Fiscal Autonomy And Service Delivery In Nigerian Local Governments

Fiscal Autonomy And Service Delivery In Nigerian Local Governments

Chapter One

Preface

Background to the study

Nigeria is a civil state made up of three categories of governments. Consequently, the indigenous assignment of liabilities to each of the categories in both the exclusive and concurrent lists carries fiscal burden( Edame, 2004249). Observably, due to the about eighty( 80) per cent fiscal dependent nature of the leaguing units( countries and original governments) on the civil government, those units come financially vulnerable, or what Edame calls “ unviable political realities ”. This problem is set up to be more peculiar to original governments; and worsened by the gratuitous interferences or inordinate control by the state governments.

specially, the control of original governments in Nigeria by public and state governments isn’t only as old as the system itself, it also borders utmost significantly on financial programs. For case, during the social rule, original government control, done through the deconcentrated agents of indigenous governments the residers, left no room for the original crowd to contribute anything except their pretenses and levies into the resources of the social masters( Awofeso, 200466). The native authorities( as original administration was also called) were at the mercy of the residers who made and enforced programs to suit the vagrancies and fancies of their master at the expenditure of the original people’s experimental well- being( Awofeso, 2004127). In short, the idea of financial autonomy, or the likes, appeared unconceivable also.

still, with the industrious and grim struggle for political independence in the 1950s by the chauvinists, original authorities( in the Eastern and Western part of Nigeria) enjoyed emotional and unknown political and financial autonomy. Interestingly, the present Ikot Ekpene Local Government in the study area, was used in the total of West Africa as experimental ground to test its plasticity. Its success led to the Western part of Nigeria adopting a leave in 1952( Ibok and Tom, 201033). Regrettably, this arrangement was grossly abused by the directors in lower than three( 3) times and was consequently withdrawn by the advanced authorities( Awofeso, 2004128- 129). Since also, till date, farther attempts to run this position of governance with financial autonomy for effective and effective service delivery, have continued to produce same negative results.

For case, with the military take- over in 1966, functions before performed by original authorities were taken over by advanced authorities the original government police and incarcerations services were taken over by the civil government, while public water, primary and secondary education went to the countries( Awofeso, 2004). Also, at the end of the civil war in 1970, state governments, in lieu of financial or fiscal autonomy to original governments, entered the grassroots through their deconcentrated agencies to render development acquainted services and functions to the people( Awofeso, 2004). This system, to Ofoeze( 1999), wasn’t original government, as council officers didn’t crop through election by the original crowd, let alone financial autonomy.

still, following the 1976 original government reform, original government was formerly more accorded both political and fiscal recognition. Both the civil and state governments were by law needed to allocate ten( 10) per cent of the confederation account and State Internally Generated profit( IGR) to original governments. To further strengthen both popular and financial autonomy of original government, the civil government saw the need to increase its statutory allocation from ten( 10) per cent to fifteen( 15) per cent in 1989 and latterly to twenty( 20) per cent in 1992. To this effect also was the policy of direct payment of the earnings into original governments accounts( Awofeso, 200498- 99).

Unfortunately, and as in the early 1950s, loose practices of political leaders, this time at all situations in Nigeria came apparent, and original governance came the only “ elude- scapegoat ” brought under absolute control by advanced powers. literal accounts also show that inspite of all the reforms, initiated programs and programmes of consecutive governments in Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State in particular, including that of Governor Akpabio’s precursor, Governor Victor Attah, who consented the first original government law made by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in 2003( Offiong 200646), original government challenges remain undetermined, much more compounded, and complex by the day. Original governments come platforms of abandoned systems, “ plutocrat- sharing ” or sacking of public finances et cetera; and due to poor service delivery at this position, the drag- hole proposition becomes prominent.

As a collaboration to the below view, Ibok and Tom( 201084) posit that over the times, attempt by civil and state governments to float programmes using special agencies like River Basin Development Authority( RBDA), State Universal Basic Education Board( SUBEB), Agricultural Development Programmes( ADPs), Akwa Ibom State Rural Water Project( AK- RUWATSON) and Akwa Ibom Investment Company( APIICO) just to mention but a many, without due respect for and or collaboration with original government, had nearly always contributed to the failure of similar programmes.

