LG Reforms

Question 1

The LG is seen as an institution to tackle minority syndromes in African states based on

Answer 1

1. Such threats can be removed by local institutions that can accommodate local interests.
2. When LG are properly organized, they serve as veritable vehicles for accommodating the interest of minorities and this will lead to their interest being integrated into the national development agenda of the country.

Question 2

What are the views of the proponents of decentralization?

Answer 2

1. The more governmental authority and powers are devolved to local bodies, the better informed the government will be about the people
2. In a properly decentralized system, the government at the lower levels will be placed strategically to draw support from the people.

Question 3

The essence of LG in Nigeria is premised on?

Answer 3

1. The need to bring government closer to the people.
2. For administrative convenience
3. For effective resource mobilization
4. The preservation of the heritage and common interest of the people

Question 4

What does localism entail?

Answer 4

Localism presupposes that government at the sub national level should have powers to determine the local affairs and engage in issues of local interests

Question 5

When does localism become a farce?

Answer 5

When the central or state-local relations promote centralization. In such situation, the tendency of the powers of local entities in making independent decisions will be threatened, therefore in settings where other tiers of government carry out the powers of localism is allowed, localism is eroded and it’s utility becomes inconsequential.

Question 6

What three schools presented the importance of LG as a political and administrative design suitable for promoting the ideals of localism?

Answer 6

1. The Participatory School of Thought
2. The Efficiency School of Thought
3. The Development School of Thought.

Question 7

What does the participatory school of thought border on?

Answer 7

This school justifies the LG for POLITICAL REASONS and sees the LG as a platform designed to PROMOTE and EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES for PARTICIPATION in public affairs at the grassroots level.

There is the belief that apart from promoting mass participation in governance which is important for accountability and resource Mobilization, the LG also helps to TRAIN citizens on higher responsibilities at the national levels.

The LG is also seen as a platform for MITIGATING SECTIONAL SENTIMENTS and tensions.

Question 8

What does the efficiency school border on?

Answer 8

The efficiency school justifies LG for the promotion of ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY in governance and is centered on decentralization, this way, the LG reduces the burden on the central government.

Also, if posits that the LG is disposed to MORE INFORMATION about the people and the problems confronting them because it is the closest to them.

Question 9

The Development school of thought nko?

Answer 9

This justifies the LG for the need for the development of the grassroots.

It maintains that the LG serves as a vehicle for BUILDING COMMUNITY and ensuring NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT and INTEGRATION.

The LG contributes to SOCIOECONOMIC development because of its capacity to facilitate RESOURCE MOBILIZATION at the local level for development purposes.

Question 10

Gboyega identified 4 phases the Nigeria LG system has passed through, what are they?

Answer 10

1. The period of colonial rule where the NATIVE AUTHORITY system was in vogue. This phase focused on administrative patterns at the LG level to achieve the goal of colonial rule.
2. Between 1952 and 1966 when the LG was characterized by a series of reforms designed to ENHANCE THE PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE in the affairs of society
3. Between 1966 and 1976 which witnessed the REVERSAL of some of the VALUES OF PARTICIPATION in the LG that started in the pre independence era
4. The period where the reforms of LG were undertaken by the FG to have a UNIFORM LG SYSTEM. This is as when the 1976 reform took place

Question 11

What did the 1976 LG reform focus on?

Answer 11

It focused on the proper and broader definition of LG responsibilities and uniformity in staffing and financial resources.

Question 12

What were the highlights of the 1976 reform?

Answer 12

1. The 1976 LG reform abolished the old divisional administrative system practiced in some parts of the country.
2. The LG was made a multipurpose single tier of government for the first time in the history of Nigeria and was moved from field administration to Local Government.
3. Provision of federal grants to be disbursed to the Local Governments through the states based on 25% equity and 75% population
4. Introduction of supervisory councilors particularly in the southern states
5. The reform made provision for elected local council members.
6. The role of the traditional rulers was clearly spelt out; they were to act as an advisory body through the traditional councils.
7. The law also requested that each LGA provide a yearly budget to achieve its governance functions.

