LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A CASE OF SELECTED LGAs IN

NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSIRA, V.

Abstract We embarked on this study to ascertain whether certain aspects of local government programmes have really contributed to sustainable development in selected LGAs in Rivers State, using some of their programmes and sustainable development indicators respectively such as skills acquisition/ training centres versus employment generation; primary healthcare centres versus improved healthcare delivery; poverty alleviation schemes versus poverty reduction; social welfare services versus improved quality of life and the running of primary schools versus quality of education and literacy among grass roots dwellers. It is the finding of this study that local government councils in Rivers State have failed to contribute significantly to sustainable development despite huge monthly statutory federal allocations to them and efforts made by other tiers of government to buy into it. This paper concludes that for effective local government administration in in general and in Rivers State in particular, there is the urgent need for the operators of the Local qouernmeni system to live up to the statutory provisions setting up the councils as well as current global drive towards sustainable development. As such, for local government programmes to contribute to sustainable development, there must be strong political will on the part of the operators of the system to adopt far reaching programmes in content and design that will translate into visible improvement injob/ wealth creation, poverty reduction, primary healthcare delivery, quality primary education and literacy including the quality of life of the grassroots dwellers in the selected LGAs. Consequently, programmes of local government councils in the selected LGAs in Rivers State need to be overhauled in line with best global development practices in order to contribute to sustainable development. Appropriate legislations by the State Houses of Assembly to compel all local governments to adopt sustainable development approach

264 An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSlRA, V. 265 must be in place if there must be a justification for the huge monthly allocations to them. All these are necessary for effective local government system rather than scrap the entire system as being advocated. It is important to note that this study became imperative as a result of recent clamour in Nigeria for the scrap of local government councils for their abysmal failure to live up to their statutory responsibilities to the grassroots dwellers on one hand and on the other hand, in line with current global trend or drive towards sustainable development. Our study adopted elite theory as our theoretical framework of analysis. Survey research methodology was adopted with a view to answering five research questions and testing five corresponding hypotheses set in this study. Chi square statistical tool was used to test our hypotheses as data collection was mainly from primary sources based on a 25-item structured questionnaire. All the five null hypotheses were validated.

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY into consideration by the 1976 Like most underdeveloped local government reforms which or developing societies, Nigeria attempted to evolve, for the could be described as country, a democratic and predominantly rural as over 70% uniform system of local ofits total population reside in the government. It has been observed rural areas with Rivers state that though the 1976 local having 86.16% of the rural government reforms granted population spread across its local autonomy, powers and functions government areas (Aminu, 1992). to local governments, they still In this regard, the struggle for have a long way to go towards the grassroots development has satisfactory performance their remained an age-long battle. In functions in many areas (Onah, particular, from 1914, local 1995). governments came to be mere However, local government instruments of colonial policies of administration in Nigeria is exploitation (Orewa & traceable to the precolonial period Adewum,1983). Not until about through the instrumentalities of 1951 when many diverse systems traditional institutions such as existed across the regions, that the Emirs, Obas, Council of elders there were various reforms to and age grades in the make the localities a people- Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo orien tedadministra tion societies respectively (Onah, (Banjamin, 1998). He asserts that 1995). Uzuegbunam (2004) the above position was not taken further adds that the instruments of the traditional authorities

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 266 tOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT dictated the local political strengthen the local government administration in Nigeria. They system with a view to making it a were Emirs, Obas, Chiefs, Oha- veritable means of achieving even Na-Ezes, Age-grades and village developmen t in Nigeria. The councils, which served as the resultant effects led to the 1976 sacred institutions through which Local government reforms and the authoritative allocation of values subsequent recognition of the were made for the society. In the local government as a third tier North, the Emirs were in control government by the while in the West, the Obas instrumentality of the 1979 became in charge while in the Constitution of the Federal East, the council of elders and age Republic of Nigeria (Agalamanyi, grades were there to administer 2007). It is perhaps for this the local people. With the advent of concern that, Benjamin (1998) the British colonial administration further posits that the local in Nigeria, the chieftaincy government in Nigeria was not institutions in the Igbo societies only constitutionally created as a and the centralist authority third tier of government at the structures in the Hausa/Fulani grassroots, but its establishment, and Yoruba societies became structure, composition, finance involved in the system of local and functions were and would government administration remain clearly defined by law. No popularly called indirect rule doubt, during the military regimes (Onah, 1995; Uzuegbunam, in Nigeria, especially Babangida 2004). It can be said that modern administration precisely in 1988, local governments appeared on some changes were introduced the Nigerian scene with the advent into the local government system of the 1951 Macpherson by the instrumentality of decrees. constitution, which provided for a Oyeneye et al (1998) cited in quasi- Federal system giving Uzuegbunam (2004)observed that individual regions some autonomy 1988 amendment decree of the to control themselves (Odoh, local government system in 2004). The Lyttleton Constitution Nigeria, provided for not only the of 1951 finally adopted federalism election of the office of the giving full autonomy to the Chairman but the Vice-Chairman regional governments to operate. and councilors who should control the affairs of the local councils. It is therefore in the light of Uzuegbunam (2004) has argued strengthening the federating units that the effects of the 1988 in Nigeria, that government amendment of the local realized the urgent need to government system still obtain in

