CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

          Local government administrations (LG) globally vary in size and structure and operate under different arrangements based on the system of government in different nations. According to Mello (2012), local governments globally strive to meet peoples’ demands for goods and services in a cost effective manner particularly at the lowest level of government or government at the grass root. Local government administration is used as a form of devolution of powers of the state. It is the government at the grass root level that is designed to serve as instrument of rural transformation and development to the society in general.

          Local government in Nigeria especially in Bayelsa State plays immense role especially in promoting, co-ordinating and providing community amenities as well as encouraging greater mass participation and involvement in the running of local government affairs and the use of local resources to the optional level. From ideological perspective, local government for tiers the principle of democracy as local government rings government nearer to the people and if properly designed gives room for mass participation in governance (Okolie, 2006).

          Therefore, the pride of any government is the attainment of higher value level of development in such a way that its citizens would derive natural attachment to governance. How-ever, for a nation to be in a phase of development there must be some pre-requisites, which include socio-political and economic stability (Tolu and Abe, 2011).

          The gap between the developed and the developing countries is not static or narrow but is continually widening. A large majority of the world’s population in developing world lives in a state of poverty. The problem of urban population, rural stagnation, unemployment and growing inequalities continue to face less developed countries, which Nigeria belongs. Hopes of accelerated development are difficult to realize (Okoli, 2000). This gloomy situation is of great concern to stake holders and the concerned citizenry. Nigeria has not been able to engender meaningful development in spite of her huge resources endowment. This has greatly affected her quest to improved quality of life of her citizens. Poverty, unemployment and starvation still pervade the nook and cranny of the country (Gboyega, 2003).

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

          The need to catalyze balanced development, maximize citizens’ participation, and arouse government response necessitates the creation of the local government administration in Nigeria. The local government serves as a form of political and administrative structure facilitating decentralization, national integration, efficiency in governance, and a sense of belonging at the grassroots. The local government is a unit of administration all over the world (Agagu, 2004).    

          Local government has been the root of development in terms of dealings with the people which democracy is centred upon. Hence, local government is visibly seen as co-agent of rural development and as partners in progress with both states and federal governments in rural and national developments.

          To this end, this study sets out to investigate the role of local government in Bayelsa State with emphasis on Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. Knowing the roles the government needs to play in development of any society and the obvious inability of the national and state governments in the task of rural areas; local government has been created essentially to compliment the efforts of the states and national government in the task of rural development. Nevertheless, abject poverty and underdevelopment remains a common feature in these rural communities.

          Thus, in pursuance of the problem of the problem in this research work, the following research questions have been raised (posed) for this research purpose. They are:

1.       Does local government contributed to the development in  Yenagoa?

2.       Has corruption among Yenagoa local government personnel affected the execution of rural community  development projects?

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

          The main objective of this study is to find out the role of local government in rural development in Yenagoa local government Area, Bayelsa State. The specific objectives include:

1.       To examine whether local government contributed to the       development in Yenagoa.

2.       To find out whether corruption among Yenagoa local government personnel affected the execution of rural community     development projects.

1.4     DEFINITION OF TERMS

a)      Local Government: According to Fayemi (2002) is a system to administration of a district of country elected representatives of the people who leave there; it can also be described as the government   of the grassroot or the third tier of government.

b)      Rural Development: Rural development is the process of     improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people       living in relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas.

c)       Management: This is the act of running, controlling or organization business entity or an organization.

d)      Administration: it means the activities that are done in order to plan, organize, and control a business entity or business organization.

e)       Rural Dwellers: Rural dwellers are the people living in the    remote areas of a country and lack basic infrastructure like      good road network, pipe borne water, electricity, good health          facility etc.

1.5     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The essence of this project is to contribute to knowledge in bringing a general awareness of the people in relation to national development to the local government. One major task the researcher wish to pursue is to help through this research study to present an impartial report of the performance of local government administration particularly Yenagoa local government area.

          It is also hoped that recommendations of his work will assist government at all levels in implementation their development programmes. 

          More so, this project work would also be useful to the civil servants especially those at the administrative positions in formulating and implementing government policies and programmes. Political office holders will also find this research useful in tackling the challenges of policy implementation.

          Furthermore, the findings of this study would assist both the federal, state and local government in meeting the aspirations and needs of the people particularly in the rural area.

1.6     RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Hypothesis 1

H0:     The presence of Yenagoa Local government Council did not contribute to rural development of communities in the area.

H1:     The presence of Yenagoa Local government Council contributed to rural development of communities in the area.

Hypothesis 2

H0:     Corruption among Yenagoa local government officials did not adversely affect development projects in the    area.

H1:     Corruption among Yenagoa local government council officials personnel adversely affected development projects in the area.

H1:     There is a corruption among Yenagoa local government personnel    adversely affected development projects in the area.

1. 1. This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research work
2. 2. As a source for additional understanding of the subject.
3. 3. As a source for ideas for your own research work (if properly referenced).
4. 4. For PROPER paraphrasing (see your university definition of plagiarism and acceptable paraphrase)
5. 5. Direct citing (if referenced properly)
Thank you so much for your respect to the authors copyright.