CHAPTER ONE

1.0   BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.1   INTRODUCTION

        Local government is the closest tier of government to the people. Local government is not only an institution for economic but also the bedrock on which the growth and development rural areas by Federal and State Government super structure are laid.

        Throughout West Africa, the history of Local Government Introduced by the British colonial administration to the former West African territories was imported from Britain experience in it colony in India and had little or no relationship with the history and characteristics of our people. Though community development in not new in Nigeria, it is the emphasis on it now which makes it almost a revolution.

        However, community development as a process in which the inhabitants of a local government community organize themselves to provide social amenities on their own with or without government assistance.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

        The major problem that hinder the progress of the local government community development includes: Inadequate findings and withholding of local government funds by the control of federal government are joint account with the state government. Lack of local government autonomy over local affair, selection rather than election of local government executives by state government. Corruption nepotism and favoritism.

1.3   OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

        In view of the important of local government as agent of community development, this work will highlight the important of the local government in community development.

It will also examine the impact of local government area council in its social economic and political activities. This works will also examine the performance of local government on community development within it area of jurisdiction.

1.4   SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY

        This work should be useful and beneficial not only Ilorin east local government, but to other agencies involved in grass roots development efforts. It will also help to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on Ilorin east local government area of Kwara State and serve as a reference for further research work.

1.5   RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

        The local government administration objectives which are both political and administrative in nature can be streamlined to effectively mobilize local resources both human and materials through the achieve in conjunction with higher authorities i.e. Federal and State government to facilitate social economic and political development of these rural communities.

        Local government can be a veritable agent for grassroots community development when and if the following issue are critically examine and adopted: the local government statutory power and autonomy, if given prominence with institutional backing that would encourage civil consciousness political participation and consultation on policy issued. It would not bring enthusiasms on the part of the people, but reduces areas of friction and possible outbreak of violence.

        Reliable system of funding devoid of corruption practice can facilitate quick response for local demand and aspiration for programmes and projects that would have direct impact on inhabitants. Planning process and implementation carried out from local level would have absolute support of local community. The Federal and state government can interface through filed agencies with local communities by enlightment and educational campaign for implementation of policies of central government.          

1.6   SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

        This study presents the research on local government as agent of community development. It covers the role of Ilorin east local government as a catalyst for the community development and the roles of various unit of the local government in this regards. It covers in retrospect the period from the time of local government reform in 1976 as a reference point till date. Taking into cognizance that the local government (Ilorin east) under spotlight was created in December 1991.

        This work would not cover certain area such as secret files or documents of Ilorin east local government and the details of pre 1976 reform period of local government. The limitation of this work is attributable to various obstacles encountered in the personnel who usually refer to some document as “Classified documents” and secret files. Time constraint was another facto as well as inadequate finance.

1.7   ORGANIZATION OF STUDY

        This research work has been carefully arranged as to contain the following chapters

        Chapter one: Chapter of this research work focuses on the introduction of the study following by the statement of the problem, purpose and objective significance of the study, research methodology, scope and limitation of the study, the organization of the study that show how the work is organized from chapter one to five. The various term used where define in the definition of terms. Finally reference was made to give account for the various material used in the research work.

        Chapter two: The chapter two of this research work explain in the literature review of the study, introduction, the theoretical framework, current trend in thinking, summary of the chapter and finally concluded by references.

        Chapter Three: This chapter of the research work entices on the research methodology, research population and sample, data collection instrument, method of data analysis and finally research problem and references.

        Chapter Four: The chapter four of the research give account for the data presentation and analysis interpretation of findings, introduction brief history of the case study of Ilorin east local government, presentation of data and analysis of data, testing of hypothesis, summary of the chapter and references.

        Chapter five: the last chapter of the research work that contains summary, recommendation and conclusion, summary of findings, recommendation, conclusion and bibliography to end the work.