CHAPTER 1

1.1Background to The Study

The local government is viewed as a semi-autonomous area which is formed under the constitution or general laws of a state to carry out functions within specified geographical area. Agbakoba (2004), stated that the local government is an administrative and political unit that is vested with the powers under law to govern a specified locality. Its philosophy is entrenched on the idea of grassroots level participation in government.

scholars and practitioners have indicated that local government are not only formed as representative arm of the state and federal government ,but as a means by which which goods and services are delivered to the people within the framework of enabling laws which established them.

Consequently it is the need to foster a balanced development in the rural areas and enhance the full participation of the rural dwellers that precipitate the establishment of the local government administration. The local government constitutes as a channel of administrative and political structure and facilitates national integration, rural commitment in governance, and a channel of fostering development at the grassroots. The local government is viewed as a co-partner with the state and federal government,Therefore the research seek to investigate local government administration as a panacea for rural transformation

1.2     Statement of the Problem

The rural populace is confronted with numerous developmental needs such as education, water, health care facility, goodroads, electricity etc. This lack of basic amenities hasconstituted serious challenge to the living standard of the people resulting in poverty, poor health and living standard. Consequently the local government administration was instituted to serve as a bridge between the state and federal government in executing government development program at the local communities so as to enhance socio-economic development if the rural areas

However according to Dare, (1989:38) The localgovernment has not made the much needed significant impact towards the socio-economic development of the rural populace. He stated the much problems lies in the lack of provision of adequate funds to the local government. AlsoOgunna (1980:44) identifies factors militating against the performance ofthe local government to include inadequate funding, poor executive capacity, poor and inadequate working equipment, staff incompetency and state government interference with its internal operations leading to excessive delays and bureaucracy. He therefore advocate for the review of the local government laws and regulation for a new reform to enhance a more effective local government administration. Therefore the problem confronting the research is to proffer an appraisal of local government administration as a panacea for rural transformation