Problem And Prospects Of Local Government Administration

INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Some form of local arrangement and organization had existed which formed the umbrella for safe interaction economic transaction regulation adjudication and execution. These organization though localized in nature and structure had implication for rule adjudication and rule execution then care colonialism which was a British creation the British colonial master were resourceful and were given free hand to utilize what was in place in their area of control for the purpose of administration and possibly the much vaunted access to economic resources of the colonial people.
In the case of Nigeria Britain adopted the indicted rule system under the leadership of Lord Lugard Even though Sir George Goldile in 1886 adumbrated the system for the Royal Niger company in 1998 Sir Ralph more advocated for Nigeria a system that would incorporate and exercise power through native institutions.
Local government was know under colonial rule as native administration and it is the third tier of government F.C Okoli in his broke theory and practice of local government (a Nigerian perspective) defined local government as “government that restricted to geographical areas within a large government” the also said that it is a local democracy exercised by the people through their own representative for the benefit of the whole people. The local government enjoys some degree of authority but there is a limit to it.
Prof Odenigwe also said that that local government is a system of local administration under which local communities and towns are organized to maintain law and order to provide some limited range of social services and public amenities. It provides for the community and enables them to conduct their affairs efficiently and regulates the action of the members of the general public.
Local administration has to do with organizing human and materials resources that the activities of the national government extent to all the looks and crannies of the state.
Local government administration therefore is the act of combining the efforts of the people’s representatives within a geographical area to ensure that the activities of the national government and their impacts are felt at the grass root through efficiency and effectiveness
Having defined the local government local administration and local government it is necessary to also study the historical background and development of local government in Nigeria.
As stated earlier on his paper the history of local government in Nigeria followed pre-colonial and post colonial political development in Nigeria. Before colonialism there was nothing like local government rather there was native authorities relative autonomous villages towns and ethnic groups with little contacts with each other local government is a baby to colonialism. Initially the colonial masters introduced the local government through the use of the people or ethnic leaders like in the north where the Emirs were used in indirect rule system of ruling the people.
The colonial administrators the crown officers and the regional governors appointed officers. The appointer were called the district offers DOS they were given the duties of legislation execution and judiciary but because of the heterogeneous nature of the nation each local government has it’s own system of operation.
In 1976 the Nigeria military government embarked upon a nation-wide local government reform which established a single tier some local government council were later entrenched in section 7 (1) of 1979 constitution in 1979. form hence on local government was loyally recognized as the there tier of government the second in national government. This helped to bring government nearer to the people to enable them the opportunity of participating in the administration of their areas. The representatives were usually elected by the people and they are vested with the duties of planning organizing coordinating and controlling. The are faced with challenges in course of carrying out those duties and when they cannot achieve the set goals they are adjudged ineffective.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The functions of administration in any organization which includes local government involves planning executing and controlling as earlier mentioned the demands of the duties are those task that must be carried out in order to achieve the set objective of the local government. Those objectives include the provision of infrastructure basic social needs welfare and security of the community etc this paper will attempt to find out.
1. The problem facing the government of the local government
2. The problem the local government staff encounter
3. How the local government generates an spends her finances
4. How continuity in local government is affected by changes of government
5. The extent of inter relationship between the local government and other tiers of government

1.3 THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This study is aimed at improving the productivity of Udi local government by finding out some problem militating against her progress and suggesting necessary possible solution.
The following from the main purpose of the study:
1. To find out constraints of Udi local government in carrying out her statutory function
2. To study Udi government finance and its constraints
3. To find out how Udi government related with other tiers of the government and
4. To find out positive solution to the stated problem

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is going to be beneficiary to management and staff of Udi local government as their problem will be revealed and possible solution suggested and adopted. Future researchers are also going to benefit from this study because it will add to their research resources materials.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. Is local government performing her statutory function as envisaged by the status which must be assessed from rural development?
2. Has Udi local government quality and adequate manpower to carry our those function
3. How does Udi local government sources her fund
4. How does Udi local government relates with other tiers of government
5. What does the relationship between the political and administrative staff look like?

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study is limited to Udi local government area only due to the vast geographical spread of Nigeria and considering the researchers limited resources.
The result of this research will therefore be generalized as the representative of the whole local government authorities in Nigeria with regard to problem and prospects of local government administration in Nigeria

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Here are the oxford advanced learner’s dictionary definition of some terms used in this chapter.
1. Democracy: It is a system of government by all the people of a country usually through representatives whom they elect.
2. Autonomy: Control over one’s own affairs (ie acting independently)
3. Colonialism: The policy of acquiring a country or an area selected and controlled by people from another country sometimes by force
4. Indirect rule: A system of ruling people through their own people by outsider
5. Heterogeneous: Composed of different kinds like Nigeria that is made up of different ethnic groups
6. Challenges: To test the ability of body its can also be said to be those limiting factors towards the successful achievement of stipulated goals.
7. Ethnic: Attributes of a nation race or tribute that this a common cultural tradition