Problems And Prospects Of Local Government Autonomy In Nigeria: A Study Of Imo State Local Government System: (1976-2013)

ABSTRACT

The ever-reoccurring need for a good evaluation of local

government autonomy in Nigeria, its problems and prospects

has always been a major problem confronting many

researchers. The nature and structure of transactions or

interactions between the three tiers of government determine

the degree of their autonomy. The study investigates the

problems and prospects of local government autonomy in

Nigeria: A study of Imo State Local Government System. The

study adopts the system theory as the theoretical framework

of analysis. The systems theory argues that that every system,

including political system has subsystems which make up the

entire system. It posits that local governments constitute the

subsystems. Methodologically, both primary and secondary

data served as sources of information. A stratify random

sampling technique was used to select the local governments

to be included from each senatorial zone in Imo State while a

purposive random sampling was then used to select

respondents. A sample size of 846 copies of questionnaires

were found valid for the study while a chi-square at 0.05 level

of significance was used for research hypothesis. Finally, the

study recommends that the sustainability of local government

autonomy should be anchored on improved revenue base;

adherence to constitutional provisions; political stability;

accountability and transparency in government.