A Case Study of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria
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University of Nigeria Research Publications GENEVIVE Megwa Author PG/M.Sc/04/35912 Leadership and Human Resources Development in the Nigerian Local Government System: A Case Title Study of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Social Sciences Faculty Public Administration and Local Government Department Department April, 2007 Date Date Signature LEADERSHIP AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGERIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF ELEME LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA. GENEVIVE MEGWA PG/MSC/04/35912 A THESIS SUBMITTW TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA. APRIL, 2007. TITLE PAGE LEADERSHIP AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGERIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF ELEME LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN RIVERS STATE OF NIGERIA. , I CERTIFICATION I GENEVIVE MEGWA, a post-graduate student with Reg. No. MScl04135912 in the Department of Public Administration and Local Government has satisfactorily completed the requirements of course and research work for the Award of a Master of Science (M.sc.) in Public Administration with Specialization in Human Resources Management. ' work embodied in. this thesis is original and has not been subhitted in part or in full for 4, I egree or certification of thisor any other ~nibkrsit~., I . Thesis Supervisor .......... C Y IS * ., ,, . ."1- -7. , '>+ Head of Department, a , Dean, Faculty of Social Science Public Administration and Local Government. APPROVAL PAGE This Research work has been approved for the award of a Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria; Ns~ikka. Prof. F. ~Fkoli Project Supervisor ......................... Prof. Okey lbeanu " Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the Almighty God who gave me life and the knowledge to complete this research work, and to the less privileged in our society. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere and devoted thanks go to God Almighty, and to my dynamic and academic mentor Prof. F. C. Okoli, who considered the actualization of my academic vision his task. Also my profound gratitude goes to my other lecturers in the persons of Dr. Fab Onah, Dr. Mrs. Rose Onah, Dr. C. Ofuebe, Dr. T. Onyishi, Dr. Mrs. M. Obi, Dr. Ebonyi Ozor and Prof. N. N. Elekwa, our dedicated Head of Department (HOD). And to my able bodied friends, namely: Mr. Blessing Nwodike, Dr. & Mrs. Arthur Osaroeji, Dr. Okpe and others, namely: Mr. Chris Ogbonna, Mr. Athan Ikeh, Mrs. Regis Amaechi, Miss Ihuoma Okereke, Engr. Caesar Okereke, Miss Stella, Nnamani Desmond My class Rep. Ogonna & Benson Uhama in Italy. And all my colleagues in the M.Sc./M.PA class, who contributed in various ways to the success of this study. My sincere thanks go to my parents, Chief (Sir) (Barr.) & Chief (Lady) S. 0. Megwa, for their parental .,,, . ."7- -7. , ' support and care, and my siblings Mary Joan, Gerald, Doris, Francis, Leonard, Chuks, and little Chima. Additionally, I am grateful to the.various publishers, editors and authors , . whose academic literature was used to achieve the objectives of this study. And finally, to my darling husband, Chukwuma Igbogbahaka and the entire family of Dr. (Sir) (Chief) & Chief (Lady) B. 0. Igbogbahaka. GENEVIVE MEGWA APRIL, 2007. TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Page Title Page. .. ...... ... ... ... ... ... i ... Certification.. ...... ... ... ... ... ... 111 Approval Page.. ...... ... ... ... ... ... iv Dedication.. ...... ... ... ... ... ... v Acknowledgements. .. ...... ... ... ... ... ... vi Table of Contents.. ...... ... ... ... ... ... vii Abstract. .. ...... ... ... ... ... ... x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study.. .... ... ... ... ... ... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem.. .... ... ... ... ... ... 2 1.3 Objectives of the Study.. .... ... ... ... ... ... 5 1.4 Significance of the Study-!:..:..,:':,.:.+ .... ... ... ... ... 6 1.5 Scope and limitation of Study ... ... ... ... ... 6 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND METHODOLOGY 2.1 Literature Review.. ...... ... ... ... ... ... 7 2.1.1 What is Leadership? ......... ... ... ... ... ... 7 2.1.2 Types of Leadership.. ....... ... ... ... ... ... 9 2.1.3 Theories of Leadership.. .... ... ... ... ... ... 10 2.1.4 Behaviour/Style Theory.. ... ... ... ... ... 10 vii 2.1.5 Trait Theory of Leadership ... ... ... ... ... 11 2.1.6 Situational Theory ......... ... ... ... ... ... 12 2.1.7 What is Human Resources Development? ...... ... ... 14 2.1.8 Human Resources Development and Human Resources Training 17 2.1.9 Management Development ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 2.1.10 Importance of Human Resources Development in Eleme LGA 19 2.2 Hypothesis ... ...... ... ... ... ... ... 