ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGARDS TO NATURAL SECURITY(A STUDY OF SOME SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA)
ABSTRACT
The study was on the performance of local government in regards to national security.  The study specific areas were to find out the specific causes and fundamental effects of Insecurity in Nigeria; to ascertain the extent to which Local government is equipped and empowered to provide security to Nigerians and to identify the challenges that has inhibited the Local government in performing its statutory functions. In the course of collecting data, the questionnaire was designed to meet the needs of the questionnaire items. The data collected for the study was organized into frequency distribution table and percentages and was explained concisely. In conclusion, the abysmal failure of successive administrations in Nigeria to address National security challenges and challenges of sustainable development such as poverty, unemployment and inequitable distribution of wealth among ethnic nationalities, ultimately resulted to anger, agitation and violent crimes against the Nigerian state by some individuals and groups.  Nigerian Government and other interest groups should develop sincere political will to implement the recommendations of several panels and committees set-up to investigate immediate and remote causes of violent, conflict and crisis in Nigeria specially in the local government level.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.2    Statement Of Problem
1.3    Objectives of the Study
1.4     Research Questions
1.5    Research Hypotheses
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1    Conceptual Framework
2.1.1    The Concept of National Security
2.1.2    Impact of National Security Challenges on Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Niger Delta Experience
2.2    Theoretical Framework
2.2.1    Democratic-Participatory and efficiency models/theories
2.2.2    Efficiency Theory
2.3    Empirical Studies
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1    Research Design
3.2    Population of the study
3.5    Method of Data Collection
3.6    Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND
4.2     Discussion of Results
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary of Findings
5.2     Conclusion
5.3    Recommendations
References
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Local government administrations (LG) globally vary in size and structure and operate under different arrangements based on the system of government in different nations. However as observed by Mello, (2012) local governments globally strive to meet peoples’ demands for goods and services in a cost effective manner particularly at the lowest level of government or government at the grass root. Among the characteristics generally manifested by local government include that it is a subordinate system of government or subunit of a federal/central or state government and charged with powers to perform legislative, administrative and quasi-judicial functions as the case may be. It also has the power to formulate policies, prepare budgets and a measure of control over its own staff, with a view that it is rightly position to ensure unhindered and efficient service delivery (Chukwuemeka et al, 2014, Otinche, 2014, Ezeani, 2012 and Tumini 2011).
Among the notable feature of local government in Nigeria is that it operates a unified administrative system and expected to have an elected officials. The 1976 Local Government Reform fixes the population of a local government not less than 150,000 and not more than 800, 000. In all, there are 774 local governments in Nigeria including the four area councils in Abuja. The Local Government Service Commission has been empowered to handle staff matters particularly those in senior category while the State Assembly has oversight functions on its operation. In addition, Governor’s office, the Ministry of Local Government and Finance Ministry exercise authority in respect of establishment matters. The Office of the Auditor General of the state among other performs some regulatory functions over the operations of local government. Ajayi (2000), Kolawole (1997) and Adewale (1990) argued that among other reasons for the existence of local government are the needs to toy in line with modern administrative practices. This position finds expression in the need for decentralization, democratic participation, speedy socio-economic development at the grassroot, bridging of communication gap and serving as a platform for training of future leaders. Furthermore, to achieve these goals, for instance, Section 7(6) of the 1999 Constitution provides that: (a) the National Assembly shall make provisions of statutory allocations of public revenue to local government councils in the federation, and (b) the Houses of Assembly of states shall make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to local government councils within the state.
As noted by Onah (1995), in spite of the fact that the 1976 local government reforms granted greater autonomy, powers and functions to local governments, they still have a long way to go towards the satisfactory performance of their functions in many areas. The above statement is in consonant with the state of affairs in the local government system in Nigeria. The basic question central to this paper is why the local governments in other systems where there are no direct constitutional provisions and huge resource base as in Britain and United States of America are democratically run and efficient in service delivery while same is not true of Nigeria.
1.2    Statement of the Problem
There is high level of insecurity in the country, particularly, in the Northern zone where ‘Boko Haram’ has become a threat to business activities. No investor will be willing to invest where his investment is not secured. Many companies and businesses in the Northern part of the country have stopped operation due to “Boko Haram” scourge. The cost of life and material resources lost  to  insecurity  in  the  country  since  the  past  few  years  is  unquantifiable.  The  frequent occurrence  of  bomb  explosions,  orchestrated  by  the  acclaimed  religious  extremists  in  the northern part of the country, has assumed a worrisome dimension. An estimated number of about 2,000  lives  have  been  lost  to  bomb  explosion  from  2010  till  date.  According  to  security information  released  by  Crime  Guard,  a  security  monitoring  group,  between  March  and December 2012, there were a total of 153 successful explosions in the country which claimed several lives and properties and led to closure of many businesses in the country. As a result of insecurity in  the country  many businesses and  companies in their  numbers are  closing  down operations in the  north and relocating to other African countries for  fear of loss of lives and properties. And the few remaining companies operate on skeletal bases. Insecurity in the country not  only  affects  foreign  direct  investment  and  business  activities,  it  also  affects  business confidence as many companies lost confidence in establishing businesses in some parts of the country.
1.3    Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study are:
i.    To find out the specific causes and fundamental effects of Insecurity in Nigeria.
ii.    To ascertain the extent to which Local government is equipped and empowered to provide security to Nigerians.
iii.    To identify the challenges that has inhibited the Local government in performing its statutory functions.
iv.    To explore the relevance of the Local government in combating insecurity in Nigeria.
v.    To seek out solutions to insecurity in Nigeria and corrections that can be made to better the Local government.
1.4     Research Questions
The research work therefore intends to find out answers to the following problems identified as follows:
i.    What are the causes and effects of insecurity in Nigeria?
ii.    Is the Local government equipped and properly empowered to provide security to Nigerians?
iii.    What are the factors that have inhibited the Local government in performing its statutory functions?
iv.    Is the Local government relevant in combating insecurity in Nigeria?
v.    What are the steps to be made to enhance greater security in Nigeria and to make the Nigeria police force more responsive to her duties?
1.5    Research Hypotheses
The following were the hypotheses drafted from the research questions;
H1: Corruption is not the major causes of insecurity in Nigeria.
H2:    Local government is not equipped and empowered in a great extent to provide security to Nigerians.
H3:    Local government is not significant in in combating insecurity in Nigeria.