OBSTACLES TO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN NIGERIA
 (A CASE STUDY OF NKANU EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE)

ABSTRACT
The main aim of the research is bordered on “Obstacles to effective implementation of policies in the local government system . Local government is the third tier of government in Nigeria, and is aimed at accelerating rural and community development. The literatures reviewed that policy making and implementation seem to be the most important phase in rural development. Policy implementation gap, lack of policy implementation and evaluation etc were seen as challenges to implementation in the local government. Both primary and secondary sources of data collections were used and the population of the research study was determined through the use of chi-square formular, and the data were analyzed via the use of simple percentage and table. The study revealed that policy implementation is a vital tool for development at local government; the study further revealed that policy at the local government are either not implemented or implemented haphazardly. Based on the finding, the study recommended that there should be a good communication network between the politicians and the people, and also that government should always endeavour to implement policies, for smooth local government operations.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    Background to the Study                    
1.2    Statement of the Problems            
1.3    Objectives of the Study             
1.4    Theoretical Foundation                     
1.5    Significance of the Study         
1.6    Research Questions                    
1.7    Scope of the Study                 
1.8    Limitations of the Study                 
1.9    Definition of Terms                     
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1     The Concept of Local Government in Nigeria         
2.2     Meaning of Local Government                      
2.3   Historical Development of Local Government in Nigeria
2.4     Policy Implementation in the Local Government
        in Nigeria                           
2.5     Implementation Gap in Local Government in Nigeria 
2.6      Policy Formulation                   
2.7      Policy Implementation                    
2.8     Policy Evaluation                    
          References                                       
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.1    Research Design                    
3.2   Sources of Data Collection                    
3.3     Location of The Study                               
3.4    Data Collection                          
3.5     Population of the Study                       
3.6    Determination of Sample Size                      
3.7    Instrumentation                        
3.8    Validation of Data Instrument               
3.9    Reliability of Data Instrument              
3.10 Instrument Return Rate                     
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1    Data Presentation                      
4.2    Data Analysis                          
4.3    CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND CONCLUSION
5.1    Summary of Findings                
5.2    Recommendations                    
5.3    Conclusion                  
Bibliography                                 
Appendix                                    

LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1:     What problem do you think hinders Development in the local government (Nkanu East  LGA)?
Table 4.2:    What role does the local government play in policy formulation?
Table 4.3:    To what extent can the local government achieve the implementation of its policies?
Table 4.4:    What are the factors responsible for poor management of revenue in Nkanu East  Local government?

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    Background and Need for the Study
One of the problems facing African Governments is how to increase the standard of living and the general well being of their people, especially the rural poor. Commenting on these, Adewumi (2004:42) argues that the local government plays an important role in the training and acceleration of rural development in no smaller measure for the citizen to take on intelligent and efficient experience in dealing with local affairs which assist in the social, political and economic development of the area.
The involvement of rural dwellers in making decision for the development activities as well as the implementation of the decisions has been one of the major factors that gave birth to the local government in most of the advanced countries, like USA. Various regimes and government in the country has rolled out policies and programmes aimed at promoting and accelerating development in the rural areas.
According to Odenigwe, (2008:17) the desire to empower the rural dwellers for maximum development and political participation, at the grass-root level has been responsible for the continuous evaluation of the local government structure in Nigeria, and the implementation of policies made for the development of the area. The transformation exercise at the local government area’s are as a result of the policies made and implement for the smooth running of the local affairs.
However, in Nigeria, political history local government has an origin, which dates back to the colonial era. It was initially introduced as a result of British policy of indirect rule, whereby Lord Lugard used traditional rulers as native authorities to administer colonial taxes and rates after the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914. This later transformed into the modern system of local government. For the purpose of community development and this was later copied into other parts of the country, and was practiced in various forms, although the structure and organization varied in the various local government system, as at then (Ademola 2009 :21).
Since 1976 reforms of local government system in Nigeria, succeeding regimes have made several attempts in implementing policies that were made for the improvement of local government. This policy are geared towards improving the living standard of the people in the rural area, and also in strengthening development in the rural areas, since the local government occupies the third tier of government in Nigeria political structure.
In encouraging Local Government in Nigeria, the Military Administration in 70’s took a decision by recognizing the local government as the third tier of government in Nigeria, and this decision was implemented by incorporating the local government as a tier of government in the 2009 constitution of Nigeria. This led to the recognition of Nkanu East local Government Area, as one of the local government areas in Nigeria, the uniqueness of the local government is that it consist of urban, semi urban and rural communities.

1.2    Statement  of the Problem
In Nigeria, local government is seen as the government nearest to the people and has been recognized as an institution capable of transforming the lives of the rural dwellers for good.
However, local government has not been able to meet up with this demand placed on it, due to lack of formulation of policies for the rural dwellers, even the policies formulated, they are faced with the challenges of implementation of policies and this sometimes is caused by lack of continuity. The emphasis of using the local government as a strategy for fostering, promoting, and implementing rural development has not really been achieved because the policies made sometimes are not for the good interest of the people, and the people are not carried along in the policy making process, so as to know what their needs and challenges are and external interference by the state and federal government has largely affected policy making and implementation in the local government. The research study is geared towards providing solutions to these challenges facing the local government in Nigeria.
1.3    Objectives of the Study
The aim of the research study is to examine obstacles to policy implementation in the local government and how it can assist in fostering development in the rural area, and also bring government closer to the people.  However, the specific objectives are as follows:
1.    To ascertain the benefits of policy implementation in the local government as a vehicle for rural development.
2.    To find out the obstacles affecting policy implementations in the local government administration.
3.    To ensure that formulated policies are implemented effectively and efficiently to delivery services to the rural dwellers.
4.    To mobilize human and material resource through involvement of member of the public in policy making for the development of their localities.  
5.    To proffer solutions to the identified problems.  
1.4    Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated for the purpose of the research study, so as to assist in generating data for the research study.
1.    What problem do you think hinders development in the local government (Nkanu East LGA).
2.    What role does the local government play in policy formulation?
3.    To what extent does rural dwellers benefit from policy implementation of the local government as vehicle for rural development?
4.    What are the factors responsible for poor management of revenue in Nkanu East Local government?
1.5    Hypotheses
Hypothesis One
H0:    Policy implementation in the local government does not serve as a vehicle for rural development.
H1:    Policy implementation in the local government serves as a vehicle for rural development.

Hypothesis Two
H0:    Formulated policies are not implemented effectively and efficiently to delivery services to the rural dwellers.
H2:    Formulated policies are implemented effectively and efficiently to delivery services to the rural dwellers.

1.6    Significance of the Study
This study is significance for the following reason
1.    The study will be relevant in highlighting the importance of policy implementation in the local government in Nigeria.
2.    The study will be significance in revealing the obstacles affecting policy implementation and development in the rural area, and the study will suggest possible ways of solving this problems.
3.    The study will reveal the ways through which the study can improve policy implementation towards the growth, development and smooth running of the local affair in the local government in Nigeria. And finally the study will recommend to the government on how to improve their policy making and implementation and suggest ways for further Nkanu East on this area of study.

1.7    Delimitation /Scope of the Study
The research study intends to critically examine, policy implementation in the local government in Nigeria, and the study will be restricted to Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
1.8    Limitations of the Study
In course of carrying out the research study, many challenges slammed up, among which are:
•    Financial Constraints: As a student there was not enough fund in executing the project work, in terms of transportation and sourcing of relevant research materials.
•    Time Constraints: Time was another challenge the researchers hard, as the work came up at a point when the researchers was preparing for their final year examination and also considering other academic activities lined up for the researchers to attend to.
•    Lack of Co-operation: Most of the respondents did not co-operate as was expected, most of them were reluctant in filling the questionnaires given to them, while many did not provide answers to the oral questions projected to them.
    However, with all these problems put together the researchers went ahead with the research project.
1.9    Definition of Terms
-    Policy:  A policy is a principles or protocol that guide decision and achieve rational outcome. It is also “whatever government chooses to do or not to do” (Dye 1972:1).
-    Implementation: In these contents of the research study, implementation means putting to work formulated policies in other to achieve rural development in the rural areas, through the instrument of local government.
-    Local Government: This is political subdivision of a state constituted by law and having substantial control of local affairs, inclNkanu East ng power to impose taxes and exact labour  for prescribed purpose. (Okoh 2006 ).
-    Development: Development is a multi-dimensional process involving a re-organizational and re-orientation of the entire economic and social system, in addition to improve income and outcome.

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