I don't know which government instituted the LGA system in Nigeria, they might have had beneficial plans for the Nigerian public, more importantly, those living in rural areas since the LG were initially meant to bring government closer to the people.

However, those plans they had for the LG system are yet to be realized. The LG system in Nigeria has failed woefully in all ramifications. The present LG system doesn't bring government close to the people. How?

. The corruption in most LGA's stink. The position of a LG chairmen/councillor/supervisor is nothing but an avenue to loot the treasury.

. Most Nigerians don't know the name of their local government chairman and due the high rate of rural-urban migration, most nigerians also don't want to live in the rural areas due to lack of job opportunities.

. There are barely any meaningful projects or programs being instituted by LGA's nationwide, most of the amenities used in LG's (roads, electricity etc) are commissioned by the state government, NGO's or wealthy indigenes.

. LG chairmen are pawns to state governors, state governors can seize LG funds or terminate the tenure of a LG chairman or scrap a whole LGA. This is commonplace in most states

So nairalanders, do you think Local governments are beneficial to the people or to a specific corrupt few?

I completely agree. It's an absolutely useless title/position and till this day the government hasn't been able to give them purpose or cause. Many LGAs controlled by parties not in power in the state are literally focused on sabotaging the state so to spite their enemy in power. Most are occupied with low ambition thieves that have no regard for dignity what so ever. Few good words can be said about LG chairmen and offices outside of another unnecessary expense.
The states are small enough that local governments aren't needed.

[quote author=]
The states are small enough that local governments aren't needed.

[/quote]
Agreed. Both in population and size.

A good example of why LGs should be scrapped.

As committee recommends 27 new LG's, 2 new Area Offices.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday assured on the readiness of the state to adhere to all constitutional provisions in the process of creating new local governments areas in the state.

While saying that the state is not out to confront the Federal Government on the issue of Local Government creation, the governor lamented what he believed have been the unfair considerations that had hallmarked the process of creating states and local governments in the past.

This was just as the committee saddled with the creation of more Local Governments in the state of Osun recommended 27 new LGs and 2 Area Offices.

The governor stated this while receiving the report of Osun Local Government Areas Creation Committee at the Governor's Office in Abeere, Osogbo.

Aregbesola noted that the state will do everything possible under the constitution of Nigeria to create Local Governments that will meet all required standards, stating that the basis for the exercise was the genuine desire and consent of the people of Osun.

In his words, "We are simply not ready to confront anybody or the Federal Government, but we are working on the constitution to grant the wishes of our people. Osun will be the first to constitutionally create local governments. We will create councils that will meet all constitutional requirements.

"The difference between what we are seeking to do from others is that, we have not in, any way influenced this. It is the genuine desire of the people for self-government or expression of having control of their own affairs." The governor stated.

Aregbesola held that Nigerians must not be deceived that the structure that they have all over the country were derived from the genuine and consent of the people who are entrapped in various states and local governments in the country.

The governor averred that the creation of local governments according to the amended 1999 Constitution, the creation of LGs is totally in the hands of the states through the State House of Assembly.

According to Aregbesola, "The only mention of LG in our constitution is the nature of the government and not a tier of government. Local governments can never be a unit of the federation outside the state. It is a contradiction that LG is a tier of government in our own federalism."

Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Osun Local Government Areas Creation Committee, Prof. Mojeed Alabi, said the subsequent decisions of the Supreme Court have deepened their current understanding of the Federal-State relationship in Nigeria that justifies the State of Osun taking the struggle father from where Lagos stopped.

The chairman urged the state to prepare a bill for a law of the state House of Assembly to be duly passed and assented to by the governor to empower the state to distribute the funds domiciled in the state Joint Local Government Account among all the LG in the state, including the newly created.

According to Alabi, "The state government of Osun should create Local Government Areas and not Local Government Development Areas in line with the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria that such Local Government Areas have come into legal existence once a bill to such effect is passed by the state House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor.

"The State of Osun should activate its legal machinery and strengthen the same in anticipation of the legal battles in order to enforce its right under the constitution, including the possibility of getting the National Assembly to perform its legislative duty of amending the relevant section." The chairman enthused.

Prof. Alabi urged the government of Osun to work tirelessly for the search for viable constitution for the country that will be based on value of true federalism, anchored on the promotion of regional diversity in a united and strong Nigeria.


http://www.osundefender.org/?p=38218

Local govt is very useful in Nigeria, they serve as an avenue to pay salaries to workers who dont come to work, a very good way of making sure oil money is spent for poor lazy families to feed.

Local government are useful but the problem is that they themselves dont know their functions.....

Local government are useless the chairmen are there to loot money nothing else some of them will stay 4 years yet nothing to write home about their performance some times I do forget that local government exist expect during childrens day match pass

Local government...... Another avenue to steal money...

Born 2be Rich: Local government are useful but the problem is that they themselves dont know their functions.....

So simple yet so true!

