ABSTRACT
Local government administration has been adopted as the main
fundamental instrument for the acceleration and sustenance of rural
development. It serves as vehicle for political education and mobilization
among others. Several efforts have been made towards moving the system from local
administration to local government with functional political and economic
autonomy. Within the framework of Basic Needs Approach (BNA), the paper
analyzed issues of local government administration and the challenges of
sustainable development in Nigeria. It argue that local government
administration is confronted with issues and challenges such as federal and
state government’s interventions in constitutional responsibilities of local
government. Yet, it is seen as avenue for dispensing political patronage to
party loyalists. These among other challenges facing local government
administration have rendered it incapable of producing good governance and
democratic dividends to the people. Drawing experiences from developed and
developing countries in the globalized era, it concludes that local government administration
in Nigeria cannot successfully address the challenges of sustainable rural development
unless the country returns to true federalism, enthrone positive leadership
anchored on rule of law, transparency and accountability, administrative
probity, pursue economic self-reliant through internally generated revenue and
embracing the culture of good governance and global best practices.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
According
to Ekwuruke (2001) stated that development is a phenomenon associated with
changes in human conditions through the use of their creative energies. It is
the continual improvement in the capacity of individuals and society to control
and manipulate the forces of nature to live a better and more rewarding life.
Development implies creating the skills and ability to do things, greater
freedom, self-confidence, creativity, self-discipline, responsibility and
mutual wellbeing. Nigeria has faced numerous challenges in achieving
sustainable development since independence in 1960 in spite of its abundant
human and natural resources. From the time Nigeria gained independence on
October 1, 1960, to date, repeated efforts have been made to define a suitable
framework for socio-political and economic development. In this regard, not
less than five national development plans have been inaugurated. The first
between 1962 and 1968, followed by the second development plan, 1970 to 1974
aimed at accelerating post-war reconstruction. The third national development
plan, 1975 to 1980, tried to Jump – start industrialization through the
strategy of import substitution. This was followed by the introduction of a
Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) under the military regime headed by General
Ibrahim Babangida. A subsequent National Rolling Plan was instituted between
1990 and 1992 to consolidate the achievements of SAP. To address the problems
that still hindered economic development vision 2010 was yet another
development plan initiated by another military ruler, General Sani Abacha. It
was meant to herald socio-economic prosperity for the citizens of Nigeria
(Ekwuruke, 2001).
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
For
development to last there is need for good governance. It is very important to
ensure that good governance forms the basis of, and accompanies, development.
Otherwise, there will be no sustainable development or “sustainable human
development” (UNDP, 1997). Local government administration in Nigeria has come
of age, not so much of because of its efficiency and effectiveness, but
primarily because of its longevity and resilience of its relevance in the
administration of the country (Igbokwe-Ibeto, 2003). The expediency for the
creation of local government anywhere in the world stems from the need to
facilitate development at the grassroots. As important as local government
administration has been, there seems to be some constraints that have been
infringing on its operations over the years. These challenges range from
political but undue interference of federal and state governments, coupled with
high rate of bribery and corruption to embezzlement and gross inadequacy of
well-trained and qualified human resources among others (Akhakpe, et al., 2012). Hence, this study tends
to point out the relevance of leadership in bringing about sustainable
development in Awgu local government area of Enugu State.
1.3 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
i.
What is the sustainability of
development initiated at the local government level?
ii.
Does the local government administrator
translate the ideologies and visions into sustainable development?
iii.
What are the strategies that can be
adopted to achieve sustainable development in the local government?
1.4 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The
broad objective of this study is to investigate developments at the local
government level and its sustainability. The specific objectives include to:
i.
Investigate the activities of leaders at
the helms of affairs at the local government level, vis-Ã -vis the leadership
effectiveness, ideology, visions, and policy implementation and how it affects
the sustainability of developments at the local level;
ii.
To ascertain how sustainable
development can be achieved through effective leadership and problems
encountered.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
Despite
a lot of money that is given to the local governments from the federal account,
there is hardly a proof of investment of such huge sum of money at the local
government which is the grassroots of democracy and development.
This
study tends to look at development at the local government level and how it can
be sustained to ameliorate the living condition of the citizen.
This
study is significant for the society, policy makers, lecturers and students who
need to know why effective leadership is imperative in achieving sustainable
development at the local government level.
Efforts
will be made to highlight what sustainable development and effective leadership
entail, and how the two concepts are interwoven. Problems encountered by such a
leader and proffered solutions will be discussed.
1.6 SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
This
study will be carried out on issues that are pertinent to local government and
particular reference will be made to the case study – Awgu Local Government in
Enugu State, Nigeria. The study was also carried out on the concept of
Development, Sustainable development, and Leadership.
1.7 LIMITATIONS
OF THE STUDY
As
much as the researches intended to conduct a details work on this study, the
conduct of the field study was restricted or limited by some factors.
Constraints
like shortage of funds, time factors as the researcher had other academin
activities to attend to and lastly red-tapisms were encountered by the
researcher in this course of this study.
1.8 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
Development: According
to Weidner and Riggs, development is a process of growth in the direction of
modernity, nation-building and socio-economic progress. Development is a state
of mind, a tendency, a direction, rather than a fixed goal; it is a rate of
change in a particular direction.
Leadership: According
to James C. Georges of the Par Training Corporation, Leadership is the capacity
to obtain followers (Maxwell, 1993). It can be defined as the art or process of
influencing people in a positive way so that they are willing to co-operate
with the leader to achieve organizational goals.
Local Government: A
local government is an administrative unit with a defined territory,
administrative authority, power and relative autonomy. It could be composed of
either selection or election of its members.
Sustainable Development: It
is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of the future generations to meet their needs.
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