International Conference on African Development Issues (CU-ICADI) 2015 : Social and Economic Models for Development Track E-Govemance and E- Participation: Panaceas for Effective Mobilization of Manpower and Resources in Selected Local Governments in Ogun State. Fayomi, 0.0, Ayo, C.K. Idowu, 0. R. Covenant University Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Ogun State, Ota,Nigeria Ogun State, Ota, Nigeria "... let us resolve to bridge the Digital Divide between countries, between rural and urban areas, between educa ted and illiterate populations, and between men and women. And let us act urgently so that all the world's people can benefit from the potential of the ICT revolution .... "( I] Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan Abstract-E-governance and e-participation are adequately utilized in the selection of local governments, important stages in the advancement of government which are Ado_Odo/Ota, Sagamu, Yewa South, Ijebu Ode processes. They both offer great opportunities as well as and Abeokuta North. These were based on the new challenges despite the opportunities they offer; they distinguishing characteristics of selected sample also introduce new challenges especially in Nigeria with observations required for this study. emphasis on selected local governments in Ogun State. E­ governance is a new phenomenon in African countries and Keywords-Information Communications Technology Nigeria is fast aligning into it, with the aim of addressing (ICT); e-governance; e-participation. many challenges attached to development in Nigeria. Ado­ Odo/Ota, Sagamu, Yewa South, Abeokuta South and Ijebu I. INTRODUCTION Ode local governments function primarily along the E-Govemance is a growing new phenomenon in traditional colonial administrative system. Features of this African countries and, Nigeria which pride itself as the system are bureaucracy, nepotism top-bottom chain vastly populated Black Country, largest economy and command structure, et cetera. Hence, problems of this age long governance are legion which e-governance presumably relatively stable democratic country cannot afford to be appears to solve. Under a full-fledged e-governance, system alienated. The realization has now dawned on the various optimization of resources is paramount. Despite all known local governments in Ogun State, Nigeria that benefits of e-governance, many challenges are embedded in participatory approach to development is superior to any the system. Changes are often hindered, due to lack of previous approaches because of its firmer ethnical confidence in the process and there is the perceived foundation; hence, e-Participation consunnnates new displacement of personnel through application of social contract and a fresh partnership with the people. information communication technology (ICT). This study The people are less agitated and willingly ready to submit considers sectoral aggregation of local government systems to developmental progrannnes, policies and projects of such as personnel, community development or relations, Infrastructural needs, spatial environment, etc. Structured the government. and unstructured interviews will be conducted and All societies have a fair share of resources for questionnaires were administered in order to gather data in sustenance and productivity. Many times these resources areas of education, health, recreation, electricity, water are under-utilized and not put into proper use. Reasons supply, empowerment, waste management, traffic control for this are legion, ranging from technological and security. incapacitation, inadequate mobilization and transformation of capital resources and ignorance of the This study specifically evaluated the personnel's benefits. understanding of ICT application in governance and community or public participation and exercise of civic There are encumbrances in the way of application of responsibility. The research design utilized both descriptive ICTs because of attitudes of the people towards changes; and survey approach in its method of data collection. In hence, changes are often hindered due to lack of order to realize the objectives of the current study, the confidence in the process by way of perceived method of data analysis involved both descriptive analysis displacement of personnel of livehood through with the use of frequencies and percentage distributions in application of information connnunication technology analyzing the basic information of the targeted audience. (ICT). Therefore, as worthy as e-governance and e­ The formulated hypotheses were subjected to statistical participation portend, the realization of its full potentials validation using multivariate regression analysis. This could be restricted by lack of supportive infrastructure, methodological approach enabled us ascertain whether there