surgeons etc., can better be employed paid and posted to the local areas by the wealthier central/state governments than by the local government. Finally the opponents of the local government system in Nigeria hold that time were not in favour of Nigeria. To them Nigeria is vast sprawling in-accessible and unmanageable variety of nations each with its peculiar hostile culture and traditions. Moreover they argued that a local government system that took account of the multitude of “mini states” was justifiable. But time has changed and Nigeria has come a long waytowards one nationhood having waded through the travails and triumphs of colonialism, civil war, oil boom and biting economic recession. In addition the argument concludes that recent advances in science and technology have so tended to bring Nigerians closer together that there is “cultured diffusion” and what is needed today is global rather than local government (Ozor 1987:
215)
As provided in the fourth (4th) Schedule to the 1999 Constitution these functions are- (a) The constitution and the making of recommendations to the State Commission on economic planning or a similar body on
(i) the economic development of the state particularly in so far as the areas of authority of the council and of the State are affected; and
(ii) proposals made by the said commission and body;
(b) Collection of rates and issuance of Television licenses
(c) Establishment and maintenance of cemeteries burial grounds and homes for the destitute and infirm;
(d) Licensing of bicycles, trucks (other than mechanically propelled trucks) canoe, wheel-barrows and carts;
(e) Establishment, maintenance and relocation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, markets, motor parks and public conveniences
Legislative Arm Leader
Dep. Leader Councillors
Executive Arm
Chairman Internal
Audit Unit Information Unit
Vice Chairman
Departments
Secretary to the L Govt
Clerk of the House
Admin
Dept Finance Dept Planning Research
&
Statistics
Work Dept
Agric
Dept Health &
Social Welfare Dept.
Fig: 8.1. Organogram of a Local Government in Nigeria Local Government
(f) Construction and maintenance of roads street lighting drains parks gardens open spaces or such public facilities as may be prescribed from
time –to –time by the House of Assembly of a State;
(g) Naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses;
(h) Provision and maintenance of public conveniences, sewage and refuse disposals;
(i) Registration of births, deaths and marriages;
(j) Assessment of privately-owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a
State;
(k) Control and Regulation of:
(i) Out-door advertisement and boarding;
(ii) Movement and keeping of pets of all descriptions;
(iii) Shops and kiosk
(iv) Restaurants bakeries and other places for sale of food to the public;
and
(v) Laundries.
The functions of a local government council shall include participation of such councils in the government of the state with respect to the following matters
(i) The provision and maintenance of Primary Education;
(ii) The Development of Agriculture and Natural Resources other than the exploration of minerals;
(iii) The Provision and maintenance of Health Services; and
(iv) Such other functions as may be conferred on the local government council by the House of Assembly of the State.
It is important to note that these functions are both executive and Legislative in nature They are executive or administrative in the sense that these are the areas over which the Chairman must concentrate and exercise his administrative control in the day-to-day administration of the Council. These functions are also legislative in that council is
restricted to these specific areas in its making of bylaws. Thus if the Council goes outside these area such a by-law could be declared null and void (Oon and Esema 1999: 26)
ACITIVITY
QUESTION
What are the functions of local government as provided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
ANSWER
(a) The constitution and the making of recommendations to the State Commission on economic planning or any similar body on
(i) the economic development of the state particularly in so far as the areas of authority of the council and of the State are affected and
(ii) proposals made by the said commission and body
(b) Collection of rates and issuance of Television licenses;
(c) Establishment and maintenance of cemeteries burial grounds and homes for the destitute and infirm;
(d) Licensing of bicycles, trucks (other than mechanically propelled trucks) canoe, wheel-barrows and carts;
(e) Establishment, maintenance and relocation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, market, motor parks and public conveniences;
(f) Construction and maintenance of roads, street lighting, drains, parks gardens, open spaces or such public facilities as may be prescribed from
time –to –time by the House of Assembly of a State;
(g) Naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses;
(h) Provision and maintenance of public conveniences sewage and refuse disposals
(i) Registration of births, deaths and marriages
(j) Assessment of privately-owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of a
State
(k) Control and Regulation of
(i) Out-door advertisement and boarding
(ii) Movement and keeping of pets of all descriptions;
(iii) Shops and Loss
(iv) Restaurants bakeries and other places for sale of food to the public;
and
(v) Laundries