A PROPOSAL ON THE IMPACT OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONTRADICTION ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA; A STUDY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

This study will investigate the impact of constitutional contradiction on rural development in Nigeria. The following objectives will be ascertained: To find out whether Nigeria constitution contradiction have an impact on rural development in Nsit Ubium Local government in Akwa Ibom State, to find out the challenges face by local community due to constitution contradiction in Nsit Ubium Local government in Akwa Ibom State and to find out the causes of constitution contraction in Nigeria. In line with the objectives research question and research hypotheses will be formulated. In order to analyze the role of accountants in money laundering, this study will use Comparative Statistical Analysis Research methodologies for the expected result of the study

 Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

Because of its distinctiveness in grassroots development, the relevance of local government in every given society cannot be overstated. Local government is a form of governance that entails the administration of public affairs in each community by a body of community representatives with significant responsibilities and discretionary ability to administrate the local populace (Ozioma, 2008). According to Enemuo (1999), local government is a political entity established by state legislation with the goal of delivering vital local services to the area for which it was established. This may be because it is the level of government closest to the people, where a country’s democratic evolution is intimately linked and can be easily evaluated and monitored.

According to Taiwo (2016), Nigeria’s 1999 constitution recognizes “democratically elected local government councils across Nigeria” in section 7 (1) of the constitution, while section 7(3) makes it a “duty of a local government council within the state to participate in economic planning and development of the area.” The two aspects joined to establish a mandate and growth plan for the community that could easily support effective performance.

The constitution invests the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly with the responsibility of ensuring that revenue from statutory accounts accrue to local government councils by the government of the federation and the governments of the states respectively for their day-to-day administration in order to facilitate its financial process. The Nigerian local government is set, at least on paper, to drive the country ahead through mobilization of people and material resources in conjunction with local community efforts aimed at national development (Igbuzor, O. (2009)

However, local government in Nigeria has suffered a setback, possibly due to backwardness in governance generally associated with supremacy and inter-government conflict between the state and federal governments over some contradictions in the 1999 constitution between the federal and state actors on the real position of local government system of administration. In considering the nature of this contradiction and its major challenges to the realization of local government objectives since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, available literatures have demonstrated that constitutional issues have caused Nigerian local government to become an appendage of state actors who determine the grassroots government’s decision-making focus against the people’s will. (Igbuzor, 2009). Taiwo (2016) However, several endemic problems, according to the expert, are serving as key hurdles to the implementation of good-value in the Nigerian local government system of administration. This essay is based on this premise, and it aims to identify and explain the several contentious constitutional concerns that obstruct successful service delivery in Nigeria’s local government system.

Statement of the problem

Constitutional issues are important questions about the meaning of the constitution that spark significant disagreement. Such issues require the citizens to consider whether a government policy is constitutional or not. According to Zelman (2002), controversial public issues are unresolved questions of public policy that spark significant disagreement between different tiers of government or individuals, groups and associations in a federation. Such issues require proper deliberation and further legislative process in order to determine which policy is the best response to a particular problem.

Also Dale (1992) observed that discussions of both constitutional and policy issues in a democratic state are important to include in a comprehensive democracy education program. The primary question according to the scholar constitutional issue discussion focuses on whether a government policy is constitutional or not and it raises the questions whether the government can exercise power in particular way without violating some sections in the constitution, or, in some cases, whether the government or its arms can act in a certain way because of the constitution.

To Taiwo (2016), the Nigeria’s 1999 constitution seems to get this immutable fact right via its recognition in section 7 (1) of the constitution that “democratically elected local government councils across Nigeria”, while section 7(3) made it a “duty of a local government council within the state to participate in economic planning and development of the area”. The two factors combined together people’s mandate and development plan that could easily foster effective performance in the locality. In order to facilitate its financial process, the constitution via section 7(6) invests in the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly the responsibility to ensure that revenue from statutory account accrue to local government councils by the government of the federation and the governments of the states respectively for their day-to-day administration. A necessary import of these is that the Nigeria local government is poised, at least on paper, to move the country forward through mobilization of human and material resources cum local initiatives of the local community towards national development. Based on this the researcher wants to investigate the impact of contradiction on rural development in Nigeria

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