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communicati 011 Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSIRA, v. 267 the present day civilian which are the primary object ofthe administrations though with local government system in minor changes, based on cultural, Nigeria bother mainly on rural or economic, social and geographic community development. In other agitations from the various ethnic words, the concept of rural or groups and federating units in community development has been Nigeria. Given these agitations, a recurring decimal in the lexicon the Babangida administration in of researches in the area of local 1991 added eighty nine (89) new government administration in local governments to the existing Nigeria. Agalamanyi (2007) sees ones, thereby bringing the total community development as a local governments in the country process of rural development. to five hundred and eighty nine Community development in (589). One prominent feature of Nigeria is said to have a long that reform in 1991 was that it historical antecedents even before gave local government full the advent of the British autonomy to operate (Obi, 1995). imperialists. During this period, It is instructive to note that people in various villages the local governments throughout organized themselves to carry out the country were altered in 1993 projects that were geared towards under the leadership of General providing common services to the Sani Abacha. The number of local rural people, which included governments became increased construction of roads, market from 301 in 1976 to 589 in 1991 squares etc. But with the coming and 774 in 1997 during Abacha of the white man, the tempo and military administration scope of community development (Egonmwan & Ibodje, 1991). assumed an alarming and Reforms undertaken on Nigeria's dramatic change. These included local government system are in the award of scholarships, themselves administrative building of schools, roads, reforms. Occasionally, they were provision of water, cottage undertaken as part of efforts by hospitals and health centers, successive governments to motor parks, etc. overhaul the Nigerian politic- Nevertheless, with time, administrative machineries as a especially as the world has become whole (Bamidele, 1995). Reforms a global village, government are embarked upon to realize the assumed greater responsibilities dreams ofdevelopment ofthe third in the provision ofthese services to tier level in Nigeria. It must be the people, especially the rural stressed however, that the issues ones. With globalization in place, of development of the grassroots, the concept of community or rural

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 268 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT development has become future generations. increasingly moribund without the sustainability factor in it. National Sustainable Although six basic principles of Development Strategy further community development agree, to observed that strong ethical a large extent, with the concept of reasons for the present sustainable development, much is generations to meet own needs still left to be desired of it in the wi thou t compromising the current local government system. development opportunities of the These six principles include self- future generations are based on help, self-need, citizenship the fundamental principle of participation, self-growth, self- moral justice that all people have reliance and self-direction equal rights and broadest (Agalamanyi,2007). freedoms provided that they do not The above points underscore the contradict the freedom ofothers. need for modern local government All tiers of government and system in Nigeria to embark on indeed modern governments, the sustainable development world over, including development programmes rather than the ones agencies, have made the concept that satisfy their political of sustainable development a interests, while compromising the matter of priority in their future needs ofthe people. programmes. The concept has It is in the light of this, that increasingly gathered momentum the concept of sustainable as opposed to what ordinary developmen t became an development programmes were. It important phenomenon in the is against this conceptual global development initiatives of background that this research is modern governments. National intended to assess the Sustainable Developmen t sustainability factor in the Strategy (2007:1), for instance, development programmes of local has observed that: government system in Nigeriawith Modern world is faced with a view to ascertaining the the challenge ofglobal, significant contributions of local shared responsibility for government programmes to development tuned to the sustainable development among needs of the people and of grassroots dwellers. Different nature, as wellas with variables of local government the understanding that the administration such as contained planet earth must be in their statutory functions are to adequately preserved equally be evaluated vis-a-vis some for the present and indicators of sustainable

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSIRA, V. 269 development. Nigeria have failed to enhance the capacity to involve programmes STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM that meet local needs in the Previous studies on local present and the future. Decades government system in Nigeria after decades, the performances of reveal that there has been too local governments have worsened much emphasis on local despite huge monthly revenues governmen t and rural or accruing to it. There are community development, to the widespread complaints of poor extent that the sustainability infrastructure and absence of factor that would bring about human capital development of the positive change not only in rural people in Nigeria in general infrastructure but in human and Rivers State in particular. capital development, is being Indeed, the effectiveperformances neglected. This is largely of local government councils have attributed to corruption and lack been sacrificed on the altar of of political will on the part of local greedy corrupt and visionless government councils in Nigeria. political leadership. This has Perhaps, it may not be a misnomer necessitated calls in recent times to ask and highlight whether or for the scraping of local not the issues of poor state of governments as third tier system infrastructure, widespread in Nigeriafor non-performance. poverty, high level of It is in the light of their unemployment and crime, statutory functions that local degraded environment, frustrated government councils have evolved local populace, state repression different programmes with a view and series of hostage-taking is a to transforming lives at the manifest or latent dysfunctional grassroots level. The major local government system since concern of this study is therefore, other arms of government are to evaluate the contributions of evolving programmes that are these programmes to sustainable sustainable. In spite of previous development at the grassroots in and on-going sustainable the selected local governments in development efforts of the federal Rivers State. In other words, the and state governments in Nigeria, major problem this study is set to sustainable development has address is whether or not these eluded the local government programmes have contributed system. For decades, the significantly to sustainable performances of this level of development at the grassroots, as government have been woeful. The huge funds are being expended on institutions oflocal government in them by successive local

