Local Government Systems in United States of America and Britain: A Comparative Analysis and Lessons for Nigeria
Abstract
The essence of the existence of Local Governments is to decentralise the authority and power of the Central or State Government and bring development to the grass-root. Scholars have failed to compare and analyse Local Government systems in USA and Britain to determine whether the Local Governments have achieved relative administrative and financial autonomy and grassroot democracy, and are efficient in the delivery of public goods and services at the grass-root, to serve as a model for Nigeria. The study which is descriptive relied on secondary source of data and was anchored on Democratic-participatory and Efficiency theories. It was revealed that while the Local Governments in USA and Britain enjoy relative autonomy, are democratically constituted/run, and efficient in the delivery of public goods and services at the grass-root, the reverse is the case in Nigeria. It concluded that Local Governments in USA and Britain have performed better than those in Nigeria. It recommended that State Governments should grant the Local Governments in Nigeria relative administrative and financial autonomy and ensure that efficient delivery of public goods and services and participatory democracy are achieved at the Local levels.
Authors
- Osita Adah
Department of Political Science and Public Administration,
Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria
Tel: 08062582912; Email: ositaadah@gmail.com