20 2.3 Operationalization of Key Concepts in the Hypothesis ...... 21 2.4 Methodology ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 2.4.1 Area of Study ... ...... ... ... ... ... ... 22 2.4.2 Research Design ... ...... ... ... ... ... ... 22 2.4.3 Population of the Study ...... ... ... ... ... ... 22 2.4.4 Sample Size of the Study ... ... ... ... ... ... 22 2.4.5 The Research Instrument ... ... ... ... ... ... 23 2.4.6 Methods of Data Presentation and Analyses ... ... ... 24 2.5 Theoretical Framework ...... ... ... ... ... ... 24 CHAPTER THREE:STUDY AREAIGENERAL INFORMATION .... 3.1 Background Information on Eleme local Government ... 26 3.1 Historical Background ...... ... ... ... ... ... 26 3.1 1 Political and Socio-Cultural Background ... ... ... ... 30 3.2 Functions of Eleme Local Government ... ... ... ... 30 3.3 Organizational Structure of Eleme Local Government Council ... 32 .. Vlll 3.3.1 Legislative Arm. ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 33 3.3.2 The Executive Arm. ... ... .. 34 3.4 Personnel Management System of Eleme Local Government.. 3 5 3.4.1 Rivers State Local Government Service Commission. ... 35 3.4.2 Junior Staff Management Committee.. ... 36 3.5 Revenue Sources of Eleme Local Government. ... 37 3.6 Problems of Revenue Source.. 38 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS CHAPTER FIVE; SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATlONS 5.1 Summary.. ... ... ... ... 53 5.2 Conclusion. ... ... ... ... ... 55 5.3 Recommendations. ,.. ... ... ... 56 < Bibliography APPENDIX I . ."l. -7' , .$a APPENDIX I1 APPENDIX 111 ABSTRACT The aim of this Thesis is to assess the Leadership and Human Resources development with a focus on Eleme Local Government Area (L.G.A.). Interestingly, despite the numerous reforms which had granted autonomy to the Local Governments for good performance, not much success has been achieved by the local government. The background of Eleme Local Government was examined. Survey research method, Questionnaire, Observation and Interview, were used to collect data from the juniorlsenior employees of Eleme Local Government to actualize the objective of the study. The collected data were presented and analyzed in tabular form, frequency distribution and percentages. The study tested demonstrated that the four tested hypotheses could be held valid. Conclusively, some useful. r~e,comendationswere made to support the objectives of the study for example it was suggested that there should be an increase in the number of qualified Personnel Management staff to enable the Personnel Management Department function effectively and also to ,I establish regular human resources development program for the local government employees in order to broaden their skills and knowledge in administrative matters. Also that the poor communication gap between the rural people and other tiers of Government should be improved. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ' A modern system of Local Government (L.G.) as a third tier government was introduced by the 1976 Local Government reforms initiated by the Federal Government of Nigeria (F.G.N.). Consequently, the implementation of these reforms was empowered with the responsibilities of developing the rural areas, by bringing the government nearer to the people and engineering development at the grass roots, as well as mobilizing the rural people in the process of development. The principal objectives of the 1976 reforms, as provided by the guidelines, were as follows: (a) To provide a two way communication between local communities and Government (both State and Federal). *s (b) To provide appropriate services and aid development activities by delegating them to local representative bodies. (c) To mobilize human and material resources through the involvement of members of the public in their local development. ~o'achievethese objectives, the Federal Military Government (F.M.G.), in 1988, extended the civil service Reforms to the.<,,..wl..t Local.~,Government , System as requested by the Local Government practitioners. These reforms (1988), as contained in the Federal Republic of b Nigeria (F.R.N.) implementation guidelines on application of civil service reforms to Local Government Service (L.G.S.), were designed to achieve the following: It . 1. Installation of a new Personnel Management System in the Local Government Service, and clear definition of the functions of the Local Government Service Commission (L.G.S.C.). 2. Establishment of mandatory Departments in the Local Government, namely; Departments of Personnel, Finance and Supply, Planning, Research and Statistics. 3. Creation of the Office of the Auditor-General for the Local Government and Local Government Audit Alarm Committee. Professionalisat ion of the local government service. Establishment of the position of Supervisory Council, Secretary to the Local Government and