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 270 LOCAL "GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT government administrations, with HYPOTHESES little or no substantial results, This study tested the following against the clarion call by stake hypotheses in line with the five holders for the scrapping of the research questions raised in local government system. chapter one arising from the statement of the problem stated in RESEARCH QUESTIONS a null form:

To focus this problem clearly, the 1. Ho (1) there is no significant following research questions were contribution of the formulated based on the variables establishment of skills identified for the study: acquisition / training centers 1. Has the establishment of skills to employment generation acquisition / training centers among grassroots dwellers in contributed significantly to the selected LGAs in Rivers employment generation among State grassroots dwellers in the selected 2. Ho (2) There is no significant LGAsin Rivers State? contribution of the 2. Has the establishment of establishment of primary primary healthcare centers health care cen ters to contributed significantly to improved healthcare delivery' improved health care delivery among grassroots dwellers in among grassroots dwellers in the the selected LGAs in Rivers selected LGAsin Rivers State? State 3. Has the operation of poverty alleviation schemes contributed 3. Ho (3) There is no significant significantly to poverty reduction contribution of the operation among grassroots dwellers in the of poverty alleviation schemes selected LGAsin Rivers State? to poverty reduction among 4. Has the provision of social grassroots dwellers in the welfare services contributed selected LGAsin Rivers State significantly to improved quality of 4. Ho (4) There is no significant life among grassroots dwellers in contribution of the provision the selected LGAsin Rivers State? of social welfare services to 5. Has the running of primary improved quality of life among schools contributed significantly grassroots dwellers in the to improved quality of education selected LGAsin Rivers State and literacy among grassroots 5. Ho (5) There is no significant dwellers in the selected LGAs in contribution of the running of Rivers State? primary schools to improved quality of education and literacy among grass roots

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies

---~------NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSIRA, V. 271 dwellers in the selected LGAs AREA OF STUDY, THE Rivers State POPULATION/SAMPLE OF THE STUDY AND THE SAMPLING RESEARCH METHODOLOGY TECHNIQUES Our Study Area is nine THE DESIGNS OF THE STUDY selected LGAs in Rivers State. Survey research method was Rivers State is one of the South adopted for this study with a view South states in Nigeria. South to generating data to answer the South states consist of Rivers, research questions and test the Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, research hypotheses which Delta and Edo. Nine local mainly centered on the governments were randomly contributions of certain aspects of chosen from Rivers State, three local government administration local governments from each ofthe to sustainable development with three senatorial districts. The its indicators at the grassroots population of the study was fairly level in selected LGAs in Rivers uniform and comprised of senior State. Consequently, both staff of , Omuma, and Obio qualitative and quantitative data Akpo (Rivers East), Oyigbo, Eleme were generated to aid our analysis and Tai (Rivers South East) and of the problem under Ahoada East, investigation. Therefore, our OgbajEgbemajNdoni and Abua method of data collection was Odual (Rivers West) local mainly from primary and government areas. It also included secondary sources. The primary all officials of CBDO's in six sources formed the major source communities, in each of the nine of data collection. The secondary local government areas.The data were collected from the population comprises all the libraries, text-books, theses, senior staff of all nine LGAsacross journal articles, officialj corporate the three senatorial districts publications etc. On the primary spread in the 23 local sources, data were gathered from governments in Rivers State. This sources such as structured is because our interest is on questionnaires and Focused sustainable development which is Group Discussions (FGD) with an event, as our interest is not local government officials as well mainly on the estimated as Community Based population. However, our Development Organizations estimated population is all local (CBDO's)officials including direct government officials (only civil- observation method. servants mainly senior cadre) and all officials of Community Based

