CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background information
Local government (LG) administration is a government at the grassroots level of administration meant for meeting peculiar grassroots need of the people (Arowolo, 2008). The earliest type of (LG) administration existed in the form of clan and village meetings (Oviasuyi, Idada and Isiraojie, 2010). Regardless of nomenclature, LG is a creation of British colonial rule in Nigeria. It has overtime experienced change in name, structure and composition. Olanipekun (1988) states that the present LG system in Nigeria started with the 1976 LG reforms which aimed at restructuring the LG administration in conformity with modern society, and at best to make Nigeria’s LG administration an ideal in Africa. Following the 1976 reforms, LG became recognized as a tier of government entitled to a share of national revenue consequent on its constitutionally allocated functions (Imuetinyan, 2002). According to Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), (1976), the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides in section 7 (1) - (6) for the establishment of the local government system as the third tier of government in Nigeria as well as provides for powers, functions, composition and finances of the local government councils (LGCs) (which is the functional body of the LG system) to be established thereof. Thus, Nigeria operates three tiers of government, federal, state and local government. The LGC should ensure through devolution of functions the active participation of the people and their traditional institutions such that local initiative and response to local needs and conditions are maximized. This type of development strategy must be the one that taps the initiative of the people through their active participation in conceiving, planning and implementation of programmes to eradicate poverty. Local government councils are established worldwide to facilitate local development which could be economic, social and political (Madukwe, 2008). Funding of LGs comes from state and federal governments and some internal sources.
Local government as the third tier of government brings agricultural interventions closer to the rural farmers. The functions of a LGC in the area of agriculture as contained in the Fourth Schedule, Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution include establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slab, markets, gardens, parks; and participation in the development of agriculture and natural resources, other than the exploitation of minerals. Nigerian Agricultural Policy of 2001 stipulated the following as LGC agricultural roles, namely, provision of effective extension services, provision of rural infrastructure, mobilization of farmers for accelerated agricultural and rural development through cooperative organizations, local institutions and communities. The federal government also hoped to provide through LGCs the following services in LGAs : (1) the provision of an effective extension services; (ii) provision of rural infrastructure to complement federal and state governments’ efforts; (iii) management of areas irrigated with dams; (iv) mobilization of farmers for accelerated agricultural and rural development through cooperative organizations, local institutions, and communities; (v) provision of land for new entrants into farming in accordance with the provision of the Land Use Act; and (vi) coordination of data collection at primary level (Manyong, Ikpi, Olayemi, Yusuf, et. al., 2005).
A study carried out in Anambra State by Nwalieji, Igbokwe and Nsoanya (2012) identifies different roles of LGCs that were accomplished. They include establishment of demonstration plots, provision of slaughter houses and slabs, establishment of market gardens, provision of health centres and clinics, mobilization of farmers for cooperatives organizations and formation, procurement and distribution of fertilizers, improved seeds, improved seedlings, tractors and implements and awareness creation through exhibition of agricultural products and agricultural shows among others. Oviasuyi, Idada and Isiraojie (2010) report that provision of earth and tarred roads by LGCs facilitated rural transformation in Nigeria to some extent. The authors also report provision of market stalls, health centres just to mention a few. The LGCs in Anambra State that participated in Fadama III Project assisted in the project by providing training facilities at LG and farmers’ levels, assisting in defraying local transport and travel costs in Anambra State (Mojekwu, 2012). The author also reports that in Anambra State, LGCs in collaboration with the state government, paid Government Cash Counterpart Contribution (GCCC) of over N385, 000,000 to the Fadama III Project which led to the following achievements: increment of average real income of beneficiary households by 9.7%, average of 5% increase in the yield of major agricultural produce in the state, about 15% increase in the hectare of land under cultivation as witnessed in 2011 cropping season, etc. Mojekwu (2012) also reports that LGCs and NGOs assisted farmers by empowering their groups through the provision of training facilities at local government and farmers’ levels. Agbo (2009) affirms that LGCs in Enugu State helped local farmers to form cooperative societies. Okafor (2007) reports linkage between LGCs and farmers in the implementation of Presidential Initiative on Rice (R-Box) and Presidential Initiative on Cassava Production and Export Initiative of 2002.
Nwalieji, Igbokwe and Nsoanya (2012) affirm the existence of strong linkages between LGCs, ADP, National Special Programme for Food Security (NSPFS), Fadama projects and avian influenza programme in Anambra State.
| Project details | Contents |
|---|---|
| Number of Pages | 115 pages |
| Chapter one | Introduction |
| Chapter two | Literature review |
| Chapter three | methodology |
| Chapter four | Data analysis |
| Chapter five | Summary,discussion & recommendations |
| Reference | Reference |
| Questionnaire | Questionnaire |
| Appendix | Appendix |
| Chapter summary | 1 to 5 chapters |
| Available document | PDF and MS-word format |
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