CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background and of the Study

The concept of Inter-governmental relations is associated with States and Local Government areas having a Federal Administration system where the relationship between the Federal, Central or National governmental and major sub-national unit are formally spelt out in the constitution. Intergovernmental relations have been seen as a system of transactions among structured levels of government in a state. It is also seen as registration in which the parties are negotiating advantageous positions for power, money and problems-solving responsibility (Olugbeni: 1980).

The goals of Inter-governmental relations on local government administration are to promote peace and harmony among the three tiers of government, which are the Federal, state and local government. In so doing, inter-governmental relations will help to minimize inter-jurisdictional conflicts among the various levels of government. Also to boost greater national economic integration through the activities of the three levels of government. To enhance the emergence of co-operative rather than competitive Federation there is also need to enhance effective and efficient utilization of available human and material resources among the three levels of government. To help solve the problem of rural and urban poverty. To achieve a situation where there is special need for integrating programmers on a nationwide scale. To look into the situation where states, local government on unit of the federal set up have responsibilities with no resources base to perform them (John Nwafor: 1998).

The achievement of the objectives of inter-governmental relations is dependent on some social factors within the Nigeria social system. Some social factors include the political setting and the state of the economy in the nation. Looking at the political setting, the inter-governmental relations are basically based on the three tiers of Government that is the Federal, State and Local Government. But come to look at that, the Federal and State Government is said to have more autonomy than the local government due to the facts that they are the last tier of government. That is why local government is not given its full autonomy to do things on its own. The other tiers of the government still tell them what to do, how to make their own policies, how to elect/appoint those to rule them like the Chancellors or Chairmen and so on. Local Government is still dependent on the other tires of Government making them to be subordinate and loyal (Ralph Nwokedi: 2002).

Due to the fact that States and Local Governments are still dependent of the other tie of Government which is the Federal Government, they should be greater independence of these tiers of Government so as to promote their strength of survival and equally support them to execute their fundamental responsibilities to its masses.

Another problem is the State of the nation’s economy. The nation’s economy really influenced the nature and scope of intergovernmental relations in Local Government administration in Nigeria. The wealth of any nation is a key factor in determining its pattern of material relation. Between 1960 and 1970, the basis of fiscal relations between the federal, state and Local Government were richer and more powerful than the Local Government. But these problems will come to an end if the Local Government has greater control of the tax revenue. The Local Government control 50% of the tax revenue allocation of its area without the Federal or State Government interference. They should also receive grants and aids from outside and within the country, making them powerful and independent of their own. Their Federation Allocation Account should be granted to them annually or monthly as the case may be. They should be all allowed to run their affairs especially when it comes to monetary matters (Okoli Felix and Osagi Onah  2002)

In so doing, channel of communication should be at its high level between the Federal, State and Local Government in order to produce an effective result. This is because without one another there would not be effectiveness due to the fact that an inter-governmental relation is relationship between the three tiers of Government.

1.2       Statement Problem

In a close look of Nigerian problems or crisis in Nigeria it criticize, one has to follow the recent trend of the raging controversy between the Federal and State Governments over the exercise of power or control of revenue resources of Local Government on how not to have assumed the undue Prominence give to it as a constitutional question to Nigeria leaders, particularly the Federal level had adhered strictly to the norms of Federation and followed the precedents established by the past Democratic Governments in Nigerian Federation.

In Nigeria, the issue of sharing resources among the three levels of Government has remained controversial due to lack of acceptable formular. It generates tension and bad blood among the three tiers of Government. This has resulted in setting up of different committees or commissions to prescribe the formular to be used. Also there exists conflict between the Federal, state and local government are acceptable formular for sharing revenue. For instance, the conflicts are usually whether the principle of deviation of need, natural resources or landmass should be used as a basis for the purpose. Even when these principles may be generally accepted as the main basis for working out revenue allocation formular, conflict might still arise following as to which of the principles takes precedence over others as the main criteria for sharing the revenue.

There is a problem of tax jurisdiction, which refers to the problems of which aspect of Government should collect what revenue over a particular area. These have been serious problem between the federal, state and local Governments. Their share of tax revenue seriously affects Local Governments. They are the lowest level of Government. Likewise they collect the least amount of tax revenue, which makes them still stagnant.

Another problem is the existence of control of one level of Government by another in any aspect (Abonyi , 2005). Local Government is dominated by the Federal and State Governments. They do not have their own autonomy making them too dependent on the other levels of Governments. Mention must be made of the problem of finding the best method of channeling revenue from one level of Government to another especially from the Federal to the Local Government. (Ugwu, 1998:90).

1.3       Research Questions

(i)         In what areas has the Federal control or State Government affected Nsit Ibom Local Government initiatives in socio-economic and political development?

(ii)        Does the Federal Government/Akwa Ibom State Government follow the pattern?

of relationship designed in 2007 constitution?

(iii)       What are the factors militating against Federal-State Government relationship in Nigeria?

1.4       Significance of the Study

This study will be great benefit to Nsit Ibom Local Government of Akwa Ibom State. This is because it will be exposed to the challenges it is facing in inter-government relations.

It will also be of great significance to researchers by way of making them aware of the problems that have been uncovered by the researcher, so that they would know where to start from in their subsequent research work in the area of inter-governmental relations in Nigeria.

It would also be useful to university students when making a research work on this topic. When doing a likely research. The study would be significant to policy makers and policy implementers, as they would make use of the findings and recommendations of this study.

1.5       Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is impact of Inter-governmental relations on Local Government Administration in Nigeria, with particular reference to Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Other objectives of the study include:-

(i)              To determine the relevance of Inter-governmental Relations in Nigeria

(ii)            To determine the main sources of conflict among the various levels of Government in Inter-governmental Relations in Nigeria.

(iii)          To recommend measures required for an improved Inter-governmental Relations in Nigeria.

(iv)          To recommend solutions to Inter-jurisdictional conflict among the various levels of Government.

1.5       Scope of the Study

The study is in the impact of intergovernmental Relations in Local Government Administration in Nigeria. But due to the fact that there are many Local Governments in Nigeria, the researcher decided to centre the research in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.

1.6    Limitation of the Study

The researcher encounter with some problem in undertaking this study notably in the area of data collection. The other problems are as follows:

Time was a problem as the time allowed for the study was grossly inadequate. The researcher has to use the time allowed for lectures for research.

Choosing the right Local Government for case study, it was not easy to get the right Local Government that could give out accurate and detailed information needed by the researcher.

Resources was another constraint as the researcher was unable to execute the work more effectively due to insufficient financial resources because of this, the researcher has to make sure of the little information she could get.

1.7       Operational Definition of Terms/Concepts

In the course of this research work, some concepts were used and easy comprehensive understanding of the entire work, these concepts have been explained.

Local Government: This is the third tier of Government within the State and is charge with the responsibility and administration of the people at the grassroots. It is also a Government established at the Local level through an Act of parliament to deal with specific matters as it affects the local people.

Central Government: This is not only the first but the mega-Government which exercise exclusive power and its superior to both the state and Local Governments.

Government: This is the agency of the ruling class which is charged with the responsibility of exercising the State power on behalf of the people.

Objectives: This is the end-result to which an organization or Government’s activity is to be directed. Objectives are hierarchical in nature and are determined or formulated after economic social and political forces affecting the organization have been appraised.

Development: It is the quality of self-improvement of man that applies to whole societies and people. It means the removal of obstacles to the progressive or qualitative transformation of man and such obstacles include hunger, poverty, ignorance, disease, malnutrition, unemployment, to mention but a few