exists any significance relationship between e­ low educational status of the proposed operators and Governance and effective mobilization of manpower and negative mindset tendencies. resources considering the selected local government areas Ogun State is one of the thirty six (36) states in for this study. Judgmental sampling procedure were Nigeria, located in the Southwestern part of the country 301 International Conference on African Development Issues (CU-ICADI) 2015: Social and Economic Models for Development Track and often called the gateway state, because of its pioneer Ado-Odo/Ota local government came into existence efforts in the educational advancement of the country. on May 19, 1989, following the merger of Ota in the The State was created in 1976, from the defunct Western defunct Ifo/Ota Local Government with Ado-Odo/Igbesa region. It is boarded by Lagos, Oyo, Ondo states and axis of Y ewa South Local Government. Ado-Odo/Ota Republic of Benin. It has a land area of 16,980.55km Local Government is second largest in Ogun State, with square and population of 3, 7 51, 140 [2]. population of 526,565 [2] and an area of 878 Km2. The On the other hand, manpower resources are people are mainly Yoruba,-Awori, along with ethnic inadequately catered for, and so lacking in the potential settlers like Egba, Egun, Y ewaetcetera. There traditional application. In the age long traditional system of occupation is farming. Ota being the headquarters, others governance in Nigeria, problems embedded include but towns are Agbara, Igbesa, Ijoko, Ilogbo, Ado-Odo; Atan not limited to bureaucracy, nepotism, top-down chain and Iju. command structure, et cetera. 2) YEWA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT The people speak Yornba and other Local dialects. Yewa South local government has an area of 629 km2 These people are Egba, Yewa, Ijebu Remo, Awori, Egun and population of 168,850 [2]. It shares board with and Anogo. They have Socio-economic activities Benin Republic. The people speak Yewa and Egun covering farming, calving mining, fishing, pottering, etc. dialects. Important towns under the Local Government These are twenty local government areas in the state, are Ilaro, Iwoye, Owode-Yewa, Ajilete, Oke-Odan and For Convenience of administration, these Local Ilobi. The traditional occupation of the people is farming Governments are zone into west (5 Local Governments), and pottery. East (9 Local Governments) and central 6 Local 3) ABEOKUTA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT Governments). For the purpose of this research, Ado­ Abeokuta North local government has a land mass of Odo/Ota, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta North and Yewa 808km2 and a population of 201 , 329 [2]. It is the home South local governments were randomly selected. of Oyan Dam, an important source of water to Lagos and Duties, functions and responsibilities of the Local Abeokuta. This Local Government habited the Egbas. Government administration are provided for in the fourth Farming and trading are the major pre-occupation of the schedule of the amended 1999 constitution of the Federal people. The headquarters is Akomoje Republic of Nigeria. The Nigerian constitution 4) SAGAMU LOCAL GOVERNMENT guaranteed local governments as third tier of government Sagamu local government has an area of 614km2 and under Chapter 1 Part 2, Section 7 (1) and (3). It is population of 253 ,412. Headquarters is Sagamu city. pertinent to mention few of the Local Government roles: Apart from the indigenous Remo people, it is a melting (i) The provision and maintenance of primary, adult point to the Hausas, Ibos and Beninese who are itinerary and vocational Education, travelers and traders. Sagarnu possesses accumulation of (ii) The development of agriculture and Natural limestone deposits, used for cement production. Resources, other than the exploitation of Agricultural products of the local government include minerals, Cocoa, Kolanuts and other food crops. (iii) Provision and maintenance of public 5) IJEBU-ODE LOCAL GOVERNMENT conveniences, sewage and refuse disposals, Ijebu-Ode local government was created on March (iv) Provision and maintenance of Primary 11 , 1938 with the headquarters in Ijebu-Ode city. It has Healthcare, estimated population of 154,032 [2] and area of 192km2. (v) Establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slabs, Markets, Motor-parks II. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK and public convenience etc [3]. A. £-participation Under the Local Government law, The basis or foundation of socio-economic cum manpower/personnel management is under the politically inclusive governance is the promotion of jurisdiction of statutorily constituted Local Government participation of the citizens. The purpose of e­ Service Commission headed by a chairman and