International Journa~'ofCommunication No. 12 December, 2010 272 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Development Organisations in (Alesa,Onne and Ebubu twenty seven communities in the Communities);Tai LGA (Sakpenwa, nine selected LGAs. Bunu- Tai and Kiraa Communities) The sample size was five hundred and forty (540) across the nine We ensured that the 540 LGAs across the three senatorial copies of the questionnaire districts. This sampling size was distributed were filled and selected using proportionate returned. 450 males (83%)and 90 stratified sampling method. Atotal females (17%), showing of two hundred and seventy preponderance and domination of sample was selected for senior males in the workforce of local local government officials while government councils and Two hundred and seventy was community Based Development selected for officials ofCBDO's, 10 Organizations. The choice of in each of the three communities proportionate stratified sampling per LGA(ie 30 officials of CBDOs was made for balanced and across three Communities per objective opinion to ensure LGA). The Communities were unbiased data and analysis. This randomly selected after a Focused is because the opinion of local Group Discussion with LGA government officials only cannot officials on the areas where the give objective data for a balanced LGAsmade greater impacts across analyses of this work without a the three senatorial districts. They corresponding number of officials include: of Community Based Rivers East: Etche LGA Development Organizations who (, Chokocho, and Ozuzu feel the impact of the development communities); Omuma LGA (Eberi, activities at the third tier level. Umuajuloke, and Umuoyoro); Obio/ Akpo LGA (Rumuodumaya, DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH Rumuigbo and Rumuokwuta) INSTRUMENT Rivers West: Ahoada East LGA The main instrument (Ogbo, Edoha and Ogbele adopted in this study was a twenty Communities); five (25) item questionnaire Oqba/ Egbema/ Ndoni LGA (Aligu, designed to elicit information on Okposi and Obirikom Cmmunities); local government programmes Abua/Odual LGA (Omukwa, and their contributions to Obedum and Owere-were sustainable development. The Communities) variables under local government Rivers South East: Oyigbo LGA administration which we are using (Obigbo, .Afam and Umuagbai to test against other Communities);Eleme LGA variables/indicators of

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSIRA, v. 273 sustainable development include: after two weeks from the date the • Skills acquisition/training first test was administered to centres via employment ensure high reliability coefficient. generation The result was analyzed • Primary healthcare centres descriptively using Pearson via improved healthcare Product Moment Correlation delivery Coefficient, giving 0.99 reliability • Primary schools via improved coefficient, as such, the quality of education and instrument was certified highly literacy. reliable. • Poverty alleviation schemes via poverty reduction ADMINISTRATION OF THE • Social welfare services via INSTRUMENT improved quality oflife. The researcher administered the questionnaire The items were based on with the help of Heads of two-point scale response of Yes or Departmen ts / Units in the No. This is because of the literacy councils to other officials as well level of our respondents, as Community Development especially officials of Community Committee Chairmen and Based Development paramount rulers of the selected Organizations. Four-point communities. They all complied ModifiedLikert response type will and this aided us to retrieve all the be difficult for them to questionnaires distributed as the understand. study became of great interest to all the stakeholders. In fact, they VALIDATION AND RELIABILITY were all inquisitive that an OF INSTRUMENTS independent and academic The instrumen twas research bordering on the subject validated by some research was being conducted. This experts in social sciences and contributed to a large extent why education. The modification of the the 540 questionnaires were research questions were based on retrieved otherwise; it would have their inputs based on face validity. been a difficult task retrieving While the test-retest reliability them. method was used. Instruments were administered on 15 local DATA ANALYSIS government officials and 15 PROCEDURES/TECHNIQUES officials of CBDOs making a total Chi-square was used for testing of 30 outside the sample study. the fiveresearch hypotheses in the The second test was administered study.

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 274 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK society consists of two broad We have carefully adopted categories: the elite theory as the basis of our 1. The selected few who are framework for analysis in this capable and therefore possess study. This is because in the last the rig h t to sup rem e three decades, the issue of leadership. sustainable development at all 2. The masses of people who of levelsofgovernment has become a course, are in the majority but major discourse in global politics. destined to be ruled. While the debate rages in the Varma has argued that even glob a I s c e n e , s u c c e s s ive though this theory was first begun governments have been saddled in Central and Western European with the task of engendering countries as a critique of programmes that will contribute democracy and socialism, it was significantly to sustainable suitably adopted in the United development. But it is surprising States by a number of writers to to note that while governments in explain political processes as they Nigeria at both central and state existed in their country or, for that levels strive to adopt programmes matter in a democratic country. that will contribute to sustainable To Pareto (1939:145), cited in development, the third tier levelis Varma (1975: 144), every society is doing little or nothing in that ruled by a minority that possesses regard. And the pathetic scenario the qualities necessary for its can never be better explained accession to full social and without major recourse to the elite political power. He said those who theory as the privileged fewwithin get to the top, always seen as the the local setting evolve and best, are known as the elites. For structure programmes that will Pareto, the elites consist of those contribute little to the positive who rise up to the top in every transformation of the grassroots occupation and stratum ofsociety. dwellers. This, they do in order to He contended that "there is an perpetuate themselves in power elite of lawyers, an elite of while the poor grassroots dwellers mechanics and even an elite of continue to exist and serve their thieves and an elite ofprostitutes". interests. He strongly believes that there The elite theory became very exist two classes in society: popular in the United States in the 1) Ahigher strafum, ie. The elite, years followingthe Second World which is divided in to War. According to Varma governing and non-governing (1975: 143), the elite theory was and . based on the idea that every 2) A lowf "J'lf\um,the non-

