LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL AUTONOMY AND ITS POLICY IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS IN NIGERIAN: A STUDY OF DONGA LGA

Abstract

This research examined policy implementation matters and problems/challenges of financial autonomy in Nigerian local governments. This become necessary as the need for effective implementation of local government policies for the drive of enhancing social and economic well-being of the rural dwellers is very crucial. In Nigeria for instance, the understanding of this objective was obstructed by inadequate financial resources due to absence of financial autonomy. The research used quantitative research design with a sample of 75 administrative and executive staff of the Donga local government. The findings of the study indicated that lack of proper implementation of local government policies due to nonappearance of financial autonomy is not a hindrance to rural development. It also showed that local government financial autonomy does not enhances effective policy implementation at local level. The study therefore, recommended that the federal constitution should be amended so as to allow local governments to have full financial autonomy so as to have adequate financial resources to plan and implement local policies withing rural community, state-local joint accounts should be discarded through constitutional review so as to allow local governments have complete control of its resources, corruption should be streak out completely as to enhance local government employee’s working capabilities, and finally, bureaucratic capacity should be strengthened with emphasis given to merit recruitment with a view to have efficient employees capable of implementing local government policies for the betterment of the rural dwellers in the country.