LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA (1999 – 2012) BY AWOSIKA, FELIX OLANREWAJU MATRIC NO: 989008284 B.Sc. (Hons); M.Sc. OAU Ile-Ife BEING A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D) IN POLITICAL SCIENCE. APRIL, 2014 CERTIFICATION We certify that this research was carried out by Awosika, Felix Olanrewaju under our supervision. DR. DERIN OLOGBENLA PROF. CHUKS MADUABUM Associate Professor Adjunct Professor Department of Political Science Department of Political Science University of Lagos University of Lagos ii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to the Glory of God, The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit. Also with tears rolling down my cheeks, to the memory of the one who valued education so much that he toiled and died in the process of bequeathing this invaluable legacy to his children, I mean my irreplaceable, unforgettable, highly treasured, ever loved and, loving father, Pa Zacchaeus Babalola Awosika. I know some day; we shall meet again at the feet of Jesus to part no more. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I appreciate my parents late Pa Zacchaeus Babalola Awosika and my aged mother mama Deborah Oluwafunbi Awosika for their sacrifices to give me the foundation of a good education. I would like to gratefully and sincerely thank my supervisor, Dr.Derin Kofoworola Ologbenla for his guidance, understanding, patience, and most importantly, his friendship since my doctoral studentship. His mentorship was paramount in providing a well rounded experience consistent with my long-term career goals. He encouraged me to not only grow as an academic but also as an independent thinker For everything you‘ve done for me, Dr.Ologbenla, I thank you. I am deeply grateful to Prof. Chuks Maduabum (my co-supevisor), for his guidance, criticism, patience and support and painstaking supervision that made it possible for me to complete my Ph.D programme successfully . I consider myself very fortunate for being able to work with a very considerate and encouraging professor like him. Without his offering to accomplish this research, I would not be able to finish my doctoral study. I also appreciate my academic godfathers and mentors, the late, Professor Stephen Oluwole Olugbemi and Dr. Abdulwakili Adesina Sambo, my first and second supervisors respectively on the programme. I pray that God would continue to take care of the families you left behind. Dr. H.O. Coker and Professor Alaba Ogunsanwo are highly appreciated for their guidance. Prof. Remi Anifowose, Prof. Adejugbe, Prof. Tomori, Prof. Olaloku and Prof. Adele Jinadu are appreciated for their academic and moral support. I want to also appreciate profoundly, the academic contribution, moral and financial support of my Head of Department, Professor Solomon Oladele Akinboye. I appreciate immensely, Prof. Gabriel Olatunde Babawale for his confidence in my academic ability Sir, thank you for your constant urging and encouragement. A special appreciation also goes to Dr. Browne Oliva Onuoha. Sir, I appreciate you for waking me up from my academic slumber to the realities of scholarship. Prof. Tayo Fakiyesi(Late) Prof. Kayode Soremekun, Prof. Omololu Soyombo, Prof. Kayode Oguntusahe, Prof. Gbade Sote, Prof. Olatunde Makanju, Prof. Lai Olurode, Prof. Felicia Oyekanmi, Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo, Prof.Ralph Akinfeleye, Prof. S.I. Oni, Prof. Demola Omojola, Dr. Agiobu Kema, Prof.Ndubusi Nwokoma, and all academic and administrative staff iv of the Faculty of Social Sciences are highly appreciated for their academic, moral and intellectual contributions and support toward my academic success. I am equally grateful to the authorities of the University of Lagos, under the dynamic leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahman Ade Bello, for the timely grant given to me to be at the University of Cape Coast, Winneba, Ghana in the course of preparing my thesis. The efforts and usual assistance of Mr. Aliu the Deputy Registrar, Academic Staff Unit (ASU) as well as those of Mr. and Mrs. Keshinro, in this regard are appreciated. All the members of the University Academic Planning Committee (APC), particularly, the Chairman, Prof. Dele Olowokudejo, Dr. Adedun, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, Prof. Virgy Onyene, Prof.Yemisi Obanishoro John, Prof. Ojikutu and Prof. Okunuga. I am very grateful to the Head of Dept, Public Administration O.A.U Ile-Ife, Dr. (Mrs) Janet Taiwo Makinde and Dr. Mike Adeyeye of the Institute of Local Government Studies, both of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife for their joint efforts at shaping my topic and charting the course of the thesis from the drawing board. At the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Cape- Coast