top of page
Asian Institute of Research, Journal Publication, Journal Academics, Education Journal, Asian Institute
Asian Institute of Research, Journal Publication, Journal Academics, Education Journal, Asian Institute

Journal of Social and Political

Sciences

ISSN 2615-3718 (Online)

ISSN 2621-5675 (Print)

asia insitute of research, journal of social and political sciences, jsp, aior, journal publication, humanities journal, social journa
asia insitute of research, journal of social and political sciences, jsp, aior, journal publication, humanities journal, social journa
asia insitute of research, journal of social and political sciences, jsp, aior, journal publication, humanities journal, social journa
asia insitute of research, journal of social and political sciences, jsp, aior, journal publication, humanities journal, social journa
crossref
doi
open access

Published: 23 February 2021

Between the Devil and Lying Angels: An Invitation for a New Perspective on State Interference in Local Government Fiscal Autonomy in Nigeria

Chijioke Basil Onuoha, Henry Ufomba, Ebong Itoro Bassey

University of Uyo (Nigeria), University of Freiburg (Germany)

journal of social and political sciences
pdf download

Download Full-Text Pdf

doi

10.31014/aior.1991.04.01.257

Pages: 115-124

Keywords: Local Government, Rural Development, State-Local Government Interaction, Fiscal Autonomy, Federalism, Nigeria

Abstract

One of the most contested issues in Nigeria’s political landscape and federal structure is the debate on the fiscal autonomy of the Local Government as the third tier of government. The literature on the subject appears to zero down the issue of Local Government fiscal autonomy to a political ‘devil’. The position of existing scholarship on the subject concludes that by taking advantage of Sections 7 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, it is common practice for the State Governors to usurp the autonomy of the Local Governments. The Governors are also accused of using the Joint Account framework to control the statutory allocations of the Local Governments. Hence, Local Governments in Nigeria lacks fiscal autonomy which is one of the main principles of the three tiers of government structure. However, the underlying politics that has played out in the Fourth Republic in Nigeria reveals that this historical and legalistic perception does not provide a complete explanation of the problem. This is because the literature does not consider the role of the political elite at the Local Government level in sustaining the shrewd nature of State and Local Governments interaction in Nigeria’s Federal structure, rather the existing literature focused entirely on the governor as a ‘devil’ and ignores the role of the political class at the grassroots level as “lying angels”. This paper is therefore an invitation for a deeper theoretical deconstruction of this phenomenon to stimulate an encompassing and interesting perceptive on what we conceptualize as State-Local Government Interactions in Nigeria (SLIN). Our primary objective is to draw attention to the role of the personalities of the political class at the grassroots level which makes up the highest cadre of the hierarchy in the Local Government in shaping SLIN. We present a case that future debates should go beyond “devil” and also focus on the profound role of “lying angels”.

References

  1. Abeki, S (2020): Local Government Administration and The Development Of Informal Economic Sector In Nigeria: A Study Of Yenegoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. ASSRJ 7 (9): 1–11. DOI: 10.14738/assrj.79.8964.

  2. Abubakar, U. (2004). The Effects of Local Government Expenditures on Rural Development in Nigeria. The Nigerian Journals of Administrative Studies, 2(1): 13-18.

  3. Adedokun, A. (2012). Local Government Tax Mobilization and Utilization in Nigeria: Problem and Prospects. Available at http/www./visar.csustan.edu.aaba/Adedokun.pdf. Retrieved on March 14, 2018.

  4. Adejoh, E. & Sule, J.G. (2013). Revenue Generation: Its Impact on Government Developmental Efforts (A Study of Selected Local Council in East Senatorial District).  Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 13 (21): 4-6.

  5. Adetiba, T. C. (2017). Existentiality of Local Government in Nigeria an Answer to Grassroots Development, but for Unsolicited Socio-Political Factors. Acta Universitatis Danubius, Vol. 9(2), 25-46.

  6. Adeyemo, A.Y. (2010). Sustaining Democracy in Nigeria Local Government: The Role of Legislatures. In S. Akindele, and C. Ajila, (Eds.). Contemporary Issues in the Social Sciences, 381-429. Ile Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University Press.

  7. Adeyemo, A.Y. (2005). Management for Beginners.Akure: Adeyemo Punishing House.

  8. Adeyemo, D. O. (2005): Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: A Historical Perspective. Journal of Social Sciences 10 (2): 77–87. DOI: 10.1080/09718923.2005.11892462.

  9. Agba, M. S., Ogwu, S.O & Chukwurah, D.C. (2013). An Empirical Assessment of Service Delivery Mechanism in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria (2003-2010). Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(2):621-635.

  10. Agba, M.S., Stephen, O. & Nnamani, D.O. (2014). Local Government Finance in Nigeria: Challenges and Prognosis for Action in Democratic Era (1999-2003). Journal of Good Governance and Sustainable in Africa, 2(1): 84-85.

  11. Akindele, S. T., Olaopa, O. R & Obiyan, A. S. (2002): Fiscal Federalism and Local Government Finance in Nigeria: An Examination of Revenue Rights and Fiscal Jurisdiction. International Review of Administrative Sciences 68 (4), pp. 557–577. DOI: 10.1177/0020852302684004.