Local government are nothing but an avenue to loot funds. The main problem is that it is the state governor that appoints the chairmen and/or chairperson as the case maybe and they influence their allocation greatly, what I am saying in essence is that federal allocation for local govt are paid into the state account for distribution. Thus, state govt gives d local govt a little fraction of the allocation eg Ijebu north LG receives N23M only from the ogun state gov as against N120 which they ought to receive as allocation and the LG is owing N20M debt, such local govt cannot bring d dividend of democracy closer to d people. I'♏ sincere sorry for this nation

LGAs are puppets of every ruling party in the state. The reason many of us focus more on the state and federal governments is because the local governments are non-existent. I personally believe that until our value system is strongly revitalised, the politicians will continue making a monkey of us. Nigeria is the only country where people take loans to run elections, scream 'empty treasury' as soon as he's sworn in, but live extravagantly while their tenure last!

Have you guys heard of obio/akpor LGA in rivers state? probably one of the richest LGAs in nigeria, is just a conduit pipe of corrupt politicians. this is the lga that has 75% of all the investments in port harcourt but nothing to show for it. if lga should embark on development and road rehabilitation and maintenance, the rivers state govt will have some fresh air to breath. scrap LGA in nigeria asap!!!!

TOTALY Agree!!! They are there to employ the political THUGS. And then use them to terrorize the public in whatever disguise ie, revenue collectors.

The failures of Local government areas in Nigeria in making feasible impacts at the grassroot is as a result of our collective weakness as Nigerians. We all got our attention fixated on the government at the Federal level without bothering to find out what is happening at the Local government levels.

Monthly allocations is being disbursed to all the LGAs but the effects of the allocation hardly trickles down to the populace, checks and balances have taking a flight of fancy leaving the monthly allocation at the mercy and progatives of the State governor.

The local government Chairmen are not helping matters either, most of them are mere puppets with no voice of their own, I know of a particular ex-governor who made it mandatory to always have a slice of what ought to accrues to the local council, at a point, the council chairman were forced to start a monthly contribution in the form of 'Esusu' from whatever crumbs they got before they could even raise money to pay salaries.

It was so bad, and same scenario still plays out in most LG and that's why it seem laughable when you hear governors that complains of dwindling monthly allocations talking of creating additional local governments areas.

Local government have been and are still completely useless

I agree that LGA's should be scrapped. Most of the LGAs in abia state don't have a chairman instead what they have are caretaker committees. Since time immemorial whenever they want to conduct elections, it'll be put on hold. It's really disheartening.
The only functional LGA's in this case Area councils are in Abuja. Even though the chairmen steal money at least their impact is usually felt especially within the satellite towns of kubwa, bwari, kuje etc. Recently within my estate, a health centre was commissioned by Bwari area council chairman not to talk of the access roads that have been done recently.
I however cannot say same for other states. Sad

I believe the Local Govts should still be useful.
It's rather sad that like many other things related to governance in our society today, they seem to have failed, and have simply metamorphosed into a mere extension of the interests of the parties that run the state, another avenue for looting. If only institutions like EFCC were much alive to their responsibilities to keep them all on their toes, we would have been deriving as much benefits.
Rather than scrap them, they should be strengthened and made to deliver.

Born 2be Rich: Local government are useful but the problem is that they themselves dont know their functions.....

They have no functions aside looting.

Another reason why LG's should be scrapped: They don't generate any income to the national purse. That is, they are purely parasitic.

Maxymilliano: The failures of Local government areas in Nigeria in making feasible impacts at the grassroot is as a result of our collective weakness as Nigerians. We all got our attention fixated on the government at the Federal level without bothering to find out what is happening at the Local government levels.

Thanks for the above. Yet we call Jonathan clueless when indeed the 160 million of us citizens are the most clueless hence we do not know who our LG officials are and what they should do.
Hereunder is an extract of their constitutional role:

The local government is the third tier of the administrative structure in Nigeria. There are 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country. The functions of Local Governments, as spelt out in the Constitution, are as follows:

a. Consideration and making of recommendations to the State commission on economic planning or any similar body on economic development of the State, particularly in so far as the area of authority of the Council and of the State are affected;

b. Collection of rates, and radio and television licenses;

c. Establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for the destitute or infirm;

d. Licensing of bicycles, trucks (other than mechanically propelled trucks), canoes, wheel barrows and carts;

e. Establishment, maintenance and regulation of markets, motor parks and public conveniences;

f. Construction and maintenance of roads, streets, drains and other public highways, parks, open spaces, or such pub- lic facilities as may be prescribed from time to time by the House of Assembly of a State;

g. Naming of roads 'and streets and numbering of houses;

h. Provision and maintenance Of public conveniences and refuse disposal;

i. Registration of births, deaths and marriages;

j. Assessment of privately-owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a Stale; and,

k. Control and regulation of:

i. out-door advertising and hoarding,

ii. movement and keeping of pets of ail descriptions,

iii. shops and kiosks, .

iv. restaurants and other places for sale of food to the public, and

v. laundries.

The local government councils also workhand- in-hand with State governments on issues such as:

a. the provision and maintenance of primary education;

b. the development of agriculture and natural resources, other than the exploitation of minerals, and

c the provision and maintenance of health services.