The authors also join other spectators to censure the nebulous or rather mischievous indigenous “ part granted state government as judges or judges for original government in matters of statutory allocation similar as state – original government common account commission of the Governor to dissolve extremity- ridden original council and also junking of erring president/ councilors and appoint director or care- taker commission to airman the affairs of similar council ”. Accordingly, that provision during Governor Akpabio’s first term in office led to abrupt junking of the also president of Ikot Abasi original government area. At the same time, Akpabuyo original government council in Cross Rivers State stood dissolved( Ibok and Tom, 201087). The source, in confluence with Osinachi( 2003180) also noted that section 7( 1) of the 1999 constitution which reads

The system of original government by democratically tagged original government councils is under this constitution guaranteed. And consequently, the government of every state shall, subject to section 8 of this constitution, insure their actuality under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of similar councils( the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,Vol. 86,No. 27, Lagos),

urged Nasarawa and Lagos states to produce new original government areas latterly refused recognition by the civil government. Other countries which tried creation of original government areas grounded on vittles of section 7( 2), 8( 3)( 4)( 5) and( 6) of the same constitution were Yobe, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, and Katsina( Offiong, 200646). In response, Lagos state challenged the turndown at the court to no mileage.

specially, utmost of the before mentioned programmes of advanced authorities were single unit like husbandry, water or casing; but the Akpabio IMDLCC espoused near holistic or comprehensive approach for health, education, electricity water et cetrea at the same time. still, judging from adding hunger, poverty, severance, decay of townlets, municipalities and metropolises et cetera in Akwa Ibom State, Tamino,( 2000144 in Udoh, 2013), posits that rather of similar putatively wonderfully orchestrated programs serving as nostrum for the imperishable challenges at the original areas, it generates difficulties calling for financial autonomy to the original governments to discharge its statutory functions efficiently as rehearsed in other countries of the world; or the original government system be fully scrapped as it appears to be serving primarily political interest of many politicians to the detriment of the poor millions.

Worthy of citation at this point is the acting contrary views of some authors who see the functional rules of the entire system of original government as being contrary to the spirit of republic. similar scholars charge original government of vertical division as opposed to republic where individualities are supposed to “ have direct contact with the authorities rather than through interposers ”( Awofeso, 200439- 40). Whatever the case, the issue of direct contact with the authority then stylish suits financial autonomy for governance at the grassroots than any other position of authority.

It’s thus the intention of this experimenter to expand the borders of knowledge byinter-alia probing the extent to which the tool of financial autonomy on Nigerian original governments could serve as the stylish means of rendering to the pastoral people the demanded complete service delivery for the crowd in Nigeria generally, and Akwa Ibom State in particular.

In the same tone, the experimenter will examine some of the crucial factors responsible for repeated abuses of original government financial autonomy in Akwa Ibom State in particular and Nigeria in general, and with a view to proffering possible result.

Statement of the Problem

financial autonomy in original governments is generally believed to be the stylish tool for effective and effective service delivery in pastoral areas of allied countries like Nigeria. In other words, with acceptable backing, due process and responsibility( devoid of inordinate control by advanced authorities – civil and or state government), original governments stand to serve stylish in the provision of introductory social amenities like movable water, electricity, education, health- care service, recreational installations to their separate communities. By so doing, the system could haveinter-alia averted pastoral-civic migration and its attendant socio- profitable, political and environmental ills.

still, due to some known and unknown factors which this exploration is set to confirm and or discover, the system appears to have come a mirage. The situation seems so bad that the further the advanced authorities try to intermediate through reforms and programmes, the further similar attempts attract public dubitation and commination. A typical illustration is the each- time- numerous systems executed by the immediate once administration of Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio across the thirty- one( 31) original government areas of the state through theInter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee( IMDLCC). Contrary to the anticipated, utmost authors, judges, and indeed, members of the Akwa Ibom general public feel to perceive the mentioned programme as not only a ploy to continually deny this position of governance its statutory financial autonomy, but also as safe haven for misappropriation of public finances and strengthening of political patronage base, to the detriment of the poor pastoral millions.

Consequently, available sources also reveal that Akwa Ibom State, under this circumstance in 2010, had the third loftiest poverty rate of27.1 per cent in the South south zones; 63 per cent of the entire population considered ‘ poor ’ with53.6 per cent inUS$ 1 a day; alternate loftiest severance state in the zones with25.8 per cent; nonstop increase in severance rate( from18.2 per cent in 2005 to18.4 per cent in 2011), especially amongst the vulnerable groups like Youths, Women, Handicapped persons, progressed persons and Orphans); frequence of HIV/ AIDS( from8.0 per cent in 2005 to10.9 per cent in 2011)

,20/11/12 in Udoh( 2013).

