Understanding decentralization within local ggovernments in a democratized Nigeria: perspectives and challenges

Abstract

Over the years and across the country, Local Governments have not been able to satisfactorily perform all functions assigned to it by the 1999 Constitution. Roads, streets, street lighting, drainage channels, parks, gardens, primary health care and schools are either not maintained or not in existence. Also cemeteries, slaughter houses and many other functions are either not provided or not maintained. Yet, the functions, democratic process and decentralization at the LGs are contained in Section 7 and 4th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution. Scholarly postulations in recent times across the globe favour decentralization as not only a democratic principle but that it helps LGs achieve its mandates satisfactorily. Despite this, the problem of active performance by LGs is still a mirage, why? What is responsible for this orgy scenario, could it be the democratization or perspective of decentralization? This paper investigates domestication of decentralization policy by LGs focusing on the perspectives and challenges. We relied on the axioms of structural functionalism and employed documentary method for data collection while content analysis and narrative analytical technique was adopted. Relying on various strands of literature we argue that decentralization helps LGs.