Each local government area is administered by a Local Government Council. The Council com- prises & Chairman who is the Chief Executive of the LGA, and other elected members who are referred to as Councillors.

The Chairman is normally elected, but can, under special circumstances, also be appointed. He/she supervises the activities of the local government and presides over all meetings of the Council.

All members are enjoined by law to meet, as far as practicable, the aspirations of the people who elect them. Committees, focusing on specific issues, play very important roles in the day-to-day business of the Counols. They assist the Councils in decision-making and are usually required to report their discussions to the Councils.

A Local Government Council is the pivot of socio-economic planning and development in its area of authority. Being also the tier of government closest to the people, it is considered a most impor- tant facilitator of economic and social development at the grassroots

Read more: http://www..com/ng/states-and-lgda-specific-talks/6640-nigeria-local-government-functions-and-structure.html#ixzz2Ch4e4gv2

Should LG be seprated from the state govt? Can't NASS amend the Constitution?

anonimi:

Thanks for the above. Yet we call Jonathan clueless when indeed the 160 million of us citizens are the most clueless hence we do not know who our LG officials are and what they should do.
Hereunder is an extract of their constitutional role:

please enlighten me,this post you just quote there,is it part of the constitution?
If it was,WHO THE HELL WROTE that crap?
The 1999 constitution is just full of mistakes,
Federation can only have two tiers not three not four not ten,just two,the central/union government and the states.
Local government is just a nomenclature,before they were called LGAs they were called town councils,municipals etc just like you have them in other countries where they can be called district/provinces/county/circuit,its all in the name.
The problem with out LGAs is the constitution,the constitution calls Nigeria a federation at the same time recognise LGAs,that's an aberration,an abnormality.
A state might decide to have just two LGA another one might decide to have 100 depending on its resources,
That is why the lagos state government won its LGA case at the supreme court.
It doesn't matter what we call them,it has always being there and it will always be there.
The solution.
For them to functions effectively we must hold our state assembly to account,they are the real problem,most Governors have the state house of assembly in their pocket,we has the people must wrestle the house from the Governor,it is only then that the LGAs can function well,if the house refuse to sign a budget for the governor,the money will get to the LGs and they will fix the road on your street.
Pls forgive me for my epistle...this country is just annoying we need true federalism not national dialogue or SNC,we done that before it didn't work then it won't work now.

manny4life: Should LG be seprated from the state govt? Can't NASS amend the Constitution?

shift your focus to your state house of assembly,that where the power to control the LGs resides,we are too transfixed on the central,I bet you don't know the name of your rep at your state assembly,try and get his name,find out how many wards is he representing,if you can(get the list of the registered votes in those wards from inec)that is if you can oooo or go to court they will give you the list,with that list people in those wards can recall a rep in state house of assembly if he didn't do their wish and he is a stooge of the Governor.
If we can recall them they will serve us better,
Now the question is Have we ever tried or succeed in recalling them?

The evolution of local government in Nigeria dates back to the colonial day. The fifteen centuries, it was not until 1861 before the first step were taken to establish an administration by Britain.
Before the coming of the Europeans in Nigeria, there was nothing like Nigeria or Nigerian state, what existed were relatively autonomous villages, towns and ethnic group each existed on its own with minimal contact, usually limited to trades and social transactions and little political relationship with other (Okpata 2004).

http://www.scharticles.com/role-nigeria-local-government-rural-development/

wildorchid: So nairalanders, do you think Local governments are beneficial to the people or to a specific corrupt few?

In their current form, they are totally useless!! The only purpose they serve outside payment of local govt staff salaries is to sponsor events of the political parties that control them. I have worked very closely with local govt chairmen across the country and I know this for a fact!!

Samxiulee: shift your focus to your state house of assembly,that where the power to control the LGs resides,we are too transfixed on the central,I bet you don't know the name of your rep at your state assembly,try and get his name,find out how many wards is he representing,if you can(get the list of the registered votes in those wards from inec)that is if you can oooo or go to court they will give you the list,with that list people in those wards can recall a rep in state house of assembly if he didn't do their wish and he is a stooge of the Governor.
If we can recall them they will serve us better,
Now the question is Have we ever tried or succeed in recalling them?

Good write up. Nigerians are just too fixated on the presidency.

LGs are nothing but conduit pipes that sucks and drain the available resourses meant for the development of local areas.Therefore should be detached and be scrapped.

THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT






































http://www.bravoprojecthelp.com/public-administration/the-role-of-local-government-in-rural-development/

This question is a contradicting one.for me its important because it help build and train politicians at the grassroot level,and local govts being the closest govt to the people,knows the wants,needs of its indegenes.It is a place where one learns all the leadrship styles and qualities to be able to lead people.There has been several question of this nature some years ago as to the usefulness of local govts and whether it should be scrapped off in our democratic Nigeria.You can refer to American govt which has no local govts yet are well developed even at the local areas.Whats there is Nigeria is a shadow of its poitical practices.This is my take on the question.