An InterdisciplinaryJii.ofCommunication Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSlRA, V. 275 elite. His major concern was that once the ruling group loses the governing elite which he the aptitude and people outside, believes, rule by what he calls the ruling class cultivates it in "a mixture of force and large numbers, the tendency that cunning. the ruling class will be disposed Pareto's work, according to Ubani and replaced by new one. Mosca (2003: 18) distinguished an elite believes that in every society, the group and the mass of the society governing elite tries to find a moral as the elite group control political and legal basis for its being in the power and also enjoy in various citadel ofpower and represent it as aspects ofthe society. On the other the logical and necessary hand, the mass ofthe society have consequence of doctrines and relatively little power nor wealth. beliefs that are generally He believes strongly in what he recognized and accepted. Mosca, calls the circulation of elites as it in consonance with Pareto, usually occurs by way of gradual contends that "political formula process of degeneration of the may not and often times do not governing elite which destroys the embody truth. Rather, it is a simple social equilibrium. For him the fraud, cleverly contrived to dupe violent revolution involves a total the masses into subjection". replacement if one elite group by another. Mills (1956) cited in Ub(iIli However, Mosca (1939) (2003:22) on the concept of cited in Varma (1975:147) and elitism, based his arguments on Ubani (200: 19) sees the human the operation of power elite. For society as being divided into major Mills, power elites are made up of classes of people. The first class is men whose position enable them in the rulers hip and always few to transcend ordinary but performs all political environment of ordinary men and functions. According to Ubani, women as they are usually in they not only monopolize power positions of making decisions that but enjoy the advantages that have major consequences. For power brings in the process. The Mills, two sets of people exist in second he calls the ruled class societies: the elites who are a small who constitutes the more ruling minority and non-elites numerous class and are directed referred to as the masses. Mills and controlled by the ruling class. has argued that the composition of Mosca like Pareto strongly believes elites in society is best studied in in the concept ofthe "circulation of the economic and social elites". The distinguishing structures of societies in which characteristic of the elite being they emerge, noting that they are

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 276 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT more cohesive, conscious and tendency of power, defined easily reaching consensus. as the chances of a group to achieve its ends despite Contributing to the subject opposition, to rest In of elitism, Weber (1956) cited in relativelyfew hands. Ubani (2003:24) opines that most societies are made up of positively The choice of the elite theory and negatively privileged group of as the theoretical framework for people. He asserts that this work became imperative "everywhere, whether within or therefore as the failure of local outside democracies, policies are government programmes to made by a few in the sense that con tri bu te significantly to inarticulate mass never governs sustainable development at the large association rather it is grassroots level cannot be governed". explained outside the local ruling class interests. It is important to Weber sees the elites as using note that though the programmes policies and programmes to rule may be designed and structured in the non-elites in the societies. To content to meet the needs of the him, the elites are few and grassroots dwellers, but the effectively exercise political manifest motive may be control especially when they make bourgeoisie in nature, ultimately vital decisions for the vast majority for the satisfaction of the interest of the people who are ruled and of the locally privileged few in who are in a position to accept and power. obey these decisions taken on their behalf by elite groups. DATA PRESENTATION AND In another developmen t ANALYSIS Presthus cited in Egonmwan (1991:59) has posited elitism as TEST OF HYPOTHESES rule by the few.According to him, Ho1: There is no significant elitism connotes domination contribution of the establishment of the decisionalprocess by of skills acquisition/training a single group or few men, centres to employment generation limited rank-and-file access, among grassroots dwellers in the little or no opposition, and a selected LGAsin Rivers State. failure on thepart of most of Table 2.1 Using chi-square to the adult community to use test the null hypothesis stated theirpoliticalresources to above, based on the responses to influence impo rta n t the research question: Has the decision. It refers to the

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSlRA, V. 277 establishment of skills contribution of the primary acquisition/ training centres healthcare centres to improved contributed significantly to healthcare delivery among employment generation among grassroots dwellers in the selected grassroots dwellers? The following LGAsin Rivers State. data were generated from 270 officialsofLG's and 270 officials of Table 2.2 Using chi-square to CDBO's as shown in the tables test the null hypothesis above, below: based on the responses to the research question: Has the RESPONSE OPTIONS r- provision of primary healthcare ReSpondenls . I Yes No Total Olficialsof LGCs :108 162 270 centres contributed significantly Officials of CBOOs 180 270 to improved healthcare delivery Total ·1~98 180 540 '----. among grassroots dwellers? The following data were generated Source: Field Data conducted in 2008 from 270 officials of Local Government Councils (LGCs)and To calculate expected frequencies is fe = CTxRT 270 officials of Community Based --. GT Development Organizations =--... CONTINGENCY TABLE fo Fe fo-Ie (fo-ler (fo-le) I•• (CBDOs) as shown in the tables --~-- 108 99 9 81 0.62 below: 162 99 -9 81 0.47 ~- .. RESroNSE OmONS 90 99 jiao. , -9 81 0.62 171 9 81 0.47 Res~ndents Yes No Total ToIaI2.58 L.. OfficialsoflGCs 100 110 210 Tnerefore X' = ~ (10 _ fe)' fe Officials ofCBDOs 80 110 210 2 X cal = 2.58 Total 180 JOO GT~ At 1 df and 0.05 level of significance, our X2 table is 3.84. The result in the table showed that Source: Field Data conducted in 2008 X2 calculated value of 2.58 is less CONTlNGENCYTABlE 2 than X table value of 3.84, [Fa - IFe Ifo-fe (fo-fe) (fo-fe)'f., therefore we accept the null 1.11 hypothesis that "there is no ~--. j ~80 -f,o---~::c=---+:-C==---i0.56 significant contribution of skills '-80 ._-tgo-. 1-10 100 1.11 acquisition/training centres to 0.56 , employment generation among t:=••--i'OO~f--~:~-···-ToIaI3.33 ! grassroots dwellers in the selected LGA'sin Rivers State." Therefore X"Cal = 3.33 Ho 2: There is no significant At 1 df and 0.05 level of

