Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 2

Term: 1^st Term

Week: 10

Class: Senior Secondary School 2

Age: 16 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       Local government I

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Explain the meaning of local government administration
2. State the types of local government administration
3. State the functions of the local government

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

A Local Government is a government at the grassroots level. It is a political authority that is created for the local communities for the purpose of providing local services and promoting local democracy.

In other words, a Local Government may be defined as one created specifically to cater to the local needs of people living within its area of jurisdiction.

REASONS FOR THE CREATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

1. To Bring Government Nearer the People: The local government helps to ensure that as many people as possible feel the impact of government. Without the existence of local government, many people would be left out of government activities.

2. Even and rapid development: The creation of local government makes it easier for the disbursement and distribution of resources from the state or federal government to the local government. This helps in to promote development by offering local governments the opportunity to take state or federal government initiatives in the development of their areas.

3. Encourage Community Development Efforts: The existence of local government enables local communities to come together with the aim of executing self-help projects. E.g. public wells, communal farms, canals, etc.

4. Political Education And Leadership Training: In the area of mass mobilization, leadership training, and public enlightenment campaigns are most effective when carried out at the local level. Similarly, local government serves as training ground for politicians who may wish to go beyond the local level and preferably in the local government politics and acquire some experience with the ultimate aim of moving steps ahead to the state or national level.

Others include, the need to satisfy cultural diversity, to serve as an experimentation ground for policies, to serve as a communication link, accommodate local peculiarities, etc.

FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

1. Provisions Of Local Infrastructures: The local government all over the world has the function of providing such infrastructure as roads, street lights, boreholes, pipe born water, schools and cottage hospitals for the benefit of their host communities.

2. Making Of Bye Laws: Building Of Motor Parks, Markets And Abattoirs: Local governments build and maintains motor parks, markets, and abattoirs for the benefits of members of the public. Fees are usually charged for the use of these facilities.

3. Collection Of Rates, Levies And Taxes: Local government collects money in various ways from people living within their areas of jurisdiction for the funding of services. 

4. Provision Of Health Care: Local government provide basic health care for people living within their communities or areas of jurisdiction.

Others include, provision of services of local interest, registration of births, deaths and marriages, public enlightenment, maintenance of law and order, granting of licenses, agricultural extension services, participating in commercial and industrial activities, and provision of social services.

TYPES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

1. The French Type

2. The English Type

3. The Communist Type

EVALUATION:    1. Define local government

2. Give reasons for the creation of local government
3. State the types of local governments

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively