CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
Local
government plays their vital roles similar to that of the state government.
Local government performs their duties to the totality of the economic
activities of their area. Hence the revenue generated by this tier of
government must be properly accounted and controlled in order to judiciously
utilize them on the beneficial programmed to the masses.
The
planning and budgeting in local government involved generally the financial
control system of local government in such a way to protect their asset ensures
that the arrangement is properly followed.
Budget
occupies a central position in economic and development of management decision.
It is obviously known that government is so concerned about budgeting and
planning so as to secure stabilization economic efficiency and effectiveness in
the allocation and utilization of secure public resources.
It
comprises of different department including budget department. The Budget
office of the federation is in charge of planning and budgeting for the
federation at large. They also ensure that revenue generated are disbursed at
will.
Budgeting
is so important in macro-economic management and the budgeting process must
involve all arms of government and local government.
In
fact, budgeting has come a long way and it is becoming increasingly important
and its impacts are felt in all spheres of our economy for so any reasons.
There has been a steady increase in prominence of planning and budgeting.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Statement of the
problem is to examine or note the problems affecting planning and budgeting in
local government in Nigeria, with reference to Chanchanga local government in
Niger State. Which will be stated as follows:
i.
Most local government authorities in
Nigeria are mostly not aware of planning and budgeting to adopt in their
respective local government area.
ii.
The collection and custody of revenue
are due on personal interest.
iii.
Planning at any level is viewed in
context of development
iv.
No proper allocation of resources to
meet the need of the targeted beneficiaries.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The
purpose of this study is to examine the process of planning and budgeting in
local government in Nigeria, with particular reference to chanchanga local
government in Niger State.
Most
importantly this study is aimed at examining the following;
i.
The establishment of planning and
budgeting in the local government.
ii.
Establishment of planning unit in local
government.
iii.
The organizational framework of budget
and planning of local government.
iv.
The process of planning and budgeting in
local government.
v.
Problems of planning and budgeting in
local government.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This
study will enable populace (people) to know the importance of planning and budgeting
in local government. It will also provide a way of improving financial
transaction in local government. Students may also benefit from this study as
they may find some useful data from it, most especially those student offering
accounting as their course.
1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The
study is designed to cover various aspects of planning and budgeting with
special reference to Chanchanga local government of Niger State.
It
will cover the process, institutional framework and problems and planning and
budgeting at the local government level.
The
restriction of the scope of the research is due to certain constraints which
are features of many researchers. Those constraining features include:
i.
Inadequate of time available to the
researcher to go into the central core of the research topic to make “cross
analysis” due to other current undertaking such as routing lectures, assignment
and tests, as such the researcher will make maximum utilization of time he/she
is able to obtain.
ii.
The problem of finance also serves to
aggregate the constraints hindering the conduct of this research. Lack of fund
available to the researcher limited, the researcher’s ability to travel far and
wide to collect data.