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 278 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

2 significance, our X table is 3.84. CONTINGENCY TABLE The result in the table showed that -Fa I'e ..----l~-To::ter_nro:_fe)'I~ ! 2 X calculated value of 3.33 is less '800 !-10 :100 11.11 ! than 3.84, therefore, we accept the k------' ---+-:=------; ~1~O----._------L~---~-- !~OO i null hypothesis that "there is no 1100 ·9()10 '100 1.11' , significant contribution of the 1',20 i 180 -10 '100 0.00 ! establishment of primary -4- 1------. fotiiI3.53-l health care centres to improved healthcare delivery among grassroots dwellers in the selected Therefore Xi Cal. = 3.33 LGAsin Rivers State." At 1 df and 0.05 level of significance, our X2 table is 2.84. Ho3: There is no significant The result in the table showed that contribution of the operation of X2 calculated value of 3.33 is less poverty alleviation schemes to than X2 table of 3.84, therefore, we poverty reduction among accept the null hypothesis that grassroots dwellers in the selected "there is no significant LGAsin Rivers State. contribution of the operation of Table 2.3: Using chi-square to poverty alleviation schemes to test the null hypothesis above, in poverty reduction among line with the responses to the grassroots dwellers in the selected research question: Has the LGAsin Rivers State. operation of poverty alleviation schemes contributed significantly Ho 4: There is no significant to poverty reduction among contribution of social welfare grassroots dwellers in the selected services to improved quality of life LGAs in Rivers State? The among grassroots dwellers in the following data were generated selecte LGAsin Rivers State. from a sample of 270 officials of Table 2.4: Using chi-square to Local Government Councils test the null hypothesis above, (LGCs) and 270 officials of based on the research question: Community Based Development Has the provision of social welfare Organizations (CBDOs)as shown services contributed significantly in the tables below: to improved quality of life among grassroots dwellers? The following RESPONSE OPTION data were generated from 270 Respondents Yes No Total officials of LGCs and 270 officials Officials of LGCs 80 190 270 of CBDOs as shown in the tables Officials of CBDOs 100 170 270 below: Total 180 360 540

Source: Field Data conducted in 2008

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSIRA, V. 279 RESPONSE OrrlONS and literacy among grassroots Respondents Yes No Total Officials of LGCs 120 150 270 dwellers in the selected LGAs in Officials of CBDOs 100 170 270 Rivers State? The following data Total 220 320 540 were generated from 270 officials of LGCs and 270 officials of Source: Field Data conducted in 2008 CBDOs as shown in the tables below: CONTINGENCY TABLE f"i'o' --. -1Fe"---I7O=fe--·- I(to-fe)' - (fo-fe)/" RESPONSE omONS mo·--·----m-o--~·---i-i100=------+o-O.7"C91---j Respondents Yes No Total /150 .1160-.+,6-- ....--1-7. ,;;---.---+:0,0.6=3---1 100 Officials of LGCs 110 160 270 f------1------J.-::-----i-;:;::;;-----t=,------i i 100 :110 .·10 100 0.91 Officials of CBDOs 120 150 270 l1io··----iffio 10 100 0.63 Total 230 310 540

TotaI 3 08 _.--,-1 _- __-_-'--_---'- __ --1- _ . -----! t=_.:· Source: Field Data conducted in 2008

Therefore X2 cal = 3.08 At 1 df and 0.05 level of significance, our X2 table is 3.84. The result in the table showed that X2 calculated value of 3.08 is less than X2 table of 3.84, therefore, we accept the null hypothesis that "there is no significant contribution of the provision of social welfare services to improved quality of life among grassroots dwellers in the selected LGAs in Rivers State." Therefore x2 cal is 0.78 At 1 df and 0.05 level of Ho 5: There is no significant significance, on X2 table is 3.84. contribution of the running of The result in the table showed that primary schools to improved X2 calculated value of 0.78 is less quality of education and literacy than X2 table value of 3.84, among grassroots dwellers in the therefore, we accept the null selected LGAsin Rivers State. hypothesis that "there is no Table 2.5: Using chi-square to significance contribution of the test the null hypothesis above, in running of primary schools to line with the research question: improved quality of education and Has the running of primary literacy among grassroots dwellers schools contributed significantly in the 'selected LGAs in Rivers to improved quality of education State ."

