An Assessment of Local Government Administration in Kwara State: A Study of Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments (1999-2007)

Local government is a body crated by law to provide a specified range of services to the local people because of the difficulty by the state to administered successful all her functions through the central organ. “After decades of the creation of local governments in Nigeria and the reforms they undergone, the development profile of our local communities remain woeful” inspite of the funds they received from both federal and state government over the years. Using Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments as case studies, this research study assess Local Government Administration in Kwara State. The essence of the research was to find out why there has been low grassroots development in Kwara and to proffer solution to this perennial issue. Based on this, the study has three objectives to determine which are as follows: whether or not the statutory allocation of Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments is adequate for the development of the areas, to find out whether or not the funds allocated are utilised in ensuring development of these local governments, and to also find out whether or not there are other factors militating against development of both Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments in Kwara State. The scope of the study covers the period of 1999 – 2007 being a period of democratic government. Data for the study was generated from both primary and secondary sources. The instruments used for primary data include interview and questionnaire while secondary sources include, books, articles, unpublished materials and so on. Based on the formulated hypotheses which says that, the amount of statutory allocation received by Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments does not affect their developmental performance, and that interference of Kwara State government in the activities of Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments has positively affects their performance we analysed data generated using tables, simple percentage and chi-square as statistical tools. And therefore the study reveals that, the amount of statutory allocation received by Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments affects their developmental performance, that Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments must seek for approval from the Kwara state government before embarking on any capital project, besides, that, the Kwara state government does not remit, the ten percent (10%) of her Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to Baruten and Ilorin West local Governments and also that the operation of joint account among the local governments in Kwara state has hindered Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments from meeting the yearning of the people at the grassroots. Inline with the above findings, we recommended that tax base and financial allocation of Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments should be increased and Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments should also judiciously make use of the available fund. Baruten and Ilorin West Local Governments should be given freedom in carrying out their constitutional functions, autonomy to embark on viable projects and federal government should ensure that, state governments comply with the 10% remittance of her Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to Local Governments and finally, federal government allocation to local governments should be direct funding from the Federal Government to Local Government’s Accounts.