ABSTRACT
The essay work examines the impact of intergovernmental relations on local government administration in Nigeria. The essay argues that Local Government is not mutually exclusive of other levels of government and that as such there is bound to be an interaction between the local and other levels of government. The study reveals that intergovernmental relations among the levels of government were in disarray due to the conflicts over issues of tax jurisdiction, revenue allocation, intergovernmental relations, fund transfers, overconcentration of power at the centre, illegal removal of government officials, among other factors. The essay posits that for cordial relationship between the local and other levels of government to take place, the constitutional status of local government must be clearly spelt out, the issue of joint state -local government account should be reversed, election rather than appointment should be the means of choosing leaders at the local level, judiciary should be made to be independent and the undue interference on the local government by the state or federal government has be properly addressed. Also, there should be direct disbursement of federation allocation to all the levels of government.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This study examine the background study intergovernmental relation, statement of the problem, objective of the study, significant and scope of the study and finally the definition of key terms.
The concept of intergovernmental relations is associated with states having a Federal Administration System where the relationships between the Federal Central on National Governmental and major sub-national unit (Province, regions or state) formally spent out in constitution. Intergovernmental relations have been seen as a system of transactions among structured levels of government in a state. It is also seen as registration in which the parties are negotiating advantageous positions for power, money and problems. Solving responsibility (Colugbemi: 1980).
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The goal of intergovernmental relations are said to promote peace and harmony among the three teas of government which can the Federal State and Local Government. To accelerate the achievement of self reliant economy. In so doing intergovernmental relations will help to minimize inter-jurisdictional conflicts among the various level of government. Also to boost greater natural economic integration through the activities of three levels of government. Again to enhance the emergence of co-operative rather than competitive federation there is also need to enhance effective and efficient utilization of available human and material resources among the three levels of government. To help solve the problem of rural and urban poverty. To achieve a situation where there is special need for integrating programmes on a nationwide scale. To look into the situation where states, Local Government unit of the Federal set up have responsibilities with on resources base to perform them (John Nwafor: Unpublished work).
The achievement of the objectives of intergovernmental relations is dependent on some social factors within the Nigerian social system. Some social factors include the political setting and the state of two economies in the nation. Looking at the political setting, the intergovernmental relations is basically based on the three tiers of government that is the Federal, State and Local Government. But come to look at that, the Federal and State Government is said to have more autonomy than the Local Government due to the fact that they are the last tier of government (John Nwafor: Unpublished Work). The other tier of government still tell them that what to do, how to make their own policies, how to elect/appoint those to rule them like the chancellor or chairman and so on. Local Government is still dependent on the other tier of government making them too subordinate and loyal for my liking (Nwoked, Palph 2002).
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