TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Declaration
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ON: Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the research Problems
1.3 Researh Questions
1.4 General Objectives of the Study
1.5 Specific Objectives of the Study
1.6 Assumptions of the Study
1.7 Significance of Study
1.8 Scope and Delimitations of the Study
1.9 Limitations of the Study
1.10 Methods of Data Collection and Analysis
1.11 Operationalization of terms
CHAPTER TWO: Review of Related Literature
2.1 Theoretical Framework of the research
2.2 Review of Related Literature
CHAPTER TWO: Federalism and Local Government in Nigeria
3.1 Historical Survey of Nigerian Federalism
3.2 Evolution of Local Government system in Nigeria
3.3 Pre-Colonial Era
3.4 The Development of Local Government under Colonial Administration in Nigeria
3.6 The 1976 Local Government Reform
3.5 Post -Colonial Era and the Rise of Modern Local Government
3.7 The 1979 Constitution and the Local Government System
3.8 The 1985 Local Government Reform in Nigeria
3.9 The 1989 Local Government Reform
3.10 The 1991 Local Government Reform (The Presidential System of Government at the Local Level).
3.11 Local Government Autonomy
CHAPTER FOUR: The Autonomy of Local Government under Nigerian
Federalism: Uyo Local Government Experience, And
Local Government Autonomy and Service Delivery
4.1 The Struggle for Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria
4.2 Constitutional Backing Responsible for the Unautonomous State of Local Government
4.3 Local Government Autonomy: The Uyo Local Government Experience
4.4 General Survey of Local Government Autonomy in Nigeria: Lack of Autonomy and undue Interference by Higher Political Authorities.
4.5 Service Delivery as a Role of Local Government
4.6 Assessment of Service Delivery in Uyo Local Government
4.7. Autonomy an Impetus for Effective Local Government Service Delivery
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3. Recommendations
References
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Federalism is all about sharing of powers, functions, or responsibilities and resources between and among levels of government. Federalism, according to K.C Wheare, is the method of dividing powers so that the central and regional governments are each, within a sphere, co-ordinate and independent. He said that the characteristics of this Federal Principle are the division of powers among levels of government, a written constitution showing this division of powers and co-ordinate not sub-ordinate supremacy of the two levels of government with respect to their functions (K.C Wheare, 1953: 10).
Accordingly, Dode (2013) maintains that “A state is ascribed the federal status, if in its composition it showcases a number of elements that do not place the other units so much on the periphery of power division when compared with those exercise by the central/national government”. Baker (2000), among a number of analysts severally opined that; federalism has been around in the world since the early Greek city-state civilization and that more than forty percent of the human race (world population) lives in one federal country or another, it is however surprising that, until recently, federalism was so the subject of little academic discourse. To a majority of the authors on federalism matters, federalism has its origin in the writings, works, and practices of the early Greek city-state of Athens, Sparta, Peloponnesia and others.
According to Dode (2013) the primary fact about a federal state is that, it is so composed in a way that a number of co-ordinate states unite (come together) for a certain purpose which there feel would easily and quickly (be) achieved on collective than individual basis, such areas would include: Defence, Trade, Territory, and Culture. James Morison of the classical thought defined federalism as “A happy combination of great/general interest and local/particular interest.
The practice of federalism in Nigeria is one of the legacies the British colonial masters bequeathed to Nigeria. Local government is born out of federalism, because federalism has to do with the division of power between the central and the component units, including the local government as one of components in a federal system. It is recognized as a third tier of government which is charged with various responsibilities at the grass root. The local ‘government’ performs certain functions assigned to it by the constitution and the local government ought to be autonomous on its own to carry out all its responsibilities without interference from the central government. The local governmentshould do precisely the word “government” in its own sphere and right. The evolution of local government in Nigeria has undergone a lot of changes and all these are geared towards making the local government a system that could serve the purpose for its creation. Specifically, in 1976 under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime saw the advent of the 1976 local government reforms. The reform recognized the local government as the third tier of government in the Nation and it is expected to do precisely what the word local government implies that is, governing at the local level. The reforms also intend to stimulate democratic self-government, encourage initiative and leadership potential and entrenched the principle of this reform for the local government to be autonomous having the freedom to recruit and manage its own staff, raise and manage its own finances, make policies, laws and provide services within the limits of its resources and functions without interference, the local government system in Nigeria still have some constraints that have impeded its autonomy. (Okoli, 2005: 107).
This research puts in Uyo local government area in Akwa Ibom as a case study. It will investigate the autonomous nature of the local government area and see the level of services that has been rendered. Uyo local Government area which doubles as the capital of Akwa Ibom State, and Uyo local government lies between latitude 5.05 North and Longitude 80 East. This is within the equatorial rain forest belt, which is a tropical zone and home to vegetation of green foliage of trees, shrubs and oil palm trees. Tourist attractions include Ibom Plaza Park, Le Meridien Hotel and Golf Resort, Technology park and many other hospitable outlets. Uyo Local Government Area as a people speaks Ibibio language. This is the local dialect in Ibibio land and entire Akwa Ibom State. Though there exist some slight differences in the dialectical aspect of some vocabularies as found among the people ofIkono clan; all the people of Uyo local government area hear and understand themselves in this one language. Uyo people are of the Ibibio stock and speak Ibibio language. There are unique traditions of the people which are expressed in Ekpo, Ekpe masquerades and dances. The people of Uyo Local Government Area are predominantly farmers and traders. Their area of trade is mostly on food items like palm oil and other palm produce, vegetables, plantain, bananas, yam, cassava, etc.