The elements of the 1976 reform were enshrined in the 1979 constitution, section 7 of the Nigerian Constitution recognizes the LG as the third tier of government.

Question 13

What were the criticisms of the 1976 LG reform?

Answer 13

1. Inconsistencies in the constitution caused the LG to be subdued under the control of other tiers of government
2. The authority vested on the states to create Local governments led to its proliferation
3. The wards for the election of councilors were exceptionally large to the extent that some communities didn’t know their councilors

Question 14

What brought about the 1984 reform?

Answer 14

The Shagari administration noticed the low performance of the LG system and planned to reform them, however, Buhari-Idiagbon administration took over through a coup and squashed the local government areas created in the second republic, retaining only the ones from 1976 and he recognized the need to reform the LG system.

Question 15

What were the recommendations of the Dasuki committee of 1984?

Answer 15

1. The creation of new LGAs should be undertaken on a ten year interval and should be based on a population between 100,000 and 150,000 with the intending area having a tax paying population of 20,000.
2. The creation of LGAs should be for administrative continuity, administrative convenience and economic vibrancy of the area
3. The creation of new LGAs should be based on the wishes of traditional associations and the community.
4. The state government were to make available only 10% of their internal revenue to the local government

Question 16

What were the criticisms of the Dasuki committee and 1984 reforms?

Answer 16

1.It worsened the state of the LG and increased administrative problems

2. The LG was further subordinated to the state
3. External revenues to the LG was greatly reduced, the state govt were to give 10% of their internal revenue to the LG which some states didn’t adhere to.

Question 17

What were the recommendations and changes made by the 1988 reforms under the Ibrahim Babangida administration?

Answer 17

1. They introduced the presidential system to the Nigeria local government system
2. The Local government chairman was changed to the chief executive and accounting officer
3. The supervisory councilors became part of the executive, working closely with the executive officer who appoints them
4. The LG council made up of elected councilors was recognized as the legislative arm of government with law making function
5. It created the separation of powers between the executive and legislative arms
6. The state ministries were abolished and replaced with the department of Local Government in the governor’s office
7. There was separation of powers between the legislative and executive arms
8. The creation of primary education and health centers were transferred to the LG
9. There was direct disbursement of federal allocations to the local government
10. The local government were allowed to prepare and approve their own budgets
11. Traditional rulers were involved in local affairs

The reforms didn’t last long and were reversed under the Abacha administration to the period before it.

Question 18

What sparked yet another reform under the Obasanjo administration?

Answer 18

The poor performance of the Nig LG system

Question 19

What was the function of the 13 man committee set up by Obasanjo?

Answer 19

They were to look into the performance of the LG since 1999 and advice on the desirability of retaining them as the 3rd tier of government

Question 20

What were the reports of the 13 member committee set up by the Obasanjo administration?

Answer 20

1. The committee found out that the state and federal governments were meddling in the affairs of the LG.
2. They also found out that the LG were inadequately funded
3. They realized that the states had weak commitments to the LG particularly on the delay and partial release of funds meant for them

Question 21

What were the recommendations of the Obasanjo committee?

Answer 21

1. They recommended that the LG should be made autonomous
2. They recommended direct disbursement of funds to the LG.
3. They also recommended that state ministries used to control the activities of the local government such as the ministry of LG and chieftancy affairs should be scrapped.
4. The LG should improve on revenue collection to increase internally generated revenue and reduce their reliance on federal allocations or grants.
5. The reform introduced a joint state-local government account and required that LG allocations be deposited into it to ensure transparency, accountability and proper utilization of resources.
6. The reform extended the tenure of LG from 3-4 years and introduced a uniform election cycle across the country
7. It focused on improving the recruitment and training of personnel for efficient service delivery
8. The reform established the state independent election commission (SEICS) to oversee and conduct LG elections