1.1 Introduction
Local government administration in Nigeria has come of age, not so much because of its efficiency and effectiveness, but primarily because of its longevity and resilience of its relevance in the administration of the country (Akhakpe, Fatile and Igbokwe-Ibeto, 2012). However, one of dominant and unique issue in local government administration and political systems is the efficient and effective provision of basic amenities and social infrastructures. Provisions of projects are key to the very existence of local governments. They are required to serve the public interest in areas of building feeder roads, construction of markets, health care centers, drainages, transportation, motor parks, among others. While these functions of local government are well known and popularized by the constitution of the country.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The 1979, 1989 as well as the 1999 (FRN,) empowered local government to provide roads, health care facilities and certain basic primary services. Given the statutory role of local government, this chapter asks what are the factors militating against effective rural development). An implicit assumption here is that existing development strategies has not levied up to expectations. It’s in view of this that emphasis was laid on local government as an agent of development. Moreover, attempt was also made at meaningfully suggesting ways that can help to improve rural development for a productive rural living standard.
Ofoeze’s (1997 and 2003) assertion that local government areas are created to solve rural developmental problems and Late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua’s confirmation that local governments are created to harness local resources for rapid development and to enshrine the principle of participatory democracy would be tested in Imo State. In spite of this adequate and clear developmental and participatory structure of the local governments, the local governments have failed to develop the economy of the citizens. This is evident in the rural decay, mass unemployment and underemployment; illiteracy; lack of basic amenities such as health centres, pipe-borne water, electricity; hunger and malnutrition; poor sanitary conditions; high rate of preventable diseases; low life expectancy of the rural population; high rate of infant and maternal mortality; lack of educational institutions; the decay and collapse of the existing schools, etc., all of which have led to high rate of rural-urban migration with all its negative implication for national development such as the congestion of the cities, armed robbery, prostitution and general decay in social infrastructural facilities (Ofoeze, 2003: 124).
Therefore, in Kwara State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect of Mismanagement of Fund on the Growth and Development of Local Government.
1.3 Statement of Problems
The principal justification of local government was the superior capacity of the local people to understand and conduct their own affairs, the local government that is described as the government at the grass root is expected to move into remote, interior villages to help develop and foster economic growth and develop them.
The publics’ speculation is that funds allocated to the local government areas had either been misappropriated or embezzled. Communities suffered lack of amenities for good living such as electricity, good water supply, good road networks and other developmental infrastructures. Indigenes were disgusted with their condition of living. There is a high level of unemployment evidenced in high poverty rate noticed among the citizenry.
Government policies are expected to be directed towards militating and supervising the local people in their efforts of self-help, project. All these were supposed to be the functions of the local government so as to bring about timely development and transformation of the rural areas, but what is often predominant in the rural areas in Nigeria today are lack of infrastructures like good feeder roads, primary health facilities, primary schools, pipe borne water, electricity and where these are provided they are left in poor conditions, it’s in view of these that this study is deem to critically examine the Effect of Mismanagement of Fund on the Growth and Development of Local Government in Kwara State.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Effect of Mismanagement of Fund on the Growth and Development of Local Government in Kwara State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain the factors militating fund mismanagement on the Growth and Development of Local Government in Kwara State
- To investigate the effect of financial information communication on citizens’ participation on local governments’ development.
- To determine whether citizens’ awareness of local governments’ finances could lead to infrastructural development.
- To investigate the effect of citizens’ knowledge of local governments’ income on the provision of social infrastructures in the local government.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there factors militating fund mismanagement on the Growth and Development of Local Government in Kwara State?
- What is the effect of financial information communication on citizens’ participation on local governments’ development?
- Are citizens’ awareness of local governments’ finances could lead to infrastructural development?
- What is the effect of citizens’ knowledge of local governments’ income on the provision of social infrastructures in the local government?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
H0: There is no significant factor militating fund mismanagement on the Growth and Development of Local Government in Kwara State
H1: There is a significant factor militating fund mismanagement on the Growth and Development of Local Government in Kwara State
1.7 Significance of Study
The significance of the study is that it will enable individuals, government and other bodies know the functions and roles of the local government area in development of rural areas. This study will also make the government to create awareness on the grassroots people. It will assist their self help projects that could be available to their utilization in the local Government area
Finally, the role of local government in rural development in the course of this study has been based on the need to bring development to the rural people and establish a base where the people feel the impact of the local government and participate in the process of rural development.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Effect of Mismanagement of Fund on the Growth and Development of Local Government in Kwara State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
