CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS CONFRONTING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The fulcrum of Local Government system is to bring government nearer and closer to the people, in order toserve its purposes therefore, it must have legal personality distinct from the state and Federal Governmentthereby enjoys substantial autonomy. Thus, the system of local government as a third-tier level of governancewas first introduced into Nigeria Governmental structure in the 1979 Constitution. The reform conceives localgovernment as separate, and independent from the State Governments. Local Government as the third tier ofgovernment in Nigeria is bedeviled with multiple problems such as non provision of basic social amenities andhow to maintain such amenities if provided. Nigeria cannot boast of a very good performance in the publicsector at the grass roots if a very huge percentage of her local citizens are faced with poverty, lack of basicsocial amenities and socioeconomic differences. A critical look at Nigeria at the grass root level will reveal thatthe Local Government Areas in Nigeria are not doing well in the area of service delivery and the performanceof their constitutional functions. The failure of the Local Government in Nigeria as the third tier of governmentto solve many ongoing problems of the people at the grass root further show lack of contentment in governance.This work looks at the reasons for the establishment of the local government, their functions and possibleproblems. The work also looked at the factors working against the performance of local governmentmanagement in Nigeria.