Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 2

Term: 1^st Term

Week: 12

Class: Senior Secondary School 2

Age: 16 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       Local government III

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

1. Outline the roles of traditional rulers in local government administration
2. State the local government reforms
3. Discuss the problems facing the local government in Nigeria
4. Discuss ways to improve local government administration in Nigeria

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

Roles of Traditional Rulers in Local Government Administration

1. They act as a vital link between the people and the government.
2. They act as custodian of the people and culture.
3. They assist in the collection of taxes and levies at the local government.
4. Laws and regulations were made by the traditional rulers and council of elders for the order and good of government of the society.
5. They are representatives of the people at the grassroots and also serve as intermediaries between the people and the government.
6. Traditional rulers still lead their people to provide essential amenities through communal labour.
7. They are symbols of unity. They unify different segments of the society, etc.

The 1976 Local Government Reforms

1. There was the introduction of a uniform system of local government throughout the country in terms of functions, structure, financing, etc.
2. The guidelines set out the criteria for the creation of new local governments of which an area to be created as a local government must have a population that will range between 100,000 and 800,000.
3. All the local governments were made single-tier local governments instead of multiple systems.
4. All the local governments were made the third-tier government after the federal and state governments.
5. The chairman and supervisory councilors were made full-time employees of local governments.
6. All past debts of local government were written off to enable them to take off effectively.
7. Special grants were made available to the new local governments to enable them to build and establish their secretariats.
8. All state governments were mandated to set up local government service Boards aimed at improving the quality of personnel of local governments.
9. Local government authorities were assigned more responsibilities as an agency for the promotion of development at the local level.
10. In order to insulate local government from partisan politics, local government councilors were to be elected on individual merits instead of on party tickets.
11. Both federal and state governments were mandated to give matching grants and loans to the new local governments
12. The reform harmonized the conditions of service of local government personnel with the personnel of the state and federal government.
13. A greater measure of independence was granted to the local government in order to carry out their functions effectively.
14. Finally, the reforms made attempts to insulate traditional rulers from partisan politics by setting up a separate council of chiefs with essentially advisory roles.

Problems Facing Local Government in Nigeria Today

1. Financial Problems: Inadequate funds is one of the major problems facing local government authorities. The most unfortunate aspect of this problem is that many of these councils are not in a position to generate enough revenue internally.
2. Embezzlement: The corrupt officials of these councils divert money meant for some projects to their personal purses.

3. Shortage of trained personnel: A shortage of trained administrative, technical, and professional personnel renders local governments ineffective and inefficient in the performance of their constitutional functions.
4. Partisan Politics: Involvement in local politics by council officials is a big problem that confronts local governments. It breeds polarized and antagonistic factions; it also breeds political wranglings at the expense of their constitutional council duties.
5. Political Interference: frequent and unnecessary political interference from state governments is one of the constant problems plaguing local government authorities. Others include; Lack of infrastructure, Illiteracy among councilors, Bribery and corruption, Constant interference by traditional rulers, The size of local government councils, Favoritism and nepotism, Lack of political education, Poor method of collection of taxes, and a Poor communication system.

Measures Or Ways to Improve Local Government Administration in Nigeria.

1. Greater autonomy; undue interference by higher tiers of government limits the capacity of local governments to effectively and efficiently carry out their constitutionally assigned functions.
2. Direct financial allocation; there is a need for local government to get their allocations directly from the federation account, rather than through the joint local government/state account which sometimes leads to the withholding of funds meant for local governments.
3. Improved welfare/remuneration of local government staff; this would help to motivate local government staff as well as attract brilliant and competent people to local government service.
4. Periodic training and development; local government staff should be constantly exposed through regular training and development programs. This would help them update their skills and enhance their talents, etc.

EVALUATION:    1. State five roles of traditional rulers in local government administration

2. State 6 of the 1976 local government reforms
3. Discuss four problems facing local government administration
4. Discuss ways to improve the local government administration

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively