ABSTRACTThe major concern of this research work is to assess the role of Warri North LocalGovernment Area of Delta State in rural development of its constituent communities.In achieving this, the research work relies on descriptive approach and structuredquestionnaire and interview for data collection. A simple size of one hundred and fifty(150) respondents was used for the study. Our findings revealed that the council hasnot performed well in developing the rural areas over the years. Variousrecommendations were made based on the findings among such are, increase inrevenue allocation by both Federal and State governments, serious commitment bemade by such staff toward internally generated revenue and the use of direct labour(council engineers) in carrying out projects in place of contractors. Improvement ofinfrastructure by the councils is also recommended.

TABLE OF CONTENTPageTitle Page – – – – – – – – iApproval Page – – – – – – iiDedication – – – – – – – – iiiAcknowledgement – – – – – – – ivAbstract – – – – – – – – viTable of Content – – – – – – – viiCHAPTER ONE: Background of Study1.1 Introduction – – – – – – -1.2 Statement of Problem – – – – – -1.3 Objectives of Study – – – – – -1.5 Significance of the Study – – – – -1.6 Operational Definition of Concept – – – -1.7 Literature Review – – – – – -1.7.1 Local Government and Rural Development – – -1.7.2 Inadequate Finance and Rural Development – – -1.7.3 Paucity of Skilled Manpower and Rural Development – -1.8 Theoretical Framework – – – – -1.9 Hypothesis – – – – – – -1.10 Research Methodology – – – – – -References – – – – – – – -CHAPTER TWO: History and Organizational Structure ofWarri North Local Government2.1 Evolution of Local Government in Nigeria – – -2.2 History of Warri North Local Government Council – -2.3 The Organizational Structure of Warri North Local GovernmentReferences – – – – – – – -CHAPTER THREEWarri North Local Government and Rural Development – -References – – – – – – – -CHAPTER FOUR4.1 Data Analysis – – – – – – -4.2 Testing of Hypotheses- – – – – -4.3 Discussion of Findings – – – – -CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation5.1 Summary – – – – – – -5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – -5.3 Recommendation – – – – – -Bibliography – – – – – – -Appendix – – – – – – –

CHAPTER ONEBACKGROUND OF STUDY1.1 IntroductionThe expediency for the creation of local government anywhere in the worldstems from the need to facilitate development at the grassroots. The importance oflocal government is a function of its ability to generate sense of belongingness, safetyand satisfaction among its populace. All forms of government, regimes or politicalsystems have so far ensured the attainment of this goal. Such strategy for ensuringnational administrative development and political efficacy is found in the concept andpractice of local government. Whatever is the mode of government, local governmenthas been essentially regarded as the path to, and guarantor of, national integration,administration and development.In Nigeria’s socio-political context, with multiplicity of culture, diversity oflanguages and differentiated needs and means, the importance of such an organizationin fostering the needed national consciousness, unity and relative uniformity as wellas preservation of peculiar diversities cannot be over-emphasized. Central to thecreation of local government, however, is its ability to facilitate an avenue throughwhich government and the people intermix, relate and more quickly than any othermeans resolve or dissolve issues that may have heated the system. Local governmenthas been perceived as a panacea for the diverse problems of the diverse people withdiverse culture.As important as this tier of government has been, there seems to be someimpediments that have been infringing on its performance and functions in recenttimes. These impediments range from political but undue interference of the higherlevels of government i.e. federal and state governments, bribery and corruption toembezzlement and gross inadequacy of well-trained and qualified personnel tomention a few.According to Nnoli (1981:36) and Rodney (1972:11), all people have shown acapacity for independently increasing their ability to live more satisfactory life thanbefore. This is then a progressive process that has no end.A local government is semi-autonomous territorial unit created by theconstitution or general laws of a state to undertake certain functions within specifiedor limited geographical area. According to Agbakoba (2004:3), a local government isa political and administrative unit that is empowered by law to administer a specifiedlocality. It involves philosophical commitment to the idea of community participationin government at grassroots level.There is general assumption among scholars and practitioners, that local governmentare not only established as representative organ but also as a channel through whichgoods and services are delivered to the people within the framework of lawsestablishing them.In fact, democracy itself originated and developed along the line of localgovernment initiatives. This is why the executive, legislative and judicial arms ofthese governments are elected or appointed as the case may be. In Nigeria, localgovernment is created to bring government closer to the people. The definition oflocal government by the Nigerian Federal Government leaves one with no iota ofdoubt that it is largely both theoretically sound and service oriented to the people. Ittalks of representative councils with substantial control over local affairs, for theprovision of services and implementation of projects in their areas, to complement theactivities of both the State and Federal governments. The definition also amplyrecognizes the need for local government autonomy as the substantial control of localgovernments is aimed at staff, institutional and financial matters, among others(Nigeria, 1976). In addition to the above, the Nigerian Federal Government is one ofthe few governments in the world perhaps in addition to Brazil (Erero, 1998) thathave elevated LGs to a third tier of government. By so doing, the State governmentsdo not exercise absolute controls over local governments.Therefore, the work seeks to contribute in illuminating the actual status ofWarri North local government as regard community or rural development which itpurports to be raison d’etre of its existence. The empirical analysis will show whethercreation of local government is really for the sake of ensuring grassroots developmentor mere political compensation for the government loyalists. It is in this light that wechose to study the topic.Specifically, the paper carefully, critically and objectively examines operationaldefinitions, local government, and development and opinion of the people expressedthrough the print media about the impact of the Warri North local government councilin their areas. And of course, germane recommendations which emanate from thestudy are provided for the improvement of local government in the development ofthe localities/communities.1.2 Statement of ProblemThe need to catalyze balanced development, maximize citizens’ participation,and arouse government response necessitates the creation of the local government.The local government serves as a form of political and administrative structurefacilitating decentralization, national integration, efficiency in governance, and asense of belonging at the grassroots. The local government is a unit of administrationall over the world (Agagu, 2004).Local government has been the root of development in terms of dealings withthe people which democracy is centred upon. Hence, local government is visibly seenas co-agent of rural development and as partners in progress with both states andfederal governments in rural developments.To this end, this study sets out to investigate the impact of local governmenton rural/grass root development with emphasis on Warri North Local Government ofDelta State. Knowing the roles the government needs to play in development of anysociety and the obvious inability of the national and state governments in the task ofrural areas, Local government has been created essentially to compliment the effortsof the states and national government in the task of rural development. Nevertheless,abject poverty and underdevelopment remains a common feature in these ruralcommunities.Thus, in pursuance of the central problem in this research a number ofquestions have been raised (posed) for this research purpose. They are:i) Has Warri North local government Area contributed substantially to ruraldevelopment?ii) Does Inadequacy of Skilled Workers (like qualified engineers of all types,medical doctors etc) affect the ability Warri North local government council incarrying out rural development programme?iii) Does inadequate financing of the local government by the state and federalgovernment affect the ability of Warri North local government council tocontribute to rural development?1.3 Objectives of StudyThe broad objective of this study is to assess the performance of Warri Northlocal government council in the area of rural development.The specific objectives of the study are as follows.1. To ascertain whether Warri North local government has contributedsubstantially to rural development.2. To find out if inadequacy of skilled workers (like qualified engineers all types,medical doctors, etc) affect the ability of Warri North local government councilin carrying out rural development programme.3. To verify whether inadequate financing by both state and federal governmentshinders the council in carrying out developmental programmes.1.5 Significance of the StudyThis study has both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, thestudy provides a theoretical framework for the understanding of the role of localgovernment in rural development in Nigeria. Therefore considering the pivotal role oflocal government in development in general, such information will be of immensehelp for policy formulation on the development of grassroots. The result of the studywill equally be of help to other researchers who may want to research on such topic orrelated topics on development in the academia in the future.On the practical significance, the study will draw attention of, and enlighten boththe stakeholders and those who implement policies on rural development in Nigeriawho may not really understand the central role of rural development on the crucialand inescapable role of local government system. As a result, the rural dwellers willendeavour to participate full in grassroots democratization and development, whilethose who implement policy on development in Nigeria will become dedicated topolicy formulation, recommendations and implementation.1.6 Operational Definition of ConceptGrassroots/Rural development: The term grassroots development as used in thisstudy refers to the act or process of developing and empowering the well-being of thevast majority of the rural dwellers through the provision of basic social and economicinfrastructures. Hence, it is a development from below. According to Todaro (1985)grassroots development is an advancement that makes life more meaningful in all itsentirety. Whether political, economic, socio-cultural and infrastructural.Rural Dwellers

Rural dwellers are the people living in the remote areas of a country and lackbasic infrastructure like good road network, pipe borne water, electricity, good healthfacility etc. The term refers to the ordinary people who are far from political decisionmaking process at the centre. These groups includes small scale farmers, tenants, etcwho seek livelihood in the rural areas.Democracy/local governmentThe term democracy “literally signifies” the rule of the people: the termdemocracy as it is used in the study synchronizes with Abraham Lincoln’s definitionof democracy. Gauba (1981:421) quoting Lincoln and it reads: Democracy is thegovernment of the people by the people and for the people. It implies that ultimateauthority of government is vested in the common people so that the public policy ismade to conform to the will of the people and to serve the interests of the people.From the foregoing, one can rightly say that democracy is all about “peoples”participation in government–and local government