CHAPTER ONE

1.1            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Socio-economic development is a process every community or locality would like to undergo. It is the process of social and economic development in a society, which is measured with indicators such as; quality education, gross domestic product (GDP), life expectancy, and levels of employment among its citizens. The presence of these indicators makes life easy for both the citizens and the governance of the people. Socio-economic development can occur both at the higher and lower government of a nation.

A local government which is an administrative body for a small geographic area, such as a city, town, county, or state can also experience socio-economic development either by the federal or state or local government itself. Since a local government will typically only have control over their own specific geographical region, this implies they can develop their jurisdiction. They can also elect officials, enact taxes, and do many other things that a national government would do, but on a smaller scale.

Since the local government can contribute to the socio-economic development of their locality, it implies they can actually source for their own revenue within the local government. The total dependence for revenue on the federal and state government might not be enough for a sincere government. This should serve as a catalyst for the local government to generate their own internal revenue so as to attain maximum socio-economic development year in year out.

The only deterrent factor the local government can face is their government policy. If they have good policies that navigate the running of the locality, then they can boast of a productive socio-economic development. Even though Nigeria at large is still struggling in the face of developing economy, socio-economic development can start from the localities instead of depending totally on the federal and state government.

The task for the local government will definitely be how to generate its own internal revenue through different means.

1.2            STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Nigeria at large is still struggling in the face of a developing economy and as well lagging behind in socio-economic transformation. The task for nationwide development might be too much on the shoulders of the federal and local government. The study therefore, addresses socio-economic development at the local level through the internal revenue generated by the local government.

1.3     RESEARCH QUESTION                                                                       

1.     Do local governments generate their own internal revenue?

2.     Is socio-economic development a basic need in a locality?

3.     Can the local government internal revenue be channeled to socio-economic development?

1.4     AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY

The aim of this studies is to critically study how the local government can attain socio-economic development from its internal revenue. The objectives are:

1.     To ascertain if local governments generate their own internal revenue.

2.     To study whether socio-economic development a basic need in any locality.

3.     To determine if the local government internal revenue be channeled to socio-economic development.

1.5     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The idea of the research work is to study if the local government can channel its internal revenue to socio-economic development in Nigeria.

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE   OF   THE    STUDY

This research will look critically into the socio-economic development with the internal revenue generated by the local government in Nigeria.

1.7   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Finance for the general research work will be a challenge during the course of study. Correspondents also might not be able to complete or willing to submit the questionnaires given to them.

However, it is believed that these constraints will be worked on by making the best use of the available materials and spending more than the necessary time in the research work. Therefore, it is strongly hoped that despite these constraint, its effect on this research report will be minimal, thus, making the objective and significance of the study achievable.

1.8     DEFINITION OF KEY WORDS

Socio-economic development: is the process of social and economic development in a society. It is measured with indicators, such as gross domestic product (GDP), life expectancy, literacy and levels of employment

Local government: An administrative body for a small geographic area, such as a city, town, county, or state.

Internal revenue: Monies collected by a government through imposition of levies and taxes on facilities, incomes, sale of goods and services, transfers of properties, and other domestic transactions, as opposed to monies collected from duties imposed on imports and other international transactions. Also called Inland Revenue.