Effective Utilization of Revenue Available to Nigerian Local Government: a Case Study of Ijumu Local Government of Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACK GROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria as a sovereign nation operates a federal system of government i.e the federal government, state government and the local government councils.
Onwo (1992) Observed that each level of the three tiers of government derive its powers not from the magnanimity of the central government but from the constitution; each level of government has defined responsibilities assigned to it by the constitution. The implication of this is that the three segments of governments are mutually interrelated in a unified effort to make life worth – while for the masses.
Ijumu local government area of kogi state shares deep historical ties with the Northern and Western part of Nigeria Administratively, it was under the Northern Region with kaduna as the capital; then kwara state with Ilorin as the capital, and now kogi state with lokoja as the capital. Ijumu local government area, with headquarter in Iyara, was formally part of Oyi Local Government that was made up Bunu, Ijumu and Kabba areas. Olayemi(2000). As one of the new local government councils, it is facing a very serious crisis of development since its creation. Some problems facing the council include: insufficient office accommodation, staff quarters and office infrastructures. These problems seem to be insurmountable. Olayemi(2000).
The indigenes of the local government are desirous of enjoying modern facilities, improved means of transportation, such as good road network and mass transit transport services. These desires are in line with stated objectives of the local government such as construction and maintenance of roads, provision of health services such as maternity homes, health centers, sanitization, provision of primary education and many others – as sponsored by the federal military government. The federation (Nigeria) years book of 1983, outlined the aims of the local government system in the country. According to that document, one of the cardinal aims of the
1.1 BACK GROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria as a sovereign nation operates a federal system of government i.e the federal government, state government and the local government councils.
Onwo (1992) Observed that each level of the three tiers of government derive its powers not from the magnanimity of the central government but from the constitution; each level of government has defined responsibilities assigned to it by the constitution. The implication of this is that the three segments of governments are mutually interrelated in a unified effort to make life worth – while for the masses.
Ijumu local government area of kogi state shares deep historical ties with the Northern and Western part of Nigeria Administratively, it was under the Northern Region with kaduna as the capital; then kwara state with Ilorin as the capital, and now kogi state with lokoja as the capital. Ijumu local government area, with headquarter in Iyara, was formally part of Oyi Local Government that was made up Bunu, Ijumu and Kabba areas. Olayemi(2000). As one of the new local government councils, it is facing a very serious crisis of development since its creation. Some problems facing the council include: insufficient office accommodation, staff quarters and office infrastructures. These problems seem to be insurmountable. Olayemi(2000).
The indigenes of the local government are desirous of enjoying modern facilities, improved means of transportation, such as good road network and mass transit transport services. These desires are in line with stated objectives of the local government such as construction and maintenance of roads, provision of health services such as maternity homes, health centers, sanitization, provision of primary education and many others – as sponsored by the federal military government. The federation (Nigeria) years book of 1983, outlined the aims of the local government system in the country. According to that document, one of the cardinal aims of the
References: Ugoo, E. A. (2007) Local Government Administration in Nigeria. issues and practice. Enugu: Fourth dimension publishers. Ani, O. W. (2009) Local Government Finance. Enugu. Fourth dimension publishers Okoli, E. (2005) Theory and Practice of local Government. Enugu: John Jacob’s classic publishers. Owo, O. (1992) Local Government in Nigeria. Enugu: Fourth dimension publication.