REVENUE GENERATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT IN JALINGO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Abstract

This study assessed revenue generation and Local Government Development in Jalingo Local Government Area. Specifically, the study examine the available revenue sources in the study area, assess the effect of revenue generation on local government development in Jalingo LGA and identify the challenges affecting revenue generation and local government development in the study area. The
research used quantitative research design with a sample size of 314 staff of Jalingo Local Government. Data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results were presented in frequencies, percentages, tables, charts, mean and standard deviation. The hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed tax as major source of revenue in the study area. It was found that revenue generation has effect on socio-economic development especially in areas of infrastructural, education, health care services and economic development. The result on challenges affecting revenue generation and local government development revealed lack of tax obligations, lack of autonomy and corruption. Other challenges faced in revenue collection, includes inadequate infrastructure, poor tax administration, inadequate finance, poor implementation of projects, lack of competent manpower, high level of illiteracy, lack of due consultation and non-involvement of local dwellers in policy decisions and hijack of local government allocation by the state government. Furthermore, the result of the hypothesis shows that revenue generation has a significant effect on socio-economic development in Jalingo LGA. It is therefore recommended that the state government should desist from hijacking elastic local government revenue points to enable it raise adequate fund for provision of quality healthcare services to the people in a sustainable manner and that there should be regular capacity building for revenue collection officers to enable them generate funds that will be deployed to construction and maintenance of road infrastructure and socio-economic development in the area.