A local government can be defined as government at the local level established by law to perform specific functions within defined area. It has the power to take charge of local political affairs. They are created by acts of parliament as avenues by which the federal government reaches the locality. They are usually the third tier of government. In Nigeria, they were created under the 1963 Republican constitution.
TYPES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Professor Harold Anderfer classified local government into 4 basic types. They are:
1. French Type: This type of local government is an extension of the central government. In other words, the staffs of local governments are also staff of the federal government.
2. English Type: This type of local government has a feature of autonomy. Though federal government has some measure of control over it. Nigeria adopts this system. There is no local economy.
3. Traditional Type: This system is entirely indigenous. It is neither western nor eastern. It is based on leadership of a traditional ruler.
4. Communist Type: Most communist countries practice this system. There is no local economy. Every local government works in conformity with the socialist ideology and values.
REASONS FOR THE CREATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. The local governments are established in order to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots.
2. They allow the indigenes of the different local areas to govern themselves according to their culture and traditions.
3. They serve as a link between the people and the state and federal government.
4. The creation of local government gives room for even development in parts of the country.
5. They act as representatives of the federal and state government in the implementation of policies and in the maintaining of law and order etc.
6. They can also provide employment at the local level.
7. They provide the essential services to the people in areas like electricity, roads, water, health care centers etc.
8. They are created to avoid the concentration of power in one authority.
9. They are created to give the people in the rural areas a sense of belonging and participation in the government.
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POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. Local government constructs and maintains public roads, water ways, bridges, gutters, sidewalks and drainages.
2. Establishment and maintenance of markets, motor parks and public conveniences and refuse disposal.
3. Collection of taxes, radio and television licenses, rents etc.
4. The provision and maintenance of primary schools.
5. They register deaths, births, marriages etc.
6. Maintenance of forests.
7. Naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses.
8. Establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for destitute.
9. Development of agricultural and natural resources.
10. They make bye laws for the maintenance of law and order. They also set up customary courts as directed by the state government.
SOURCES OF REVENUE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. Federal Government Grants: Local government gets their fund from federal government. This is the major source of local government revenue. In Nigeria, local government is entitled by law to receive 10 percent of federally derived revenue
2. Grants from state government
3. Loans from financial institutions
4. Taxes from non salary earners residing within their areas of jurisdiction.
5. Local rates like water, market stalls, motor parks etc.
6. License fees such as bicycle, dogs, radio, television, canoe etc.
7. Court fees: These are fines imposed on offenders in customary courts which also help to generate revenue to local governments.
8. Commercial ventures such as transport services, plantation farms, guest houses, holiday resorts, poultry farms etc.
CONTROL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. Amendment of law: The national assembly through the federal government can amend the law establishing the local government.
2. Withholding of grants: The federal government may for one reason or the other withhold the grant allocated to local government. It may be on the grounds of mismanagement of fund.
3. Judicial control: The law courts can declare bye-laws made by the local government as null and void if they are not in conformity with the provisions of the country’s constitution.
4. Ministerial control: Ministers or commissioners and government officials controls the activities of local councils from time to time.
5. Audit control: The government officials audit the account book of council at least once a year.
6. Public control: Members of the public whom the local government are meant to serve,
PROBLEMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
1. Bribery and corruption: Bribery and corruption are common in some council as well as embezzlement and misappropriation of funds.
2. Financial problem or poverty of local government bodies.
3. Shortage of personnel: Some council officials are untrained or ill-trained and so inefficient.
4. The machinery for or rate collections is grossly inadequate and inefficient.
5. Lack of infrastructure such as electricity, pipe borne water, good roads etc.
6. The size of local government councils: A council should not be too large as to create problems.
7. Favoritism and nepotism.
8. Illiteracy among councilors.
9. Interference from central government.
SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. Control by the central government should be reduced.
2. Honest and capable hands should be used in the collection of rates and levies.
3. Qualified personnel should be employed to local governments.
4. Local government accounts should be audited regularly and any official found guilty on misappropriation of funds should be prosecuted by E.F.C.C. or I.C.P.C.
5. More money should be allocated to local governments from the federation account to enable them carry out their functions.
6. Access to loan should not be made difficult for the local government.
7. Regular in-service training and seminars should be given or organized for local government workers.
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