Theories of local government attempt to provide the justifications for the establishment of local government as a tier of governance. There are three basic propositions equivalent to a rationale for local government.
The first is Democratic-Participatory School of Thought; the second is Efficiency-Services School of Thought and the third, the Integrationist School.
3.4.1 Democratic-Participatory School of Thought
The democratic-participatory school of thought is of the view that the existence of local governments is basically for the purpose of promoting democracy and participation at the grassroots level, thereby bringing government nearer to the people. This position is premised on the attempts to justify the existence or need for local government on the basis of its being essential to a democratic principle or for practical administrative purposes like responsiveness, accountability and control (Gboyega, 1987). Local government is perceived as a free institution that provides political education for those who participate in the act of decision-making. However, whether or not local government will promote sectional interest, political education as well as accountability will depend largely on the nature of the political arrangement within the political system.
3.4.2 Efficiency-Services School of Thought
The efficiency-services school of thought locates the rationale for local government in the provision of special services. This school of thought premised its arguments on the notion that some services such as defence and external affairs are provided by the central government for the purpose of maintaining common nation standards or because they are of immediate or of direct interest to the ordinary citizen.
It is argued that there are certain concerns or interests which only a section of the community has in common and it is convenient as well as advisable that only those who share this community of interests should administer them. Some interests are peculiar to some localities; those interests will be best managed if they are under the purview of the people in those localities (Gboyega, 1987).
3.4.3 The Holistic Integrationists School of Thought
The argument of the holistic-integrationist school is that local government, if well nourished is in a far better position than the national government to stimulate initiatives, inculcate the feeling of national consciousness and encourage drive and experimentation in the people.
This is because it can more easily identify available local skills, interests and available capabilities and capitalise on them (Ola, 1988). The following holistic-integrationist functions to be performed by local government were suggested by Sady (in Ola, 1988:65):
It says decongesting government at the centre thereby freeing national leaders from onerous details and unnecessary involvement in local issues.
Increasing people’s understanding and enlightening people about economic (community) development.
Making programmes to foster social and economic betterment at the local level more realistic and lasting and also training people in the art of self government.
The argument is that local government exists in this holistic-integrationist model, chiefly, for these purposes. It can help to reduce congestion in the centre by being involved in implementing socio-economic programmes of the central government either as agents or as bodies to which these functions are delegated.
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
i. Discuss the main purpose of local government.
ii. Explain the various dimension of the conception of local government.
4.0 CONCLUSION
As we can see from the discussion, local government means authority to determine and to execute matters within a restricted area inside and smaller than the whole state. It involves administering of services on a local basis by local bodies. Local government therefore, is a form of governance at the local level.
5.0 SUMMARY
In this unit, you have learnt that local government is the lower tier of government. It exists for certain purposes and performs some functions and responsibilities. You have also gained an insight into the theories of local government.
This unit ends with the summation of Gboyega (1987:3), local government, it is claimed, enables services of local importance only to be locally administered, provides education in citizenship, provides training in political leadership, makes available to the central government information about localities which is essential for adequately meeting their needs efficiently, and minimises concentration of political power by diffusing it.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT 1. What is local government?
2. Discuss the main features of local government.
3. Examine the relevance of the propositions of the three schools of thought for the understanding of local government.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Adetoritse, T.D. (2011). “Conceptualising Local Government from a Multi-Dimensional Perspective”. Higher Education of Social Science, 1 (1), 66-71.
Barber, M.P. (1974). Local Government. London. (3rd ed.). Macdonald and Evans Ltd.
Gboyega, A. (1987). Political Values and Local Government. Lagos:
Malthouse Press.
Ola, R.O.F. (1988). “Some Thoughts on the Role of Local Government in Developing Countries (Nigeria). In Adamolekun, L. Olowu, D,
& Laleye, M. (eds..). Local Government in West Africa since Independence. Lagos: University of Lagos Press.
Orewa, G. O. (1991). “Principles of Local Government”. Ascon Local Government Series. Ascon Publication.
UNIT 2 EVOLUTION OF THE NIGERIAN LOCAL