ABSTRACT

The essay work examines the impact of intergovernmental relations on local government administration in Nigeria. The essay argues that Local Government is not mutually exclusive of other levels of government and that as such there is bound to be an interaction between the local and other levels of government. The study reveals that intergovernmental relations among the levels of government were in disarray due to the conflicts over issues of tax jurisdiction, revenue allocation, intergovernmental relations, fund transfers, overconcentration of power at the centre, illegal removal of government officials, among other factors. The essay posits that for cordial relationship between the local and other levels of government to take place, the constitutional status of local government must be clearly spelt out, the issue of joint state -local government account should be reversed, election rather than appointment should be the means of choosing leaders at the local level, judiciary should be made to be independent and the undue interference on the local government by the state or federal government has be properly addressed. Also, there should be direct disbursement of federation allocation to all the levels of government.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

This study examine the background study intergovernmental relation, statement of the problem, objective of the study, significant and scope of the study and finally the definition of key terms.

The concept of intergovernmental relations is associated with states having a Federal Administration System where the relationships between the Federal Central on National Governmental and major sub-national unit (Province, regions or state) formally spent out in constitution. Intergovernmental relations have been seen as a system of transactions among structured levels of government in a state. It is also seen as registration in which the parties are negotiating advantageous positions for power, money and problems. Solving responsibility (Colugbemi: 1980).          

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY  

The goal of intergovernmental relations are said to promote peace and harmony among the three teas of government which can the Federal State and Local Government. To accelerate the achievement of self reliant economy. In so doing intergovernmental relations will help to minimize inter-jurisdictional conflicts among the various level of government. Also to boost greater natural economic integration through the activities of three levels of government. Again to enhance the emergence of co-operative rather than competitive federation there is also need to enhance effective and efficient utilization of available human and material resources among the three levels of government. To help solve the problem of rural and urban poverty. To achieve a situation where there is special need for integrating programmes on a nationwide scale. To look into the situation where states, Local Government unit of the Federal set up have responsibilities with on resources base to perform them (John Nwafor: Unpublished work).   

The achievement of the objectives of intergovernmental relations is dependent on some social factors within the Nigerian social system. Some social factors include the political setting and the state of two economies in the nation. Looking at the political setting, the intergovernmental relations is basically based on the three tiers of government that is the Federal, State and Local Government. But come to look at that, the Federal and State Government is said to have more autonomy than the Local Government due to the fact that they are the last tier of government (John Nwafor: Unpublished Work). The other tier of government still tell them that what to do, how to make their own policies, how to elect/appoint those to rule them like the chancellor or chairman and so on. Local Government is still dependent on the other tier of government making them too subordinate and loyal for my liking (Nwoked, Palph 2002).

To this, there should be greater independent of the state and the Local Government in the Federal Government for their survival and performance of fundamental responsibilities. There should be several reforms which should let to the recognition of the Local Government as the third tier of government with relative autonomy and jurisdictional powers as provided for the constitution.

Another problem is the state of the nation’s economy. The nation’s economy really influenced the nature and scope of intergovernmental relations in the Local Government in Nigeria. The wealth of any nation is a key factor in determining its pattern of material relation. Between 1960 and 1970, the basis o fiscal relation between the Federal, State, and Local Government were richer and more power full than the Local Government. But this problem will come to an end if the Local Government has greater control of the tax revenue. The Local Government should control 50% of the tax revenue allocation of its area without the Federal or State Government Interference. They should also receive grant and aids from outside and within the country, making them powerful and independent of their own. Their Federation Allocation Accountant should be granted to them annually or monthly as the case may be. They should be allowed to run their affairs especially when it comes to monetary matters (F Okoll and Anah O. 2002).

In so doing channel, of communication should be at its high level between the Federal, State and Local Government in order to produce an effectiveness due to the fact that an intergovernmental relation is relationship between the three theirs of government.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

To appreciate the depth of courses in the Federal System in Nigeria, one has to follow the recent trend of the raging controversy between the Federal and State Government over the exercise of power or control of revenue resources of Local Government and how not to have assumed the undue prominence given to it as a constitutional question if Nigerian leaders, particularly the Federal level and adhered strictly to the norms of federalism and followed the precedents established by the past democratic government in Nigerian Federation.                       

In Nigeria, the issue of sharing resources among the three levels of government has remained controversial due to lack of acceptable formular. It generates tension and bat blond among the three tiers of government. This has resulted in setting up of different committees or commissions to prescribe t prescribe the formular to be used. Also there exists a conflict between the Federal State and Local Government area acceptable form was for sharing revenue. For instance, the conflict is usually whether the principal of derivation, need, natural interest of landmass should be used as a basis for the purpose. Even when these principles may be generally accepted as the main basis for working out revenue allocation formular. Conflict might arise following as to which of the principles takes precedence over other as the main outrival for sharing the revenue.        

This is the problem of tax jurisdictional which refers to the problem of which aspect of government should collect what revenue over a particular area. These have been serious problems between the Federal, State and Local Government. They are the lowest level of government likewise they collect the least amount of tax revenue, which makes them still stagnant.

Another problem is the existence of control of one level of government by another in any aspect (Abonyi 2005). Local Government is dominated by the Federal and State Government. They do not have their own autonomy making them too dependent on the other levels of government. Mention must be made of the problem of finding the best method of channeling to another especially from the Federal to the Local Government. (Ugwu, 1998:90)

1.3       OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY     

The main objective of the study in impact of intergovernmental Relations on Local Government Administration in Nigeria, with particular reference to Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State.