Decentralization and the increased autonomy in local. I think that was a right move, otherwise nigerias wahala will multiply if the 774 local government councils are granted autonomy because they will take corruption to the next level, said. The tax autonomy of local governments in the united states. Selfgovernance, self government, or selfrule is the ability of a group or individual to exercise all necessary functions of regulation without intervention from an external authority. The framework for local government autonomy was put in place at least in a formal sense but the.
Local government autonomy is perceived as local selfgovernment or grassroots democracy. Local authority a local authority, sometimes also referred to as a municipal authority, is a term that refers to a rural and urban political subdivision below the national. During my journey into the recesses of local financial autonomy, i have benefited. In america, in this day and age, there are very few things where local autonomy actually occurs. That government should include in its sphere of activity the managerial dimension is a fact proven by the opinions expressed in this paper. The commissions findings on the relationship of the states and local government autonomy are as follows. Feb 07, 2003 this book offers an overview of the legal, political, and broad intergovernmental environment in which relations between local and state units of government take place, the historical roots of the conflict among them, and an analysis of contemporary problems concerning local authority, local revenues, state interventions and takeovers, and the restructuring of local governments. The quest or agitation for local government autonomy has been a recurring decimal in the evolution of the nigerian federation. The main aim is to catalogue the range of potential pressures that can lead to local government autonomy and thus create a better platform to understand how and why decentralization occurs.
Local government and intergovernmental relations in nigerias. Fiscal autonomy is part of the institutional arrangement such as responsibility and revenue assignment in which the different levels of government operate. A common way to compare and assess fiscal autonomy is the extent to which resources and responsibilities are under the control of local and regional governments. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Local government, local government administration, local government reform, colonized, autonomy, constitutional. Why local governments should be given autonomy vanguard news.
Introduction many people think of and discuss local governments in nigeria as being autonomous. Inquiry into the flexibility and autonomy of local government. On 27 june 2014 the committee published its report on the flexibility and autonomy in local government. Local government handbook new york department of state. Eu policy documents recognise the critical importance of good governance at the local level. Pdf local government autonomy and its effectiveness in nigeria. This division of power simplifies the activities of government and serves. They are in fact political structures that have increasingly become sad and forceful reminders of the systematic. But it is obvious that we cannot have complete autonomy or complete local selfgovernment. After the revolution, the iranian government found that establishing the councils was the best way to transfer of power and resources from the central to local government. In dealing with local government, i realise that i have not dealt with all aspects of the local state, although i consider the status and character of local government to be an important measure of the health of both the local state and the state as a whole. The government will implement the decentralization reform, in accordance with the european charter of local autonomy, as an improvement of the quality of governance in direction of efficiency and effectiveness, as well in direction of strengthening accountability and increased autonomy of local government units. Home rule for municipal and county governments is now available in most states. The paper, therefore, suggests a new focus in which the emphasis should be on the desirability or otherwise of substantial autonomy for local governments in nigeria.
Further, from local governments, professional state and federal. Comparing local government autonomy across states comparing. Chapter 2 meaning, nature and scope of local governments. Such relationships among the tiers of government are not without tension and conflict. Local government produces continuity of policies, and councillors find it easy to serve together for efficient local services. A key element of local selfgovernment is financial autonomy. Section 14 subsection 2a of the 1999 constitution says sovereignty belongs to the people of nigeria from whom the government derives its authority and power fawehinmi, 2001. Arguably, such a different view of state local relations is entrenched in the louisiana constitution and bottomed on the principle of local self government. Assembly that a bill seeking for local governments financial autonomy.
By ochereome nnanna it will fail for the simple reason that autonomy for local. Pdf local government lg is an intermediary player between the federal authority and the grassroots in a given society. Autonomy refers to the capacity and right of a country or other jurisdiction to govern itself. Read all the latest news, breaking stories, top headlines, opinion, pictures and videos about local government autonomy from nigeria and the world on today. Connecting individual autonomy and l ocal self determination with demo cracy prepared for the american political scie nce association annual meeting and. Local government system is the hallmark of development and nigeria labour congress nlc will not rest on its oars until it is realized. In ontario canada, local governements, municipalities are creations of the provinces. The paper will also examine some of the inherent factors inhibiting local government autonomy in nigeria. Autonomy, state politics, constitution and local government introduction the national assemblys oversight function of amending the 1999 constitution has once again brought the vexing issue of local government autonomy to the front seat of nigerias political arena. This is with a view to understanding the intricacies of the fundamental problem of local government autonomy in nigeria. Subnational governments and centrallocal relationships in france. It is a strategic approach to the management of public resources and involves the quest for efficiency, effectiveness and economy. Pdf local government autonomy and development of localities in. A local government cannot proclaim any bylaw, regulation or take action unless it is so authorized by the ontario municipal act.