Ghana, I would like to thank my off-shore supervisor and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Stephen Bugu Kendie and the Director of the Institute, Professor Mensah for their remarkable interest in my work, their insightfulness, criticisms and contributions to the thesis. I also appreciate every academic and administrative staff of both the institute and the Faculty. They all cooperated to provide me a very congenial, conducive and fruitfully auspicious academic environment for my stay in the University. At home, I appreciate the contributions of the following individuals in my Department and Faculty, Dr. Oluwajuyitan, Dr. Fadakinte, Dr.Akinyemi, Dr. Ugoh, Mrs. Majekodumi, Dr. Quadri, Dr. Odukoya, Dr. Okeke, Dr. Eesuola, Dr.Onah, Dr. Ottoh, Dr. Ashiru, Dr. Oloruntoba, Dr. Odubajo, Dr. Eneanya, Dr. Shambavi, In Sociology , I appreciate , Dr. Funmi Bammeke, Dr. Lekan Oyefara, Dr. Pius Adejoh Dr. Kununji and Mr. Okonji.In Psychology Dr. Kehinde Ayenibiowo, Dr. Fagbohungbe,Dr.O.A. Akintayo, and Dr. Akinbode,In Economics I appreciate profoundly , Dr. Kemi Lawanson, Dr.W.A. Ishola, Dr. Akinleye, Dr. R.O.S. Dauda, Dr. Nwaogwugu and Mr.A.A.Adebisi, In Mass Communication Department, Dr. Sunday, Dr. Ajibade, Dr. Soji Alabi, Rita Joy Mogbogu, Pastor Tayo Popoola,In Geography Department,immense appreciations go to Dr.Mayowa Fasona,Dr.A.S.O. Soneye and Dr.(Mrs) Vide Adedayo . Dr. Ngozi Nwakeze and Dr. CCP Nnorom deserve special mention for facilitating the link I had with the University of Cape Coast. I doff my cap for you in v appreciation of your contributions to the success of this work. I appreciate, also and very importantly too, all my six research assistants led by Mrs. Bukky George and Mr.Muyiwa Fatoba, others are Mr. Salaudeen, M.O., Mrs. Odunaike Adenike; Mr. Sanya Olusanya and Mr. Taiwo Abiodun . All my spiritual fathers, Pastor M.A. Olatunji, Pastor Tunde Akintajuwa, Pastor J.O. Akinyemi, Pastor Peter Awodimila, Pastor Tade Akinsibo, Pastor (Dr) Lanre Ayannuga, Deacon (Dr) Akin Akinlua, Pastor Olabanji Akinjewe, Late Pastor Arueya and all the brethren in my church, Gospel Faith Mission International, Gani Fawehinmi, branch, Ondo, Ketu and Magodo Assemblies in Lagos, are all appreciated. Very worthy of appreciation is the regular enthusiastic fire prayer of Pastor Raphael on phone. Mrs. Martha Eboigbe, Mrs. Ewedemi, Mrs. Blessing Ariwajoye, Mrs. Adeola Fatodu, Mrs. Laide Ogunkoya, Mrs. Florence Adaramoye, Mr.Odunayo Olatoye, Papa Alex, Mr. Alatishe (Alart), Mr. John, Mrs. Onwuneme, Mrs. Moses, Mrs.Tunrayo Adeyemi, Mr and Mrs. Lamidi, Mr. Layi Oyelakin, Mrs. Franca Sote, Mrs.Adegboyega, Miss Toyin Effiong, Mrs Dibia, Mrs. Owoade Alhaja Adedeji, Mrs Idowu, Mrs.Jumoke Ogunkayode Mrs. Folami, Mr. Friday, Mr. Babalola,(DLI). To the family of Alhaji and Alhaja Adeshina , I am very grateful for your constant support and encouragement in all ramifications. For taking the pains to type the work accurately within the limited time I value the efforts of Mrs Bukky Akinlade and Mrs. Bibiana of ( shop 50). Mr. Ola (Shop7) and Mr. Olamide (Shop 39) at the FSS Shopping complex are also appreciated. .All my in-laws, both at home and in Diaspora, are highly appreciated, for their moral and financial support toward my thesis. I appreciate all my cousins, nephew, nices, uncles and aunties (particularly, Daddy and Mummy Agbo Awosika at Egbe). I say a very big THANK YOU to all my siblings, starting from‘ Brother Mi‖ (Brother Dele),‘ Auntie Mi‘ (Sister Kehinde), Brother Folabi, Brother Rotimi, Lawale and Taiye, for their moral, spiritual and financial support. Finally, I deeply appreciate my immediate family, my jewel of inestimable value, the only God‘s project in my life, the amiable, beautiful delectable, adorable, quintessential, steadfast and caring wife, fondly called Iyabo, ―The Ogbolatu of Ondo Kingdom‖, and, of course, the ones that are for signs and wonders, our precious pearls, Mayowa, Yinka and Daniel Ayokunle. I appreciate heartily every one of you for your perseverance and sacrifices as occasioned by my maternal conditions and constant absence from home, which culminated in this thesis. God bless you all. vi ABSTRACT In contemporary scholarship, the discourse on local government system has shifted from the debate on the requisite level of autonomy for local government administration, to the more topical issue of the impact of the local government system on grassroots development. Whereas scholars are agreed on the import of local government in any form of governmental contraption, however, there are divergent views on the extent of the role of the local government system in community development. Specifically, the work examines both the import of local government in respect of certain