LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN IBADAN SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OYO STATE

Abstract

The Local Government in Nigeria is an indispensable tier of government in the Nigerian federal system. The function of local government has increased in the contemporary times, and it now plays an important role in not just spreading autonomous ideas but also speeding up rural development. Due to it closeness to the grassroot people, it has the ability to develop the nation through rural development. Modernisation theory is the theory which the study is anchored upon. Primary and secondary sources were used to gather data for the study. Interviews were conducted with some key informants in the local government of study on the issue of the research. The study found out that there are various dimensions of roles of local government in infrastructural development such as political, socio-economic, provision of infrastructure, development of local poverty alleviation initiatives and security. Also, challenges like lack of autonomy and undue interference, financial, corruption and wastage, and insufficient skilled workers were all discovered as impediments to local government developmental services. Carrying out local government reforms, independent elections without the interference of the state, anti-corruption crusade, among others are ways local governments can enhance development in their local area. Based on these, some recommendations such as provision of basic amenities, good governance, efficient and effective dissemination of information, use of propaganda to sensitise and arouse the interest of the rural masses in community developments, increasing the statutory allocation to local governments with adequate monitoring, were made in the study.