But there are some portions of the 1999 constitution that need to be touched to be in line with the autonomy of the local government. Constitutional principles, decentralization and local autonomy govern and underlie the formation, organization and functioning of local government, ensuring the interests and meet local. Introduction local government is the closest tier of government to the people. The israeli labor party, on the other hand, has proposed autonomy, but with many conditions. It is a strategic approach to the management of public resources and involves. By that i mean the local government should be put in check. The study adopted secondary source of collecting data. But the problem in iran as in other countries with historically strong.
Local government definition and meaning collins english. By state constitutional and or general law provisions, 48 states grant home rule au thority to municipalities and 37 states grant such powers to counties. The e uropean charter on local autonomy defines local self government as the right and ability of local authorities within the limits set by law, to manage public services in the. It revealed that there is a remarkably difference between local government autonomy and. If local governments should be granted autonomy it will be a welcome idea. But the indian constitution provides for a three tier. Roles and responsibilities of local governments councils in. The place and role of local government in federal systems konrad. Pdf the topical issue of local government lg autonomy in nigeria in relation to the development of the localities, the raison detre of lgs, has. Nov 10, 2016 assembly that a bill seeking for local governments financial autonomy. Connecting individual autonomy and l ocal self determination with demo cracy prepared for the american political scie nce. This grassroots democracy is primarily aimed at giving the vast majority of the people the fullest opportunity to participate in determining their own destiny. Ordinarily, federalism involves a two tier system centralunion government at the first level and the stateprovincial government at the second level.
Proceeding from theoretical framework and conceptualizations for clearer understanding, the paper discusses some dominant autonomy issues. Arguably, such a different view of statelocal relations is entrenched in the louisiana constitution and bottomed on the principle of local selfgovernment. Chapter 2 meaning, nature and scope of local governments india has the distinction of being a unique federal country. Local govt autonomy will speed up development nlc today. Selfgovernance, selfgovernment, or selfrule is the ability of a group or individual to exercise all necessary functions of regulation without intervention from an external authority. Local government autonomy as an imperative for true. Vatican city, almost all states have at least some local government.
I want to say that the autonomy of local government is a good idea. The paper examined a comparative analysis of local government autonomy and democratic governance in nigeria and usa. Local governments are essentially created to deliver services at the grassroots and bring governance closer to the people. The prime attribute of local government is the authority to endorse legislation in specific control and hence autonomy is enjoyed in a measured way. Feb 04, 2017 in ontario canada, local governements, municipalities are creations of the provinces. The federal military government accepted the report by recognizing local governments as a third tier of government and assigning specific duties to them see fourth schedule of the 1979 constitution. Local autonomy would be when some government entity is allowed the ability to set up their own rules, for those things happening within their confines. Between the welfare state and local government autonomy. The sector is a democratic level of government and its flexibility to make revenue decisions is an important component of any elected government.
The new york state department of state division of local government services assistslocalcitizensandlocalo. In a unitary system, power is shared between the central government and the local government. The core points in the 1976 reforms were as follows. The local councils can hardly be developmental, just as they are practically tied to the apron strings of the state by the constitution. Local government autonomy news latest breaking stories.
Local government and intergovernmental relations in. Finally, by using our local government autonomy index and. A comparative analysis of local government administration in. Some additional perspectives introduction this paper is prompted by to enshrine and define local government once and for all, a briefing paper by christine rose, which presents a useful analysis of central local government responsibilities. An overview of local government autonomy and its functions in. Equally true is the fact that satisfying the interests of community is and remains the primary aim of the functioning of local autonomy in public administration in territorialadministrative units.
Restoring local governments autonomy the guardian nigeria. The topical issue of local government lg autonomy in nigeria in relation to the development of the localities, the raison detre of lgs, has been examined in this paper. The local autonomy law, chihojichiho, passed by the house of representatives and the house of peers on march 28, 1947 and promulgated as law no. As a matter of principle, the mav does not agree with the concept of a rate cap. Performance management is increasingly gaining momentum in the public sector. A veritable tool for redressing usurpation of powers of local governments by the state governments in nigeria article pdf available november 20 with 1,339 reads.
It is generally referred to as the transaction between levels of government either national or regional or among federal, state and local governments ajulor and okewale, 2011. For two decades now, the french local government system has changed profoundly. The process of democratizing local government administration started as far back as 1954. We also use cluster analysis to create a classification scheme for different forms of local government autonomy. It revealed that there is a remarkably difference between local government autonomy and democratic governance in nigeria and usa.
Local government autonomy news latest breaking stories and. They are also political documents that reflect and communicate important aspects. Catalan flags are flown outside houses in barcelona by catalonian spaniards who desire a separate, autonomous catalon state. The scope and future of local government autonomy in nigeria.
Local government autonomy and development of localities in. Local government is the system of electing representatives to be responsible for the. Findings the states and local government autonomy 1. Prime minister begin ferociously opposed any autonomy, and the israeli government continues to harass and suppress the existing west bank arab population and its local representatives.