1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
Federalism, as a political system, involves the division of power between different levels of government, typically national, state, and local. Nigeria adopted federalism as a means of managing its vast and diverse population, characterized by numerous ethnic, religious, and cultural groups. The choice of federalism was largely influenced by the colonial history of Nigeria, which saw various regions developing at different paces (Elaigwu, 2012). Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria's federal structure has been shaped by constitutional amendments, military interventions, and democratic transitions. According to Nwosu (2018), federalism in Nigeria was designed to foster unity while recognizing the distinctiveness of its regions. However, over time, the structure of federalism has created several challenges, particularly regarding the autonomy of local governments, which were constitutionally recognized as the third tier of government in the 1976 local government reforms (Adamolekun, 2005).
The evolution of local government in Nigeria has undergone a lot of changes and all these are geared towards making the local government a system that could serve the purpose for its creation. But specifically in 1976, under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime introduced the 1976 local government reform. The reform recognized the local government as the third tier of government in the Nation and it is expected to do precisely what the word local government implies that is, governing at the local level. The reforms also intend to stimulate democratic self government, encourage initiative and leadership potential and entrain the principle of this reform for the local government to be autonomous having the freedom to recruit and manage its own staff, raise and manage its own finances, laws and provide services within the limits of its resources and functions without interference, the local government system in Nigeria still have some constraints that have impeded it’s autonomy (Okoli, 2005: 107).
Despite constitutional provisions, local governments in Nigeria have struggled to achieve genuine autonomy. This is due to various factors, including financial dependence on state governments, the lack of control over key functions, and political interference. Adebayo (2013) argues that local governments are often at the mercy of state governments, which control the allocation of resources and decision-making processes. The issue of autonomy has led to inefficiencies in service delivery at the local level, as local governments are unable to fully exercise their powers in addressing the needs of their communities.
According to Jinadu (2007), Nigeria's federal structure was intended to foster unity while allowing for regional autonomy. However, the issue of local government autonomy within this federal structure has been a contentious subject in Nigerian politics (Jinadu, 2007). In recent years, the debate around local government autonomy has intensified, with proponents advocating for reforms to grant more power and resources to local authorities. Despite constitutional provisions, the devolution of powers to local governments has been met with resistance from state governments, which continue to exert significant control over local affairs. Federalism, as a system of governance, refers to the division of powers between different levels of government, typically national and subnational entities. in the Nigerian context, federalism was adopted as a means of accommodating the country's diversity, given its multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-linguistic composition. Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to evaluate practice of federalism in Nigeria and local government autonomy.
1.2 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the problem with the current practice of federalism in Nigeria is that local governments, which are constitutionally recognized as the third tier of government, lack genuine autonomy. Although the 1999 Constitution establishes a federal structure with local governments as an integral part, their financial and administrative independence is often undermined by the state governments (Adamolekun, 2005). The problem is further exacerbated by frequent political interference, which hampers the ability of local governments to operate independently. Local government elections are often influenced by state governors, who appoint caretaker committees rather than allowing democratically elected officials to govern (Oviasuyi, Idada, & Isiraojie, 2010).
Additionally, the uneven distribution of resources between the federal, state, and local governments has led to developmental imbalances. Local governments are often left with inadequate funding to execute their constitutional responsibilities, which limits their capacity to drive socio-economic development at the grassroots level (Nwabueze, 1983). It is against the backdrop that this study seeks to address these problems by evaluating the practice of federalism in Nigeria and local government autonomy.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to evaluate the practice of federalism in Nigeria and local government autonomy. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to:
- Examine the extent of local government autonomy within Nigeria’s federal structure.
- Assess the role of state governments in influencing the administrative and financial independence of local governments.
- Investigate the challenges faced by local governments in exercising their constitutional responsibilities.
- Analyze the impact of local government autonomy on grassroots development and public service delivery.
- Provide recommendations for enhancing local government autonomy to promote effective governance and development at the local level.
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:
- Does the granting of full autonomy to the local government enhance its service delivery?
- Does Federalism guarantee local government autonomy?
- Is Nigeria local government system (Ofu Local Government) autonomous?
- To what extent do local governments in Nigeria enjoy administrative and financial autonomy under the current federal system?
- How does the relationship between state and local governments impact the performance and independence of local governments?
- What are the key challenges faced by local governments in exercising their constitutional responsibilities?
- How does the level of local government autonomy influence grassroots development and the delivery of public services?
- What measures can be taken to improve local government autonomy within Nigeria’s federal structure?
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.
Hypothesis One
- H0: The influence of state governments does not significantly limit the financial and administrative autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.
- H1: The influence of state governments significantly limits the financial and administrative autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Increased local government autonomy will negatively impact grassroots development and governance in Nigeria.
- H1: Increased local government autonomy will positively impact grassroots development and governance in Nigeria.
1.7 Significance of Study
The findings of this research will benefit policymakers by offering recommendations on how to enhance local government autonomy, which will improve governance at the local level. It will also help state and federal authorities understand the critical role local government’s play in the broader context of national development.
Furthermore, the study will assist local government officials in identifying the challenges they face and finding practical solutions to improve their administrative and financial independence. It will also serve as a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in federalism, governance, and decentralization in Nigeria.
Finally, the study will raise public awareness about the importance of local government autonomy and its role in ensuring efficient service delivery and development at the grassroots level.
1.8 Scope and Limitation of the Study
The scope of the study covers the federal principle and local government autonomy in Nigeria. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;
- Availability of Research Material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
- Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
- Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Federalism: Federalism is a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states or provinces. In Nigeria, federalism allows the distribution of powers between the federal, state, and local governments (Adewale, 2017).
Local Government Autonomy: Local government autonomy refers to the degree of self-governance granted to local governments in managing their affairs without undue interference from higher levels of government. It involves financial, administrative, and legislative independence, ensuring that local governments can effectively perform their functions (Olowu, 2016).
Decentralization: Decentralization is the process by which powers, functions, and resources are transferred from central authorities to local governments or regional administrations. It is intended to bring governance closer to the people and promote more efficient and responsive administration (Agbakoba & Ogbonna, 2018).
Grassroots Development: Grassroots development is the improvement of infrastructure, services, and economic opportunities at the local or community level. It focuses on empowering communities to participate in and benefit from development initiatives, often facilitated by local governments (Umeh, 2015).