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 280 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Nigeria, has produced a rural DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS populace that are docile, hence One of the research lack the capacity to confront their problems addressed in this study local officials on the choice of was to find out whether or not development projects that meet skills acquisition/training centres their needs in the present and established by the selected LGAs future. Everybody has relied solely have contributed significantly to on the illegal oil activities in the employment generation among region rather than pursue genuine grassroots dwellers in the selected skills acquisition / training. Some LGAs in Rivers State. The result of these issues affected the result from the responses showed that of the study which upholds that skills acquisition centres the skills acquisition/training established by these Local centres have not contributed Government Councils across the significantly to employment three senatorial districts in Rivers generation and ultimately State have not contributed reduction in unemployment significantly to employment thereby increasing the spate of generation among grassroots restiveness among grassroots dwellers. dwellers in the state. It is imperative to state that the result came out the way it did Again, our second research because although there are skills problem bordered on whether acquisition/training centres built primary healthcare centres built by the local government councils and operated by the Local across the LGAs,but some ofthese Government Councils have centres are either moribund or contributed significantly to under utilized. Some of the improvement in the healthcare reasons being that during the delivery among grassroots conception of the projects, the dwellers. Our finding revealed that local people were not consulted to they have not contributed identify their skills acquisition significantly to the improvement needs, hence the planning and in the healthcare delivery of the design reflected mainly the grassroots dwellers. It is to be interest of the political office pointed out that the reason for the holders whose motive it is to make result may not also be money from such a project rather unconnected to the plan and than meet its sustainability design of the healthcare centres al requirements for the people. More binitio. Some of the health centres so, Rivers State being one of the were built in areas where the major oil producing states in grassroots people find difficult to

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSIRA, V. 281 access. Secondly, some of them operated by the local governments have been over taken by weeds as have contributed significantly to a result of difficulty in accessing poverty reduction among them as well as the problem of grassroots dwellers in Rivers man-power to man them. The local State. Our finding revealed that governments lack the capacity to these schemes have not operate standard primary contributed significantly to health care centres that will meet poverty reduction among the grassroots expectations in the grassroots dwellers. Observation present and in the future. Some of and data gathered in the field the health centres lack facilities reveled that most of the schemes and drugs as they have become have Pseudo design, as if they mere consulting centres. These of were targeted at the grassroots course cannot contribute to people, but beneath, they all realizing the MDGs on the health advanced the interests of the of the rural people. Rather than political elites in power. Most of channeling resources to primary the local governments operating healthcare centres, the local the poverty alleviation schemes government councils have make them available to party diverted their funds to faithfuls. But even at that, the unprofitable ventures that will funds disbursed for this purpose only profit them (in power) rather were not enough to set up small than the grassroots dwellers. Most scale business outfits. At the end, of them go abroad or other state or they end up not meeting the federal hospitals for treatment desired objective. hence, pay lip-service to the improvement of the primary Our fourth research problem health facilities for the grassroots bordered on the whether or not dwellers. Our finding here social welfare services provided by corroborates the reason why the the local governments have Rivers State Government in late contributed significantly to 2008 decided to take over primary improvement in the quality of life health care responsibilities from of the grassroots dwellers in the the local government for their selected LGAs. Our finding failure in that sector over the showed that the social welfare years. services provided by the local governments have not contributed Furthermore, our third significantly to improvement in research problem mainly hinged the quality of life of the average on ascertaining whether or not grassroots dweller in areas. Our poverty alleviation schemes field experiences revealed that

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 282 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT most of the water schemes they resources of the councils to embarked upon were moribund. primary education, in terms of Some of the parks or markets building and maintaining of constructed over the years were primary schools, local government under utilized and in most cases, councils have either embarked on not being maintained. Some of other elephant projects or seemed these projects were just sited to be having the over burdened without sustainability plans in responsibility of paying the place. What is experienced in the primary schools teachers' rural areas visited was a complete salaries, hence have limited loss ofthe touch ofthe people from resources to touch other areas of quality life experienced in the primary education and literacy. cities and modern times, whereas, Some local government officials millions of naira are being interviewed revealed that some appropriated by the local local government chairmen government councils for the coHaborated with Education provisions of these services. Of Secretaries to add ghost names to course, most people interviewed salary vouchers to inflate their said social welfare services salary bills so that they offer the projects are usually implemented explanation of zero allocation to by the local governments without further impoverish the people. the people's inputs, hence they It is imperative to state that end up enriching their pockets our research findings based on the rather improve the quality of life of five problems presented in this the less privileged living in the study are not in consonance with rural areas. the position of United Nations' Finally, our fifth research Millennium Development Goals problem touched on whether the (MDG's), African Union's New running of primary schools by Partnership for Africa's local government councils have Development (NEPAD) and New contributed to improvement in the Economic Empowerment and quality of education and literacy Development Strategy (NEEDS) among grassroots dwellers in the which all governments including selected LGAs in Rivers State. the third tier level, should Our findings revealed that local embrace with a viewto translating governments in Rivers State failed into improvement in job and to contribute significantly to wealth creation, poverty improvement in the quality of reduction, healthcare delivery, education and literacy among the quality of education and literacy grassroots dwellers. The reason including social welfare services being that rather than channel for the people. The five cardinal

