popular
sovereignty, majority rule, periodic renewal of mandate and positive
recall. Other formal attributes are the recognition of freedom of
movement, freedom to hold ideas and religious belief, freedom of
association, freedom to vote and be voted for.
However, the most essential attribute of
democracy is that, such ideology is embracing and encourage all
citizens to participate in government of the statement.
The local government system has been a
major feature of Nigeria government and politics since colonial rule
over the years, there have been changes in name structure and
composition, while the system was operated differently al over the
country (Agagu, 2004). It was on this premise that the rising tide of
progress, growth and development experience in the local government
based. The 1976 local government reform carried out the military
administration of General Obasanjo, brought about
uniformity in the administrative
structure of the system. The reform introduced a multi-purpose, single
tier local government for the whole country (Ajayi 2000).
Unfortunately, the much needed development has continued to elude the rural communities across the nation.
It has been rural poverty, rather than
rural development. However, the prevalence and pervasiveness of poverty
and the under development of the grassroot level is still connected with
the high level of corruption and absence of democratic ethos in the
local government system.
In view of the above therefore, examine
the essence of local government system to rural communities, the virtues
and vices of democracy in the local government.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The effectiveness of democracy and local
government are meant to bring about grassrrot development, but are
still hampered by some constraints which do not allow the manifestation
of the purpose of their establishment. This include poor representation,
election malpractices, corruption and mis management of funds,
Unskilled workers, shortage of personnel among others.
This study is focused on the constraints
facing the proper democratic functioning of the establishment of local
government to attract the lives of people at the grass root level.
Proper representation, equitable distribution of wealth among citizens,
social and economic development etc. which form part of the hall mark of
adopting democracy are not realized. Also, grassroot development,
provision of social service in the local government are being affected.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Ijumu local government was created with a
view of bringing development to the grasroot and therefore enhance
rural transformation at the grassroot or political awareness, social
education, cultural and economic development to those living within the
geographical location.
Therefore, the above description leads to the objectives of the study which are listed below:
- To look into the level at which democracy has brought development in Ijumu local government
- To look at the level of development in Ijumu local government
- To look into the militating factors against the development of Ijumu local government
- To highlight the problems of political participation in developing democracy through local government in Ijumu local government
- To offer a pragmatic solution to the problems of development in Ijumu local government.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will help a lot of people to
understand the importance of democracy and local government as a role of
democracy development at the grassroot level. It will also form part of
the data bank in this area for future research work and when ever is
successfully completed.
1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The research work is particularly
concerned with the role of local government in the development of
democracy in Nigeria. It covers the entire participation of Ijumu local
government in democracy development at the grass root.
Equally, most of the reference were
selected from the year (1991 to 2014). This is to enable the researchers
have up to date frame work of the topic treated.
The research work has however faced the
problems of inadequate research data in these oral interview
(respondents were afraid of the likely implication of their minds as
much as they should.
Also, apart from the limited time of the
research and the large scope of the research which covers the entire
Ijumu local government, the amount voted was exhausted and the
researcher had to supplement to enhance the research work to be
complete.
I therefore accept without hesitation all errors whether typographical or otherwise as no one is infallible.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
As the means of carrying out the
research, the role of local government in the development of democracy
in Kogi State, Ijumu local government.
These research questions will serve as guide to the researcher in the course of this project work.
- What are the benefit in participating in political activities at the grassroot level?
- Does democracy as the system of government promote political participation at the grassroot level.
- Does democracy brings about political equality among the poor masses?
- What are the planning and arrangement to involve in participating in the development of democracy at the grassroot level?
- Does local government has any role of democracy development at the grass root in Kogi State?
1.7 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
The organization of the research work is based on the table of contents.
Chapter one deals with
introduction/background of the study, statement of the problems,
objectives of the study, significance of the study, scope and
limitations of the study, research questions, organization of the work
and definition of terms.
Chapter two is on literature review,
introduction, history, growth and development of local government in
Nigeria, concept of local government, concept of grass root democracy,
role of local government in democracy development, objectives of local
government in democracy development and democratic development in Ijumu
local government.
Chapter three deals with the population
of the study, sample size, sources of data collection, method of data
collection and method of data analysis.
Chapter four deals with data presentation and analysis.
Chapter five deals with summary, conclusion and recommendations.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
In order to fully grasp the subject matters of this project, certain key terms which would be regularly used need to be defined.
DEMOCRACY: Democracy is
‘’government by leaders whose authority is based on a limited mandate
from a universal electorate that selects among genuine alternatives and
has some rights to political participation and opposition. (Danliger
1998, 159).
LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Local
government is a form of public administration which in a majority of
contexts, exist as the lowest tier of administration within a given
state. The term is used to contrast with offices at state leve, which
are referred to as the central government, national government, or
(where appropriate) federal government and also to super national
government which deals with governing institutions between states. Local
government generally act within powers delegated to them by legislation
or directives of the higher level of government.
In federal, state, local government generally comprises the third tier of government, were as in unitary states, local government usually occupies the second or third tier of the government, often with greater powers than higher level administrative divisions
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