  12. Akinpelu, A. S. (2019). The Myth and Reality of Local Government System's Constitutional Status in Nigeria. Adeleke University.

  13. Akpan, F. and Ekanem, O. (2013). The Politics of Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria Reloaded. Uyo: European Scientific Institute Journal, 9(3):30-35.

  14. Alao, D., Osakede, K., & Owolabi, T. (2015). Challenges of Local Government Administration in Nigeria: Lessons from Comparative Analysis. International Journal of Development and Economic Sustainability, Vol. 3(4), 61-79.

  15. Arua, J. and Duru, E. (2009) Development Administration in Nigeria: Issues, Principles and Strategies, Chedal Global Prints Ltd, Aba.

  16. Awofeso, O. (2004). Issues in Local Government Administration in Nigeria. Lisjohnson Resources Publishers, Lagos.

  17. Awotokun, K. (2005). Local Government Administration Under 1999 Constitution in Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 10(2), 129-134.

  18. Bello, I. B. (2004) Local Government in Nigeria: Evolving a Third Tier of Government. Ibadan. Heinemann Educational, Books Plc.

  19. Daly, E. H. (2013): Economics, Ecology and Ethics: Essays Towards a Steady State Economy. Freemanand Company. New York.

  20. Doho, W., Abdulkadir, A. & Ado Umar. (2018). Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: Struggles and Challenges. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal 5(5), 43-51.

  21. Ekpe, A. N (2012) The Substance of Local Government Administration in Nigeria. (Theory and Practices). Lagos. Asbot Publishers.

  22. Emezi, C. E. (1979). Concepts in the Development of Local Government Administration in Nigeria. Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America 12(4), 371-382.

  23. Ewetan, O. O. (2012): Fiscal Federalism in Nigeria: Theory and Practice. In International Journal of Development and Sustainability 1 (3): 1075–1086.

  24. Ezeani, E. O. (2006). Fundamentals of Public Administration. Enugu: Snaap Press Publishers Ltd.

  25. Gboyega, A. (1991). Protecting Local Governments from Arbitrary State and Federal Interference: What Prospects for the 1990s? Publius: The Journal of Federalism 21(4), 45-59.

  26. Hepworth, N.P. (1976).  The Finance of Local Government. Seventh Edition. London: George Allen and Urwin.

  27. Ibrahim, J. (2008). Democratization Process in Africa: Problems and Prospects. Dakar. CODESRIA.

  28. Ighodado, A., Jacob, F. O & Justine, I. (2012). Local Government and the Challenges of Community and Rural Development in Nigeria: The Way forward. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 2(5): 648-665.

  29. Ikeanyibe, O. (2016). Federalism, Constitutionalism, and Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 7(3) 382-393.

  30. Ikelegbe, A. O. (2005). The Local Government System and Grassroots Development in Nigeria: Issues, Problems and Challenges. In: Onokerhoraye, and G. Omuta, (Eds). Perspectives on Development: A Book in Honour of Pius Oghenerukhowo Sada, 37-63. Benin City: Centre for Population and Environmental Development.

  31. Imhanlahimi, J & Ikeanyibe M (2009) Local Government Autonomy and Development of Localities in Nigeria: Issues, Problems and Suggestions. Global Journal of Social Sciences 8 (2): 13-30

  32. Jimoh, A. (2003). Fiscal Federalism: The Nigerian Experience. Paper Presented at the Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting. Economic Commission for Africa. Addis Ababa: UNCC.

  33. Larson.C. M. (2004). Management of Policies in Local Government Finance, 5thEdition. Washington D.C: International City/County Management Association (ICMA.).

  34. Lawal, S. (2000). Local Government Administration in Nigeria. A Practical Approach in Ajayi K. (ed). Theory and Practice of Local government, Ado Ekiti, UNAD.

  35. Lele, U. (2005). The design of Rural Process. A Special Perspective. London: Hutchinson and Co. Publishers Ltd.

  36. Mello, J. (2012). Consideration on Representative Government. London: Oxford University Press.

  37. Mukoro, A. (2003). The Evolution of a Democratic Local Government System in Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences 7(3), 171-179.

  38. Nigeria, Federal Republic, 1987. Report of the Political Bureau, Abuja; Directorate for Social Mobilization

  39. Ogbonna, L. A (2004) Local Government Administration and Renewal Development; A Nigeria Perspective. Enugu. John Jacob’s Publisher Limited

  40. Okechukwu, I., Chukwu, P. & Ibietan, J. (2019). Model Determinants of State-Local Governments' Relations in Nigeria. Revista de Administracao Publica 53(6), 1040-1066.

  41. Okeke M. (2002) Studies in Public and Local Government Administration in Nigeria. Enugu, John’s Jacob Classic Publisher

  42. Onuigbo, R.A (2015): State-Local Government Fiscal Relations: Implications for Local Government System in Nigeria. In KCAJBMR 5 (3), pp. 91–102. DOI: 10.12816/0019018

  43. Umabali, L (2000) Contemporary Issues in Local Government Administration and Rural Development in Nigeria. Enugu. Computer Edge Publishers

bottom of page