CHAPTER ONE

1.1            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The Nigerian government structure is made up of three tiers, which are the federal government, state government and the local government. The three of them are involved in delivering dividends of democracy to the people. They each have their roles to play as entities, but they also collaborate in certain respects, especially when it has to do with management and financing.  This ensures improvement in performance and accountability.

The local government is seen as a semi-autonomous region formed under the constitution or general laws of a state to carry out specific functions within a particular geographical area. It is an administrative and political unit that is vested with the powers under the law to govern a specified locality (Agbakoba, 2004). Its modality is concentrated on the idea of grassroots level participation in government.

Local government administration in Nigeria has come of age, not so much of because of its efficiency and effectiveness, but primarily because of its longevity and resilience of its relevance in the administration of the country (Igbokwe-Ibeto, 2003). The process of achieving local government administration that would have engendered sustainable development was not visibly seen in Nigeria, from the colonial period to the year 1975. Thus, the colonial masters concentrated on the welfare of a minor elite population which lived in the towns and cities (Akhakpe, Fatile & Igbokwe-Ibeto, 2012).

Before the beginning of the British colonial administrators, the various communities, kingdoms and empires had evolved their own unique forms and patterns of native administrations which were able to meet the needs of their various peoples at their different levels of development (Agbodike et al., 2014). It is important to note that despite various reforms in local government administration in Nigeria, much has not been seen in terms of provision of essential services in the local governments that will translate to sustainable development at the grassroots’ level. Ordinarily, local government administration encapsulates adapting appropriate technology in agriculture; establishment of skills acquisition and development centres; increasing literacy levels; creating awareness of rural possibilities; political education and mobilization; providing information on rural resources, deploying technical assistance; sensitizing potential volunteers and donors as well as focus on peoples’ felt needs and basic amenities such as provision of good roads, electricity, health centres, markets, schools, and farm settlements among others. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case in Nigerian local governments. Given the crucial role local government administration plays in development at all local levels, it is imperative to interrogate how to mitigate this catalogue of challenges facing local government administration in Nigeria.

1.2            STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

The rural populace is faced with several developmental needs such as portable water, education, market, good roads, electricity, health care facility, etc. Poverty and poor standard of living has risen as a result of lack of these basic needs. Since the local government is considered a bridge connecting the state and federal governments in executing government developmental programs at the local communities, its administration need to work towards socio-economic development and rural transformation. The local government is faced with lack of funds, poor project execution, inadequate working equipment, staff incompetency and state government interference (Ogunna, 1980). There should be a review of Local government laws and administration to enhance a more local government administration. Hence, an assessment of the local government administration will encourage rural transformation.

1.3   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This work is designed to provide answers to the following questions:

1. What is the effort of local government administration towards rural transformation?

2. What are the challenges the local government face in trying to transform the rural regions?

3. Can the Local government improve on its administration towards rural transformation?

1.4   OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1. To critically cross examine the effort of the local government administration towards rural development.

2. To find out the challenges the local government face as they try to transform the rural regions.

3.  To analyze if the local government can improve on its administration towards rural transformation.

1.5   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The researcher shall restrict the scope studies to the transformation of rural regions by the administration of local government in Nigeria. The research shall cover a range of rural inhabitants airing their view about the influence of the local government administration governing its region.it shall also cover some local government staffs in order to know more about their methods, achievements and challenges of administration on the inhabitants.

1.6     SIGNIFICANCE   OF   THE    STUDY

This study is significant in view of the relevance of to develop rural areas for socio-economic development of the nation at large. It shall suggest and enlighten the local government on strategies they can take to transform the standard of living of rural inhabitants and also enhance socio-economic development simultaneously. It will also serve as basis for suggesting solution to the local government administration for rural transformation.

1.7   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Inevitably, there are certain limitations the researcher will be faced with in the cause of this work. One is in the area is finance for the general research. Apart from finance, research work of this nature is often done within a time bound as well as geographical factors.

However, it is believed that these constraints will be checkmated by making the best use of the materials available materials and spending more than the necessary time in the research work, therefore, it is strongly believed 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       METHODOLOGY

Secondary sources of gathering data will be largely employed for our variables. This again will be based on content analysis, what these involves is the critical review of related materials, literatures, journals, magazines and textbooks, it will also involve sourcing or browsing the net for materials. Communication with authorities in the field will also not be overlooked.

1.9     KEY WORDS

Transformation: a marked change in form, nature, or appearance.

Local Government:  this is the administration of a particular county or district, with representatives elected by those who live there.

Economy: this is the state of a country or region in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services and the supply of money.

Socio-economic: relating to or concerned with the interaction of social and economic factors.

Administration: the process or activity of running a business, organization, etc.