Transforming the Local Government for National Development

Abstract

In developed countries of the world like the United States of America and Britain, there is strong support for the principle of local self-government. Many developed and particularly African countries give the same strong support to the principle of local self-government. Under the new local government arrangement in Nigeria borne out of 1976 local government reform and 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, many issues were addressed to spur the local government towards rural development. The paper adopted content analysis methodology. Development and underdevelopment indicators were addressed. Some theoretical paradigms were also discussed. A number of recommendations were proffered. They include using top flight public servants to run the local government as chief executives to reduce running cost. Such career officers made not want to dent their records and therefore would strive to perform well. Also, it was recommended that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the local government should be properly harnessed and channeled into meaningful developmental projects and rural transformation.