Historical Reflection of The Local Government System in Nigeria: Evolution, Reforms and Current Trends

Iyanda Kamoru Ahmed PhD

doi:10.56201/ajha.v10.no1.2026.pg15.25

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Historical Reflection of The Local Government System in Nigeria: Evolution, Reforms and Current Trends

Iyanda Kamoru Ahmed PhD

Abstract

This paper discussed Local Government System in Nigeria. Local Governments as third tier of government have generated mush interest globally. This global interest in the local governments an agents of mass mobilization and development has also given rise to series of scholarly postulations. One interesting aspect of these postulations is that each scholar sees and defines the local government according to his perception and purposes. Incidentally, these numerous definitions have not succeeded in distorting people’s perception of what it stands for. In order to buttress our assertions we would look at how some scholars and practitioners have defined the local government. Local government is a system of local communities and towns which are organized to maintain law and order; some limited range of social services and co-operation of the inhabitants in joint provide endeavours towards the improvements of their conditions of living". Going further they asserted that the local government provides the community with a formal organisational framework which enables them to conduct their affairs effectively and regulates the actions of their members for the general public. The 1976 local government reforms which made far reaching changes in the structure and functions of the local councils elicited a lot of reactions from scholars, local government practitioners and other interested parties. In his own reaction Adamolakun (1979) stated that "what distinguishes the 1976 1local government reforms from all previous exercises in the country is the formal and unequivocal recognition of local governments as constituting a separate level of government. Finally, the Researcher made use of primary and secondary sources, and oral interviews. Key Words: Local Government, Evaluation, Functions, Reforms, and people in Nigeria.

Keywords

Local GovernmentEvaluationFunctionsReformsand people in Nigeria.

References

Adamolekun, L. and Rowland, L. (1979) The New Local Government System in Nigeria: Problems & Prospects for implementation, Heinemann, Ibadan, Barber, M.P. (1978) Local Government, Fourth Edition, Macdonald and Evans London Egwurube, J.O., The Evolution of Local Government in Nigeria, A Systematic Perspective'' in Nzeribe C.G.O. (Ed)(1991) Current Issues in Public and Local Government Administration (Enugu: fourth Dimension Publishers. Gboyega, A., (1987) Political Values and Local Government in Nigeria. Lagos Malthouse Press Crowder, M. (1970) West Africa Under Colonial Rule, London: Huchison & Co. Publishers Ltd. Crowder M. and Tkime 0. (1970) West African Chiefs Ile Ife, University oflfe Pres Nwatu, D. N. (1995) Local Government in Nigeria: An Introduction. Enugu Agatha Service Publishers Ltd. Obikeze 0.S.A. and Obi E. A. (2004), Public Administration in Nigeria: A Developmental Approach: Onitsha Bookpoint Ltd. Orewa G.O. and Adewumi J. B. (1983) Local Government in Nigeria: The Changing Scene. Benin Ethiope Publishing Co-operation Oyediran O. (1988) Essays on Local Government and Administration in Nigeria Lagos Government Press JOURNALS, MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS Federal Republic of Nigeria, Guidelines for Local Government Reforms 1976. Kaduna Government Printer. Federal Republic of Nigeria, The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979, Apapa Daily Times Publication. Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lagos Government Printer Federal Republic of Nigeria, Report of the Political Bureau, Directorate for Social Mobilization Production 1987. Federal Republic of Nigeria, Operational Guideline for Local Government Councils Abuja 1997 NEWSPAPERS The Sunday Guardian March 31, 2002. The Guardian, Thursday June 19, 2003. The Sunday Guardian, June 22, 2003 The Guardian, Monday June 23, 2003. The Guardian, Wednesday June 25, 2003. The Guardian, Monday June 30,2003. The Sunday Guardian, August 10, 2003. The Guardian, Tuesday September 23, 2003 MAGAZINES Insider, April 12, 2004 News watch, April 12, 2004 ORAL INTERVIEWS 1. Elder Francis Oduola, Ejigbo 20th March, 2025 E-ISSN 2579-048X , 2. Mr. Okedoye, Retired Principal, 2nd April, 2025 3. Mrs. Oyolola, 28th April, 2025 4. Mr. Agbelesola, May 3rd 2025 5. Alhaji Najeem Iyanda, June 25th 2025

Historical Reflection of The Local Government System in Nigeria: Evolution, Reforms and Current Trends

Abstract

Keywords

References

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