Local Government Autonomy: An Imperative for Effective National Development

Abstract

The review was motivated by the constant claim of marginalization by local government authorities in Nigeria by the higher tiers of government, as a nagging bane of their ineffectiveness. The study adopted descriptive research design, the theory of federalism for the theoretical framework and used secondary data. The study found out that the Local Government autonomy entrenched the 1976 Local Government Reforms is not
practised in most Local Government Areas in Nigeria. The study, therefore, recommended a revisitation of the constitutional provisions which are violated by the higher tiers of government against the effective operations of the Local Government system in Nigeria with a view to ensuring practical full autonomy to local governments.