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSIRA, V. 283 prograrnnrres of local governnrrent livelihood, that the state councils: skills governments should absorb or acquisition/training centres, reduce them as nrreredevelopment poverty alleviation schemes and centres as we have in other states social welfare services have failed like Ebonyi, Imo etc. However, to contribute significantly to they expressed worry over this sustainable development in the issue as it is a constitutional areas of improved employment matt er before the National generation, poverty reduction, Assembly Constitution Review health care delivery, quality Committee as constituted in late primary education and literacy as 2008. well as quality of life of the grassroots dwellers in the selected LGAsin Rivers State. CONCLUSIONS Based on the Focused Based on the research findings, Group Discussions with the the following conclusions are officialsof Local Governments and made: those of the Community Based 1. That skills Development Organisations as acquisi tion / training well as direct observations made, centers established by the there were no very visible and local government councils sustainable development projects in the selected LGAs in embarked upon by the Local Rivers State have not Governments studied. It was quite contributed meaningfully to unbelievable that despite huge generation of employment mon th ly allocations to the opportunities for the councils, there was absence of t e e m i n g grassroots visible sustainable development dwellers. indicators. Many of them who spoke on the ground of anonymity, 2. That primary healthcare lamented that the objectives of centres established by the creating the third tier system in local government councils Nigeria have been defeated on have failed to improve account of none performance in healthcare delivery among p r o g r a m m e s that m ig h t grassroots dwellers in the contribute to sustainable selected LGAs in Rivers development. Some of the local State. government officials opined that rather than scrap the local 3. That poverty alleviation governments as being advocated schemes operated by the . as it will affect their means of local governments have

International Journal of Communication No. 12 December, 2010 284 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT failed to create wealth and that, in content and design, reduce poverty among such centers will be grassroots dwellers in the addressing the real selected LGAs in Rivers employment needs of the State. people as most centers are not really addressing these 4. That the running of primary needs. And their inputs as schools by the local well will help to decide the governments has failed to location of the centers to improve the quality of ensure the people have education and literacy access to them. More among grassroots dwellers importantly, sustain ability in the selected LGAs in plans should always be Rivers State. considered before deciding to establishing such 5. That social welfare services centres. This accounts for provided by the local why most of them are governments have not moribund. improved the quality of life of grassroots dwellers in the 2. The primary healthcare selected LGAs in Rivers centres need to be State. overhauled. Most primary healthcare centres in the RECOMMENDATIONS local government areas lack Based on the result of the study, the needed man-power and the following materials to effectively recommendations are operate. The primary made: healthcare centres should 1. Skills acquisition/training have modern stateofthe arts centers should be facilities to meet modern established considering the health challenges in the areas of need of the rural communities. grassroots dwellers in the More so" there is the very selected LGAs in Rivers important need to consult State. The grassroots the people while such dwellers who should use projects are being conceived these centers should be to ensure their location is consulted before conceiving accessible to all. Most the ideas as their inputs in importantly, sustainability terms oftheir areas ofneed / plans for such projects interest will help to ensure should be put in place if it

An Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies NWEKE, K. & NYEWUSIRA, V. 285 must contribute to rural communities are very sustainable development. necessary to identify priority areas of need. Most 3. The poverty alleviation importan tly, wealth schemes operated by the creation welfare services local governments should should be in place to ensure be restructured and more optimal utilization and" funds be allocated to the continuity. As a result, schemes to ensure that the sustainability plans must grassroots dwellers access be pu t in place for such them. More so, the schemes services. should be operated in such a manner that they will not 5. Finally, the primary schools be limited to only party being run by the local faithful. Most importantly, governments need to be sustainability plans for reviewed to ensure .they such schemes need to be achieve the desired put in place to ensure that objectives. The taking over generations after of the payments of primary generations will continue to schools teachers and the enjoy them. To achieve this, rebuilding of dilapidated enabling legislations be put primary school structures in place to ensure they are in Rivers State in late 2008 revolving. by the state government is a welcome development. This 4. The social welfare services should facilitate the process provided by the local of channeling resources, governments should be saved from this into other directed at qualitative areas like equipping of the transformation of the primary schools and people's lives. Most of the providing the stateofthe' arts social welfare services facilities by the local provided were defective in governments to ensure structure or design. They quality primary education should be people-oriented. and literacy at the The grassroots dwellers grassroots level. should be part of the Appropriate legislations are conception and necessary to back the implementations of such programmes as welfare services. As such, sustainability plans are town hall sessions with inevitable as well.

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