Local Government and Rural Development in Nigeria:A Case Study of Nkanu East Local Government Area (2008 – 2015)

The major concern of this research work is to examine the role of local government in rural development, in Nigeria. Nkanu East local government council in Enugu state was selected for a case study. The study used both primary and secondary data. It also used quantitative methods for data presentation and interpretation and then content analysis for discussion of research questions. Systems theory was adopted to explain how local government as a system, functions as one of an interdependent system, and how dysfunction in a part affects the other parts. Three research questions were presented for investigation. The summary of research findings are that, (i) local government system is strategic in rural development programmes in Nigeria; (ii) Nkanu East local government did not substantially implement rural development programmes in the area during the study period, and (iii) bad leadership posed hindrance to implementation of rural development projects in the area. In addition, problems confronting local government were identified. They are interwoven, and consist of lack of autonomy, mismanagement of scarce funds, poor supervision, and discomfiting legal framework put in place by the state to control the system. The results are bad leadership, corruption and high level of profligacy experienced across every tier of government in Nigeria. In consonance, the study made some useful recommendations, aimed at eradicating these problems and then, repositioning the system.