LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIO-POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

ENUGU STATE EXPERIENCE, 2015-2023

Abstract

Local government administration is a necessary tool for governance and mechanism for socio-political development. According to the fourth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, local government exists to fulfil a number of objectives. This study interrogates the nexus between governments at grassroots and socio-political development in South East Nigeria, focusing on Enugu State from 2015 to 2022. The paper argues that local governments in South East, particularly in Enugu State have not justified their mandate in terms of socio-political development. There is wide gap between the expectations of the local people on what local governments should do and what they have actually done. Consequently, the rural dwellers are still yearning for more efficient and effective delivery of social services especially primary healthcare. Relying on quantitative, qualitative data and using structural-functional theory as the theoretical framework the paper concludes that though local governments have not creditably performed in South East Nigeria and Enugu State in particular, that they have recorded some modest achievements in terms of being a training ground for political leaders in spite of some institutional challenges facing them.