Exam focus – Keypoint on Public administration (Local government, reasons, functions, sources  and problems)

Public administration: 
Local government: A local government is a government at a local level established by law to perform a specific function within defined areas.
Reasons why local governments are established

• To bring government nearer the people at the grassroots
• They allow indigenes of different local areas to govern themselves
• To give people in the rural areas a sense of belonging.
• To allay feelings of insecurity and fear of ethnic domination
• To avoid too much concentration of power in one authority
• To mobilize both human and materials resources in the local areas.
• To achieve rapid development of the local areas.
• To lessen the governmental burden of the central government
• To preserve the traditional institutions in the local areas.
• To serve as a link between the people at the grassroots and the central government.

 
Powers and functions of local government

• Provision and maintenances of markets
• Collection of taxes and rates.
• Issuance offences
• Construction and maintenance of roads.
• Provision of recreational facilities
• Provision of schools and libraries
• Provision of customary courts.
• Development of agriculture
• Maintenance of law and order
• Registration of births deaths etc
• Provision of public conveniences
• Provision of health facilities
• Provision of urban transportation
• Provision and maintenance of public building
• Making recommendations
• Constructions of roads, motor parks etc.

 
Sources of local government revenue

• Local rates
• License fees
• Court fees
• Special levies
• Commercial ventures
• Investments
• Federal government grants
• Grants from states government
• Taxes

 
Control and supervision of local governments

• Legislative control
• Judicial control
• Financial control
• Press control
• Audit control
• Control by Pressure group
• Public control
• Ministerial or executive control.

 
Problems facing local governments

• Financial problem
• Embezzlement
• Partisan Policies
• Political interference
• Lack of infrastructure
• Illiteracy among councillors
• Bribery and corruption
• Shortage of trained personnel
• Constant interference by traditional rulers
• The size of local government councils
• Favouritism and nepotism
• Lack of political education
• Poor method of collection of taxes
• Poor communication system.