Problems Of Local Government

1. LACK OF FUND: Most local government do not have enough means of generating funds internally.
2. Lack of adequately trained personnel:  Local government do not have enough professionally qualified and experienced technicians, craftsmen, etc in fulfilling the purpose of their establishment.
3. Political interference: political parties interfere with the appointment of personnel along party lines in local government where their members are in power.
4. Bribery and corruption involving the officials of local governments undermine the effective performance of the local government administration.
5. Ethnicity, nepotism and favoritism: These feature in the appointment promotion discipline and transfer of local government staff.

THE 1976 LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORMS

THE MURTALA/OBASANJO REGIME EFFECTED A UNIFORM LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION THROUGH OUT THE COUNTRY IN 1976

1. The 1976 reform introduced a uniform system whereby the native authorities, municipal councils, district and country council were scrapped and replaced with the title of local government council nationwide.
2. The federal government introduced the local government service board or commission throughout the country that control appointments, promotion, transfer and discipline of local government employees.
3. The federal government became directly involved in the administration of the local government through policy guidelines.
4. The reform excluded traditional ruler from the local government councils.
5. The reforms democratized the local government councils as the chairmen and councilors were elected to serve full time for three years.

ROLES OF TRADITIONAL RULERS IN GOVERNMENT

1. They are the custodian of custom and traditions of their people and seen as royal fathers.
2. They serve as link with the people and the government in carrying out government functions.
3. They settled disputes and inter-communal clashes in their respective domain
4. They collect taxes for the government.

EVALUATION

1. How would you proffer solution to the problems facing local government in Nigeria?
2. What are the roles of traditional rulers in government? Discuss.