CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the Study

According to Laleye M. (2008) “Local Government in West Africa since Independence”

Local Government is defined as a government at the level established by law to perform specific function within defined areas. Local government in Nigeria have greater challenges than other tiers of government, since they have the responsibility of ensuring equitable social and economic development at the grassroots. Chairman of council are expected to prepared programmes of work and related financial implication, manage and supervise the allocation of financial and human resource coupled with appropriate monitoring of project execution.

Unfortunately, a part from lacking the above requirements both the elected and civil services officials at the local government lack the ability to establish excellent working relationships, ability to build the consensus, negotiation skills and the commitment to develop partnership for improved development effectiveness throughout all the Local Government in Akwa Ibom State there are major cases and allegations of grass misconduct leveled against the chairman, councilor and even some civil service official some of which include lack of probility. Lack of transparency and accountability gross and wanton breadies of financial regulation and procedures corrupt enrichment of self outright embezzlement of Local government funds misappropriation of funds through superiors contract and alleged execution of non-existing of projects, dishonest fraudulent and violation of  the local government administrative laws 2000 and 2002 as applicable in Akwa Ibom State.

Local government are vested with sustainable power to take control over local affairs.

In this research work the reason or motive why the research have decided to on write out the topic is to examine the extend in which transparency and accountability in local government administration have improve or increased the standard of living of people in the rural areas using Uyo Local Government as my case study. The origin of Local Government in Nigeria is as old as the evolution of political institution in pre-colonial Nigeria. The various empires kingdom chief dooms and community state that predated the emergence of modern Nigeria all had forms of administration which touched on the local people.

For instance, in old Oyo and Benin empire, there were sometimes three to four tiers of government namely the Central government, the provincial government the district government and the village government the authority of the Alafin or Oba was represented at each tier of government tributes and tolls were collected at each tier for the general administration of the empire the same system is true of the Fulani empire in the 19th century, which was structurally composed of a central authority the emirate and district and village units. But it is often erroneously believed that the history of local government in Nigeria began with the introduction of indirect rule by the British. The system was later articulated and popularized by Lord Lugard who became the first governor general of Nigeria after the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorate in 1914.

It was  he who introduce indirect rule as a principal of government in the area covered by the old Fulani empire, he spread the same system to other parts of Nigeria after he became governor general. It is said the system was based on his experience in East Africa. He found the system suitable because it made administration quite cheap both in manpower and financial resources since he had to rely large on the local people and their political institution.

• Statement of the Problem

From all indication, it would be observed that local government administration as a whole is increasing in scope day to day with resulting increasing in responsibilities. 

This means that Local Government administration does not merely require people with academic paper qualification, but people with initiative ability to lead, ability to enthuse and to guide. The local government just like any organisation need a chairman or head of council who is knowledgeable in such subject and course like financial accounting human resources, marketing and information management which are the cause of any Business School curricular. For local government to bring about meaningful development, it has to improve its financial management bedeviled by a number of problems. Local government are faced with problems such as government policies which could not allow them to exercise their duty extensively poverty level at the local government with largely rural area is enormous. Most inhabitants known that they should pay tax but cannot pay either because of financial disability or failure to accept the fact that they should pay to the Local Government because of what is paid is believed to the squandered the high level of corruption which has eaten deep into the society has affected performance of most local government. In high percentage of the revenue generate in either diverted to private pocket or traceable to projects that are of no direct benefit to the society at large. Dedication to duty of the officials seems to be at the lowest. Record keeping in local government is problem despite the acceptance of information technology by all and sundry yet no Local Government has computerized its operation. This is no way hinders goods financial management, accountability and transparency.

1.2   Objective Of the Study

The following are the objective of this research work. This project work is aim at

1. examining the effect of transparency and accountability practices in the Local Government administration in Nigeria.
2. It also aims at examining the problem encountered in ensuring transparency and accountability practices in Local Government administration
3. The objective of this research work is also to examine the extent in which transparency and accountability practices could influence the overall performance in local government administration.
4. the objective also aims at examining the gains of transparency and accountability practices in local government administration in Nigeria.

1.3   Research Question

The following are the research question for this project work. What are the effect of transparency and accountability practices in Local Government Administration in Nigeria.

• What are the problem encountered in ensuring transparency and accountability practices in Local Government Administration
• What are the extent in which transparency and accountability practices could influence the over all performance in Local Government Administration.
• What are the gains of transparency and accountability practices in Local Government Administration in Nigeria.

1.4   Significance of the Study

The government would benefit immensely from this very research work because through this research work they would be aware that effective transparency and accountability practices in the Local Government administration is the only ways of meeting the needs of people at the grassroots level. The government would also be able to know the various ways or areas in which they should put in their funds, since they are the only financier of Local Government.

• The public would also benefit from this project because they would now know the responsibilities and duty of the Local Government Area in the Country.
• Various institution would also benefit from this project work because it would serve as a reference purpose to them.
• It would also be useful to the student of Local Government administration and other student because most of them would want to became member in the Local Government Councils.
• The study will be of immense importance to many Local Government Administrators.

1.5   Scope/Limitation of the Study

The focus of this study is on effects of transparency and accountability practices in Local Government Administration in Nigeria, using Uyo Local Government Area as a case study. In the process of carrying out this study, the following limitation were experience.

• Shortage of related literature materials on Local Government administration in Nigeria also limited this project work.
• Lack of time and funds which hinder the successful complement of this research work on time, for instance the time of going to the Local Government Council to acquire more information was limited.

1.6   Definition of Terms

The following terms as used in this research work are defined or explained thus:

• Accountability: It is the requirement which subjects public officers the detailed secreting by the legislature over objectives, use of resource and manner of performance.
• Administration: According Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary “Administration” refers to the management of affair etc especially public affairs or government policies.
• By Law: A law or regulation made by a Local authority or by a company.
• Democracy: A democracy is a political system in which the opportunity to participate in decisions is widely shared among the adult citizen.
• Government: This is any government that successfully uphold a claim to the exclusive regulation of the legitimate use of physical force in enforcing it rule within a given territorial area. It may also be Local State or Federal.
• Strategy: A general method or policy for achieving specified objectives.
• Transparency: The state of being straight forward, honest, easily understood, accessible simple or clear.
• Taxation: The system of raising money by taxes.