The state and local government joint account system and performance of local government councils in Nigeria: a case study of Awgu local council of Enugu state (1999-2016)
- Authors: Okafor, Chukwuemeka
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Local finance --Nigeria Local government-- Nigeria Intergovernmental fiscal relations|
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M.Admin
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13917 , vital:39727
- Description: The State and Local Government Joint Account system was introduced in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the basic aim of pooling all the financial allocations due to the various local government councils from the Federation Account for onward distribution by the states to the local councils. This is to ensure that the state governments effectively control and monitor expenditure by the executives of the local government councils and also to ensure that the funds are properly allocated to various areas of need. This provision is contained in Section 162 (5) of the Constitution which states that “the amount standing to the credit of local government councils in the Federation Account shall also be allocated to the states for the benefit of their local government councils on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly”. Section 162 (7) also states that “each state shall pay to local government councils in its area of jurisdiction such proportion of its total revenue on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly”. However, this arrangement has not worked well as state governments continue to manipulate the joint account through illegal deductions, misappropriations, deliberate delays in disbursement and in failure to remit their 10% of internally generated revenue as stipulated in the Constitution. This study examines the State and Local Government Joint Account system in relation to the fiscal autonomy of local government councils and the impact of the joint account system on public service delivery at Awgu Local Government Council. The study used the qualitative methodology design with focus on case-study approach. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected through interviews from stakeholders in the joint account system and secondary data collected from relevant textual sources. The study findings show that this relationship affects the fiscal autonomy of local councils and result in cases of illegal deductions, withholding of funds, refusal to remit statutory 10% of total revenue of states to local councils. In Awgu Local Government from 1999-2016, more than N3billion was withheld and this amounts to a deficit of about 22.5%. This has negatively affected the volume of service delivery to the various communities. Based on these findings, the study recommends for a constitutional review to strengthen the local government system to effectively function as the third tier of government in line with the “Guidelines for1976 Local Government Reforms”. The study also recommends the abolishing of the joint account system and granting local councils full fiscal autonomy. This is the desideratum for enhanced service delivery at Awgu Local Government and other local council areas of Enugu State.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Electricity generation, transmission and distribution policy: a comparative study of Nigeria (1960-2011) and South Africa (1960-2011)
- Authors: Okafor, Chukwuemeka
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Electric power distribution -- Nigeria , Electric power distribution -- South Africa , Electric power consumption -- Nigeria , Electric power consumption -- South Africa , Electric power production -- Nigeria , Electric power production -- South Africa , Electric power transmission -- Nigeria , Electric power transmission -- South Africa , Electricity
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (in Public Administration)
- Identifier: vital:11660 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007049 , Electric power distribution -- Nigeria , Electric power distribution -- South Africa , Electric power consumption -- Nigeria , Electric power consumption -- South Africa , Electric power production -- Nigeria , Electric power production -- South Africa , Electric power transmission -- Nigeria , Electric power transmission -- South Africa , Electricity
- Description: The electric power policies in Nigeria and South Africa are considered the governments’ intention to provide quality and affordable electricity to the people. A comparative study on the electric power policies focuses on the similarities and differences in the policy approaches, the policy issues that affect electrification, and the impact of the policy issues in achieving the goal of universal access to quality and affordable electricity power in both countries. The methodological approach allows for an in depth textual study on the electric power policy documents in both countries. In Nigeria, the government intends to address the massive demand-supply imbalance and achieve the goal of electrification through reforms that focus on private sector-led growth in the sub-sector. In South Africa, the identification of electrification as a public problem by the post apartheid government leads to an integrated policy framework that focuses on balancing economic concerns with social and environmental considerations. The study identifies electricity provision as a social welfare responsibility of the governments in both countries and examines the policy issues in the context of public welfare. In Nigeria, the policy issues are found to be self serving and not in line with sustainable public interest, given the socio-economic challenges. As a result they, exert less impact on achieving the goal of universal access to quality and affordable electricity in the country. In South Africa, good governance in the sub-sector has enabled the identification of policy issues in line with sustainable public interests of social equity, poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability; and government using public administration agencies to play a key role in service delivery. Recommendations of the study mainly derive from the South African experience on electrification, and are intended to offer some policy-lessons to Nigeria in the sub-sector. The study contributes to new knowledge in the discipline of public administration by opening up new vistas for a comparative analysis of electric power policy issues in both countries in the context of public welfare. Besides, a comparative study on electrification in Nigeria and South Africa from a policy angle contributes to the existing knowledge base in the discipline.
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- Date Issued: 2013