Colonialism and the Origin of Modern Local Government Administration in Nigeria
Abstract
The study examined the historical trajectory of colonialism and the origin of local government administration in Nigeria, with a focus on the structural, political, and socio-economic transformations introduced during British rule. Using a historical-descriptive approach, qualitative indices such as archival records, colonial government reports, and secondary literature were critically analysed to trace the pre-colonial indigenous governance systems, the imposition of indirect rule, and the institutional restructuring that shaped modern local government. The study highlighted how colonial authorities adapted indigenous institutions, particularly traditional chieftaincies, as instruments of administrative control, thereby eroding communal participatory governance and entrenching hierarchical and centralised structures. The findings revealed that colonial local government administration was more extractive than developmental, prioritising taxation and law enforcement over service delivery. The study concluded that the legacy of colonial governance, characterised by weak grassroots participation, fiscal dependency, and authoritarian traditions, continues to shape contemporary challenges in Nigerian local government administration.
Author
- David Aniefiok Titus
Department of Public Administration
Federal University Otuoke
Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Email: davtitus4@gmail.com