AUTONOMY

This study was carried out to examine local government autonomy in Nigeria: issues and way forward using one local government areas in Edo State as a case study. Specifically, the study was aimed at examining if the autonomy of local government in Nigeria is achievable; study the effort of the Federal government of Nigeria in making local government autonomous; and analyze if the local government has and will have any positive effect on the populace. The study employed the survey descriptive research design. A total of 150 responses were validated from the survey. From the responses obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that the autonomy of local government in Nigeria is achievable any time soon; The Federal government of Nigeria is not making any effort to make local government autonomous; and the local government has positive effect on the populace. The study therefore recommend Federal government of Nigeria to see to accomplishing of LG autonomy in the country. LGs in Nigeria need adequate autonomy that can facilitate their operations and development of the localities. This should emanate from institutionalized democratic process of elections for representative LG councils as and when due.

The study investigated the crises between state and local government on autonomy in Edo State: Post Supreme Court judgement and its effect on service delivery. To achieve the purpose of the study, four (4) research questions were raised and answered. The sample size for the study was made up of 100 respondents. The data collected was analyzed using frequency count and simple percentage. The study revealed that financial control, staff appointments, constitutional ambiguities, political rivalry, and delayed fund releases were the major sources of conflict undermining local government autonomy in Edo State. It was concluded that the autonomy crisis between state and local government significantly hindered education, healthcare, sanitation, and local projects. The study recommended among others that the Edo State Government should as a matter of utmost urgency ensure full compliance with the July 11, 2024 Supreme Court judgment by granting local governments the constitutional autonomy required to function effectively.

This study examines local-state government relations and issues of local government autonomy in Nigeria using Edo State 2010 – 2018. The study adopted the survey design on the foundation to which data were sourced from a sample of 120 respondents. The study adopted the chi-square to aanalyse the research hypotheses. The result shows that there is no significant relationship between local government and state government in Edo State. Secondly, the findings show that there is significant relationship between State Joint Local Government Account and the financial autonomy of Local Government Councils. The study further shows that there is a slight significant relationship between the administrative structures of Local Government Councils and control and manipulations of the State Government. The study recommends that in order to ensure smooth and cordial relationship between the State and the Local Government in the areas of fiscal relations, there is need for either restructuring or total abolition of the State Joint Local Government Account in the South Western Nigeria States. This is to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness and accountability of the Local Government in rural development. In the case of restructuring, the federal Government should re-examine the section that provide for the creation of the State Joint Local Government Account in order to ensure proper monitoring and punishment from the organ that violate the laid down procedure. This could be achieved by the introduction of machinery assessment and supervision of policies and projects that the allocations send to the State Joint Local Government Account is used for. This will largely reduce the extent at which the state Government tamper with the Local Government in the areas of rural development and to a large extent increase the level of autonomy of Local Government of the region. On the other hand, the State Joint Local Government Account could be abolished to ensure that there is no intermediary between the Local Government and The Federal Government in the distribution of allocation. This will enable the Local Government to be responsible and accountable for all her actions and inaction. This will eradicate unjustifiable coordination of the State Joint Local Government Account by the State Government. Hence, if any of these recommendations is being tested, it will go a long way in reducing the over-dependency of the Local Government on the State Government. This will end up strengthening the Local Government in their autonomy, rural development and accountability, and the efficiency and effectiveness in the policy formulation and implementation.