LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS AN AGENT OF TRANSFORMATION IN NATION BUILDING

Abstract

This paper identified Local government as a veritable instrument towards nation building. It took a look at some of the Local government reforms in the country, examined democracy as catalyst for rural development and how the Local government can spur economic development in the country. We anchored our analysis on collective action theory which viewed the elected representatives as the small group that takes action for the benefit of the entire citizen. We traced the problems of Local government and found out that the Constitution has not done enough for the Local government to be called the third tier government in the country and we suggested for a Constitutional amendment to redress the abnormally and strengthen it for national development.