In the same tone, scholars further raise the curiosity of stakeholders by positing that, due to lack of due process and responsibility, bare spending of periodic budget on structure as done in Akwa Ibom State by Akpabio administration( 80 per cent, far above the internationally recommended 70 per cent minimum for capital development) in lieu of original governments ’ financial autonomy, has not always contributed to important service delivery that’s of benefit to the poor( Jerome, 200616, Eminue, 2009311). To this end, Mahajan( 2006599) posits that

We can not realize the full benefit of popular government unless we begin by the admission that all problems aren’t central problems and that the results of problems not central in their prevalence bear decision at the place and by the persons where and by whom the prevalence is most deeply felt.

Notwithstanding the fact that utmost of the forenamed presumption depict suspicion and figments of political imagination without any given empirical disquisition to further substantiate those claims, there are apparent dissatisfaction, differences, dubieties, claims and counter claims with attendant adverse effect on the citizens on one hand, and the government of Akwa Ibom State on the other; hence the apparent need for this exploration.

Exploration Question

The following exploration questions shall guide this study.

What’s the effect of lack of financial autonomy on service delivery in the original governments of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria?

To what extent is poor service delivery in pastoral areas of the state, directly related to inadequate backing?

To what extent is state inordinate control of original governments ’ finances an manacle to effective and effective service delivery in the pastoral areas of Akwa Ibom State?

What’s the quality of present original governments in the state grounded on service delivery?

What are the factors impacting financial autonomy in original governments of Akwa Ibom State?

How different was service delivery of financial autonomy situation of 1987- 1993 from thenon-fiscal autonomy situations of 2007- 2015?

How could challenges of financial autonomy be resolved to meet service delivery needs efficiently in the original government areas of the state?

. Objects of the Study

i) Main ideal

To find out why utmost original governments in Nigeria in general and Akwa Ibom State in particular are unfit to acquire financial autonomy with a view to pressing problem for possible result.

ii) Specific objects

To assess the extent to which lack of financial autonomy affects service delivery in pastoral areas of Akwa Ibom State.

To examine the extent to which poor service delivery in pastoral areas is directly related to inadequate backing.

To examine the extent to which State inordinate control of original governments hampers service delivery in the pastoral areas of the State.

To determine the extent to which quality of original governments is finance/ structure base.

To identify and compare possible factors impacting financial autonomy in original governments in the state.

To describe the extent to which service delivery of 1987- 1993 was different from that of 2007- 2015.

To proffer result to challenges of the subject matter by way of recommendations

suppositions

Ho Lack of financial autonomy tends not to affect service delivery in original governments of Akwa Ibom State.

H1 Lack of financial autonomy tends to affect service delivery in original governments of Akwa Ibom State.

Ho Poor service delivery isn’t directly related to inadequate finances in original governments of the State.

H1 Poor service delivery is directly related to inadequate finances in original governments of the State.

Ho State inordinate control of original governments ’ finances tends not to bring about a slow pace of service delivery in pastoral areas of the state.

H1 State inordinate control of original governments ’ finances tends to bring about a slow pace of service delivery in pastoral areas of the state

Ho Quality of present original governments in the state appears not to be service delivery base.

H1 Quality of present original governments in the state appears to be service delivery base.

Ho There are no given factors impacting financial autonomy in original governments of Akwa Ibom State.

H1 There are known factors impacting financial autonomy in original governments of Akwa Ibom State.

Significance of the Study

The overall significance of this study to Akwa Ibom people and the larger society lies in its chances of proffering enduring result to the age-long difficulties girding conduct and or quiescence of advanced authorities vis- à- vis original governance. This stands to be possible as the study will expose retired docket of government and constraints that avert the functionality of government( s) for the general good of all the stakeholders. It’ll enable the promulgation of necessary law to thwart the surpluses of leaders and enhance a robust popular relationship between and amongst stakeholders.

Eventually, this study could help as design and strategy of policy expression and perpetration to governments, academics, judges as it’ll check a dearth of literature and stimulate farther studies on the subject matter or its affiliated areas.

Compass of the Study

The compass of this exploration is limited to the financial Autonomy and Service Delivery in Nigerian Original Governments A case study of Akwa Ibom State Local Governments between 2007 and 2015.

