LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Meaning, Functions, Characteristics & Other Facts

As important as grass-root governance is, so many people still don’t actually understand the meaning of local government itself, it’s impacts (functions) to the citizens via-a-vis its constitutional provisions.

MEANING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

A local government is the third-tier division in any federating countries.It is also known as government at the grass-root level. It is the government nearest to the people to meet it immediate and environmental, social, economic, health, educational and empowerment needs to mention just a few.

How do the government headed by the Council Chairman, get to provide her citizenries the above mentioned programmes, this shall lead us to the functions/duties of the local government as driven by the Executive Chairman who is the chief accounting officer of the council.

FUNCTIONS/DUTIES OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Maintenance of law and order in it jurisdiction
Provisions of motor parks and markets
Rates, fees, license and rent collections
Construction of feeders’ road and drainages
Provision of health facilities, educational programmes and youth empowerment
Provision of recreational facilities
Bylaw by the council councilors.

It is worthy of note that the above duties of a local government is mostly driven by net federal allocation, state allocation and via revenue sourced internally popularly called IGR.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Local government has the following tenets or attributes just like any human being once such a local government is created.

i. Perpetual Existence: A local government continue to exist once it is created and backed by law after meeting certain qualifying requirement(s).
ii. Ability to enter into binding contract such as public economic, social, infrastructural activities.
iii. The right to sue and be sued.
iv. The right to collect taxes and determined a budget.

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LIST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOME PART OF NIGERIA

LAGOS STATE NIGERIA

1 Alimosho
2 Ajeromi-Ifelodun
3 Kosofe
4 Mushin
5 Oshodi-Isolo
6 Ojo
7 Ikorodu
8 Surulere
9 Agege
10 Ifako-Ijaiye
11 Shomolu
12 Amuwo-Odofin
13 Lagos Mainland
14 Ikeja
15 Eti-Osa
16 Badagry
17 Apapa
18 Lagos Island
19 Epe
20 Ibeju-Lekki

NOTE: Lagos State has 37 Local Councils Development Areas, LCDAs

EDO STATE NIGERIA

Akoko Edo
2 Egor
3 Esan Central
4 Esan North-East
5 Esan South-East
6 Esan West
7 Etsako Central
8 Etsako East
9 Etsako West
10 Igueben
11 Ikpoba Okha
12 Oredo
13 Orhionmwon
14 Ovia North-East
15 Ovia South-West
16 Owan East
17 Owan West
18 Uhunmwonde

OGUN STATE NIGERIA

Ifo
2 Ado-Odo/Ota
3 Ijebu North
4 Shagamu
5 Abeokuta South
6 Obafemi-Owode
7 Abeokuta North
8 Egbado North
9 Egbado South
10 Ijebu Ode
11 Ipokia
12 Odogbolu
13 Ikenne
14 Odeda
15 Ijebu East
16 Imeko Afon
17 Ogun Waterside
18 Ijebu North East
19 Remo North
20 Ewekoro

NOTE: In all, Ogun State has 57 local government with 20LGs and newly created 37LCDAs in
the year 2016 by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun Administration.