Intergovernmental Relations and Repositioning of Local Government in Nigeria for Effective Service Delivery: The Rivers State Experience, 2000-2019

Abstract

This study holistically examined the administrative characteristics of intergovernmental relations in Nigeria, especially as it pertains to local government autonomy. Using the Rivers State experience, 2000-2019 as the area of focus, this study empirically assessed the fiscal challenges faced by local government- being the third tier of government that is saddled with the constitutional mandate of administering the socio-economic needs of the people at the grassroots. These challenges range from the indiscriminate marginalisation of the local governments in the federal revenue sharing entitlements, the undue infringement on the statutory right of the local government councils to independently generate taxes within their lawful jurisdictions, to the deliberate denial of local government council of their statutory powers to carry out developmental projects at the local level. The study used both secondary and primary sources to generate relevant data and adopted the simple percentage (100%) mathematical method as a tool for analysis. The study was anchored on Max Weber’s theory of political domination. On the strength of the findings obtained from the relevant literature reviewed in the course of this study, as well as the empirical information reliably obtained from fieldwork, this study convincingly establish that lack of total autonomy for local governments in Rivers State impinge on the ability of local government councils to provide efficient developmental services at the grassroots. Again, the state government infringes on the right of local government councils to independently generate taxes within their jurisdiction etc. Hence, it is the position of this study that the experiences as depicted in the case of Rivers State reflect the sameness of situations in the overall Nigerian system. Therefore, this study recommends that State-local government joint account system should be abolished. Also, local governments should be given both legislative and executive autonomy. Furthermore, the autonomy of the Local Government Service Commission should be greatly enhanced, so as to justify its primary responsibility of independently overseeing the affairs of local government councils in Nigeria. It is the firm conviction of this study that if the recommendations as proffered by this study are systematically and dispassionately implemented, they will go a long way to promote and enhance the fundamental role of the local government as the third tier of government with the primary responsibility of independently providing the needed developmental needs of the local people at the grassroots.