Local Government – SS2 Government Lesson Note (First Term)

A local government is a government at the local level, established by law to perform specific functions within a defined area. It has the power to take charge of local political affairs.

Local governments are created by acts of parliament as avenues by which the federal government reaches the locality. They are usually the third tier of government. In Nigeria, they were created under the 1963 Republican constitution.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define local government and name its four types;
• state the reasons for the creation of local government;
• list the powers and functions of local government;
• identify the sources of revenue of local government and the ways it is controlled;
• state the problems of local government and suggest solutions.

What are the types of local government?

Professor Harold Alderfer classified local government into four basic types. They are:

1. French type: This type of local government is an extension of the central government. In other words, the staff of local governments are also staff of the central government.
2. English type: This type of local government has the feature of autonomy, though the central government has some measure of control over it. Nigeria has adopted this system. There is no local economy.
3. Traditional type: This system is entirely indigenous. It is neither Western nor Eastern. It is based on the leadership of a traditional ruler.
4. Communist type: Most communist countries practise this system. There is no local economy. Every local government works in conformity with the socialist ideology and values.

Why are local governments created?

1. Local governments are established to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots.
2. They allow the indigenous people of the different local areas to govern themselves according to their culture and traditions.
3. They serve as a link between the people and the state and federal governments.
4. The creation of local governments gives room for even development in all parts of the country.
5. They act as representatives of the federal and state governments in the implementation of policies and the maintenance of law and order etc.
6. They provide employment at the local level.
7. They provide essential services to the people in areas like electricity, roads, water, health care centres etc.
8. They are created to avoid the concentration of power in one authority.
9. They give people in rural areas a sense of belonging and participation in government.

What are the powers and functions of local government?

1. Local government constructs and maintains public roads, waterways, bridges, gutters, sidewalks and drainages.
2. It establishes and maintains markets, motor parks, public conveniences and refuse disposal.
3. It collects taxes, radio and television licences, rents etc.
4. It provides and maintains primary schools.
5. It registers deaths, births, marriages etc.
6. It maintains forests.
7. It names roads and streets and numbers houses.
8. It establishes and maintains cemeteries, burial grounds and homes for the destitute.
9. It develops agricultural and natural resources.
10. It makes bylaws for the maintenance of law and order. It also sets up customary courts as directed by the state government.

What are the sources of revenue of local government?

1. Federal government grants: Local governments get funds from the federal government. This is the major source of local government revenue. In Nigeria, local government is entitled by law to receive 10 per cent of federally derived revenue.
2. Grants from the state government.
3. Loans from financial institutions.
4. Taxes from non-salary earners residing within their areas of jurisdiction.
5. Local rates, such as water rates, market stalls and motor parks.
6. Licence fees, such as those for bicycles, dogs, radio, television and canoes.
7. Court fees: These are fines imposed on offenders in customary courts, which also help to generate revenue for local governments.
8. Commercial ventures, such as transport services, plantation farms, guest houses, holiday resorts and poultry farms.

How is local government controlled?

1. Amendment of law: The National Assembly, through the federal government, can amend the law establishing the local government.
2. Withholding of grants: The federal government may, for one reason or another, withhold the grant allocated to a local government. This may be on the grounds of mismanagement of funds.
3. Judicial control: The law courts can declare bylaws made by the local government null and void if they are not in conformity with the provisions of the country’s constitution.
4. Ministerial control: Ministers, commissioners and government officials control the activities of local councils from time to time.
5. Audit control: Government officials audit the accounts of the council at least once a year.
6. Public control: Members of the public whom the local government is meant to serve use constructive criticism to control the activities of the councils.

What are the problems of local government?

1. Bribery and corruption: These are common in some councils, as are embezzlement and misappropriation of funds.
2. Financial problems, or poverty of local government bodies.
3. Shortage of personnel: Some council officials are untrained or ill-trained and so are inefficient.
4. The machinery for rate collection is grossly inadequate and inefficient.
5. Lack of infrastructure such as electricity, pipe-borne water and good roads.
6. Size of councils: A council that is too large creates problems.
7. Favouritism and nepotism.
8. Illiteracy among councillors.
9. Interference from the central government.

What are the suggested solutions to the problems of local government?

1. Control by the central government should be reduced.
2. Honest and capable people should be used in the collection of rates and levies.
3. Qualified personnel should be employed by local governments.
4. Local government accounts should be audited regularly, and any official found guilty of misappropriation of funds should be prosecuted by the EFCC or the ICPC.
5. More money should be allocated to local governments from the Federation Account to enable them to carry out their functions.
6. Access to loans should not be made difficult for local governments.
7. Regular in-service training and seminars should be organised for local government workers.

Evaluation

1. Define local government.
2. Name the four types of local government classified by Professor Alderfer.
3. State five functions of local government.
4. List four sources of revenue of local government.
5. Mention three ways in which local government is controlled.

Assignment

1. All the following are sources of revenue for local government except (a) rates (b) motor park and market fees (c) duties on the exportation of local products.
2. An electoral district for local government election is _____ (a) senatorial district (b) ward (c) constituency.
3. One of the problems facing local government in Nigeria is the (a) withdrawal of grants by the central government (b) lack of qualified personnel (c) collection of taxes.
4. Local governments impose rates because (a) the government wants the rich to become richer (b) the people are expected to finance political parties (c) of the need to provide funds for public corporations.
5. Representatives of the people in the local government areas are called (a) parliamentarians (b) congressmen (c) councillors.
6. Explain the sources of revenue of local government.
7. Explain the problems confronting local government.