LECTURE ONE

Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Topic: Introduction to Local Government
Sub Topic: What is Local Government?
Entry behavior: The students are familiar with the concept of government.
Reference: Makinde, J. T., Hassan, A. O., & Taiwo, A. O. (2016). Theory,
Principle, and Practice of Local Governance in Nigeria. The Journal
of Developing Areas, 50(1), 305-318.
Behavioural objective: The students at the end of the class should be able to explain the
meaning of Local Government.
Presentation: The topic will be introduced as follows;
Step 1: What is Local Government?
Step 2: What are the attributes of local government
Step 3: What are the functions of Local Government? Or Why is local government needed?
Step 4: The students will be allowed to ask questions.
 INTRODUCTION TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1.0 Introduction
Local government systems vary across countries and the level of power enjoys depends on whether
powers are truly decentralized or merely delegated by the system.
1.1 What is Local Government?
Local government has been defined in different ways by scholars and across field of studies and
institution. In this study, the definitions will be classified into the following sub topics;
1.1.1 Local Government as an Institution- What is Local Government as an Institution?
Local government, in the definition of The United Nations Office for Public Administration (cited
in Dosunmu 2012), is a political sub-division of a nation (in a Federal or State system), which is
constituted by law and has substantial control of local affairs including the power to impose taxes
as well as exact labour for prescribed purposes.
Green (1976) presented local government as an essential instrument of national or state
government for performance of certain basic functions, which can best be administered locally on
the intimate knowledge of the needs, conditions and peculiarities of the areas concerned.
Features of Local Government
The features of Local Government include the following:
i. Local Government exists at the local level.
ii. In a federal system, it operates as a distinct tier of government.
iii. It is a creation of the law and has a degree of autonomy.
iv. It has a legal status, it can sue and be sued.
v. It enjoys specific powers reserved for its functioning.
vi. It exists within a defined territory with authority over a given population.
vii. It can generate incomes and incur expenses.
viii. It provides avenues for the promotion of the welfare of the members of the community.
ix. It is administered by elected officials.
Reasons for the Creation of Local Government
The creation of local government is based on the assumption that
A. The people of a locality possess the fuller awareness of their needs than outsiders. Every
local set up has its peculiar social, economic and physical characteristics as well as its
unique historical traditions, which are better understood and appreciated by its people.
B. Local government exists to bring about democracy, to serve as a base for political
participation and political education, to provide services as well as serve as a vehicle of
development.
1.1.2 Local Government as a Process of governing- What is Local Government as a Process
of governing?
Maddick (1963) defined Local Government as a sub-unit of government controlled by a local
council, which is authorized by the central government to pass ordinances having a local
application, levy taxes or exact labour and within limit specified by the central government.
Local Government, according to the local government reform document (1976) of Nigeria, is
government at local level exercised by representative council, established by law to exercise
specific power within defined areas.
Functions of Local Government
The reasons for local government creation range from economic through social and cultural to
political. Among the reasons are that local government provides for
1. It brings governance closer to the people.
2. Effective mobilisation of resources.
3. Preservation of the heritage and common interests of the people.
4. It provides veritable political education for the people.
5. It trains people for higher public offices.
6. It is more sensitive to local opinions.
7. It brings local knowledge to bear on decision-making.
8. Local initiative can easily be identified and taken on board especially in mobilizing
community to gain local support for projects.
9. Power is more widely dispersed, which is a safeguard against tyranny.
10. Local variations and needs in service provision can better be handled by local government
since it understands the needs of its own locality.

1.1.3 Local government as an Academic field of study-What is Local Government as an

Academic Field of Study?
Local government is the field of study concerned with analysis and explanation of the local
government as an institution and process of governing.
The field is interested in the relationship between local government and other levels, finance of
the local government, the performance of local government, the constitution of executive members
of local government, law making process in local government, the structure of local government,
etc.
Reason for the study of Local Government
The study of local government will ensure the following, viz;
1. To acquire more knowledge about local government, as an institution and process, and with
the aim of impartation on students for development.
2. To foster development of the institution.
3. To ensure democracy and participation at the local level.
 4. To improve service delivery by the local government to the people.
5. To build career in the art of local government.
Evaluation of Lecture: The lecture will be assessed by the lecturer with the following question;
What is Local Government? What are the roles of local government? Why is local government
studied as an academic field of study?
Conclusion: The lecture will be concluded by explaining in brief what has been discussed in the
lecture.
Assignment: The students will be allotted the following assignment topics:
A. Outline and explain the organogram of local government in Nigeria. Explain the functions
of each organs of the local government.
B. What are the constitutional obligations of states in Nigeria?
C. What is the United Nation’s population requirement for defining local government?
D. What is the United Nation’s specified size for local government?