Limitation of the Study

Among the educated limitations in the process of this master- piece were lack of sufficient fund to bottom the bill for data collection and other logistics; time constraint; poor hand- jotting of repliers; uncooperative disposition of repliers, especially top operation officers in government, and also the general apathy of members of the public toward experimenters. still, with the backing of well trained and informed field workers( substantially Akwa Ibom State indigenes), the attendant difficulties were surmounted.

Organization of the Study

This exploration is a five chapter piece as follows Chapter one covers all the primary expositions similar as the Background of the Study; Statement of the Research Problem; objects of the Study; suppositions; compass of the Study; Limitation of the Study; Organization of the Study; and the Last but the least, Operationalization of generalities. Chapter two covers the Review of Affiliated Literature, and Theoretical Framework. Chapter three discusses the methodology of the study as follows Area of the study; Research ways; Instrumentation; confirmation of the Instrument; trustability of the Instrument; Administration of the Instrument; and Statistical Treatment of Data. Chapter four deal with data donation; Analysis and Discussion of Findings. Eventually, Chapter five presents the Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations.

Operationalization of generalities

The following generalities have been operationalised as used in this study for the purpose of clarity

Responsibility It’s the periodic, comprehensive, and maintainable report of government on its stewardship to the governed. In other words, until the account officer is properly penalized to serve as interference to others if set up fraudulent or confided if else, responsibility isn’t complete.

Administration This refers to the government or leadership of a country or state like Nigeria or Akwa Ibom State at a particular time. Hence, the Akpabio administration pertaining to the state government he led between 2007 and 2015.

Autonomy and Control Then, the below desirable state of the government is in a continuum for necessary identification therefore the lower the control by advanced authority( ies), the lesser the autonomy andvice-versa. In other words, since it isn’t possible to suppose of an absolute original government autonomy within a home of a autonomous, the exploration would rather emphasize and concentrate on the extent to which autonomy and control could be nicely and purposely handled by the first two categories of government to successfully round the administration of the “ third league ”.

Corruption It could be described as acts of bribery, embezzlement, abuse of office et cetera. Hence, the act promotes poor,over-bloated contracts and haphazared service delivery.

Development This has to do with vacuity of social amenities like good roads, acceptable food, health services, education, casing, water, high per capita income, freedom to share effectively in the political and spiritual life( governance) of the community toward profitable sustainability et cetera.

Due Process With this, policy programme of budget monitoring and price intelligence unit are strategized to checkmate extinctions, corruption et cetera and encourage translucency, faculty, and the likes in the appropriation of public matters or enterprises.

financial Autonomy This is a state of making original governance to haven’t only distinct territorial boundary, legal powers to do or achieve specific thing but also, most importantly, enjoy substantial autonomy in fiscal matters without inordinate but reciprocal control by advanced authority( ies). These include, retaining of storeroom, separate budgets, and accounts grounded on effective dependable income generation from within and outside its sphere.

financial Federalism It’s the allocation of fiscal powers and expenditure liabilities to different situations of government in a confederation.

structure Then, structure could be described as embracing all public services, from law and order through education and public health to transportation, communication, power and water force as well as similar agrarian charges in irrigation, drainage systems et cetera.

Infrastructural development It’s the process of putting in place those soft and hard socio- profitable rudiments as in structure above with a view to enhancing better quality living of the millions; particularly, when the provision reduces poverty through increase in employment openings. It’s synonymous with public development.

Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour This has to do with ministries, parastatals, and the colorful government agencies that are directly connected to the development of pastoral communities in Akwa Ibom State viz Ministries of Rural Development, Health, Finance, Education and that of Original Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. This agency, completely calledInter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee( IMDLCC) was inaugurated by Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio( the current assemblyman representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria and Minority leader in the Red Chamber) in 2007 to impact directly, appreciatively and effectively the lives of Akwa Ibom State people in the pastoral areas particularly.

Original Government This is the third categories of government at the original or grassroot position. It’s established by law to exercise specific functions within specific areas. It’s a territorial community withnon-sovereign power to regulate its own affairs.

Service Delivery This has to do with the process of furnishing introductory amenities as in structure and infrastructural development over.

REFERENCES

Awofeso,O.( 2004). Issues in Original Government Administration in Nigeria. Lagos Lisjohnson coffers Publishers,pp. 39- 41, 44, 66, 77, 98 -99,126-137, 143, 144, 149.

Edame,E.( 2004). The rudiments of Public Finance and Public Finance Management in Nigeria( 2nd Edition). Calabar University of Calabar Press,pp. 87- 90, 249.