GEOGRAPHY OF KEFFI

Keffi LGA occupies a total area of 138 square kilometres and has an average temperature of 30

degrees centigrade. The area witnesses two major seasons which are the dry and the rainy

seasons while the average humidity level in the LGA is put at 42 percent.

ECONOMY OF KEFFI

A number of mineral deposits are found in Keffi LGA and these include Tin and Columbite.

Farming is also a key economic activity in the area with crops such as millet, sorghum, yams,

and cotton grown in the area. Trade also flourishes in Keffi LGA with the area hosting several

markets such as the Keffi cattle market which attracts hundreds of buyers and sellers. Other

important economic activities undertaken by the people of Keffi LGA include animal rearing

and craftsmanship. Keffi also hosts a number of banks, hotels and institutions both privately

and publicly owned.

In 2003 the council was burnt down as a result of the crisis making the council to

loose its important documents, in 2005 the council broken into by thieves and they

removed important document most especially financial documents.

Sociology & Composition

The local government and its constituent communities is organized in families,

clans, villages and communities. Family is the smallest unit of organization followed by

clan village and community in ascending order. As it concerns the leadership, there is

head, clan head and the family head representatives which constitute the executives.

There is traditional ruler who is the symbol of modern state in the community (Ugwuoke,

2005:32).

The local government comprised of predominantly Hausa, Fulani and with minor

11
tribes other languages such as, Yoruba and Edo speaking tribes.

The Organizational Structure of Keffi Local Government Council

Decrees 23 and 50 of 1991 provided for a separate Executive Arm of the Local

Government distinct from the Local Legislative Council. The Executive Arm consists of

Chairman, Vice Chairman, Supervisors and a Secretary appointed by the Chairman.

We now turn to discuss the organizational structure of Keffi Local Government

council.

CHAIRMAN

VICE CHAIRMAN
SUPERVISORS

SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

HEAD OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

HEAD ADMIN HEAD AGRIC & RURAL

HEAD
DEVELOPME
FINANCE AND
NTHEAD
TREASURY
HEALTH AND
HEAD
MEDICAL
EDUCATION HEAD PUBLIC WORKS

Organization chart of local government.

Source: Ola, E.G., Tonwe, DAN (2003) Local Administration and Local

Government in Nigeria

Chairman of the Local Government

Prior to December 1987, each Local Government Council was required to elect its
12
chairman from amongst the elected councillors for a term co-terminus with that of the

Council, and this was subject to the approval of the state governor and in some cases, as

was the case in the defunct Nasarawa State, the Governor is merely informed through the

Commissioner for Local Government. This position changed just before the December

12, 1987 local government elections when provision was made for the Chairman who has

a Deputy to be directly elected by the people. The Chairman is the Chief Executive and

Accounting Officer of the Local Government. He functions with the assistance of his

Deputy, Supervisors and Secretary appointed by him.

The Vice Chairman of the Local Government

The aspirant for the office of Local Government Chairman nominates a Vice as his

running made before the actual campaign for Local Government elections kicks off. The

success of a particular aspirant for the office of Local Government Chairman at the poll

automatically means the success of his vice Chairman at the poll.

The Chairman of the Local Government is required to assign specific responsibilities for

any business of the Local Government to the Vice Chairman.

Secretary to the Local Government

The 1976 Local Government Reform provided for a Chief Executive Officer who is

the Administrative Head of the local Bureaucracy. He is designated Secretary to the Local

Government Council. He is required to be a high ranking official not below salary grade

level 12. Recent reform efforts have brought about changes not in the mode of

appointment, but also in the tenure of Secretary to the Local Government. The Secretary

to Local Government is now appointed by the Chairman of Local Government and holds

office at the pleasure of Chairman.

13
The Secretary provides political and administrative direction to the local bureaucracy as a

whole. He is also responsible for advising the Local Government generally helping the

Chief Executive to ensure that the programmes and decisions of the Local Government

are implemented.

The Executive Committee of the Local Government

Each Local Government in the country has a Cabinet which is the executive

committee at the local level. The Executive committee is composed of the chairman of

the Local Government and his vice, the supervisors and the secretary to the Local

Government. Heads of Departments also attend and its meetings.

The Executive committee is responsible for determining the general direction of the

policies of the Local Government co-ordinating the activities of the local government,

and charging the executive functions of the local government.

The Bureaucratic Component of Local Government

There are three important aspects of the bureaucratic setup of local government in

the country. The first is the Head of Personnel Management of the local bureaucracy. The

heads of the various departments constitute the second aspect. The third is the subordinate

personnel. These three aspects are examined below:

Head of Personnel management

The Head of Personnel Management under the present arrangement, strictly

speaking is the highest official of the local bureaucracy, now that the office of the

Secretary to the Local Government is now politicised and the position is filled

appointment from within or outside the Unified Loc Government Service by the

14
Chairman.

He works closely with the Secretary to the Local Government and helps to co

ordinate the work of the various heads of departments as well as seeing to personnel matt

in the Local Government as a whole. In the performance of duties, he is responsible to the

Secretary to the Local Government.

Heads of Local Government Departments

Below the Head of Personnel Management in Keffi North Local Government in

hierarchical set-up of the Local Government Department, Heads of Departments. They

are responsible for executing policies and programmes of the Local Government at

departmental level. They are also responsible for co-ordinating the work of the sections

under them.

2.2 Evolution of Local Government in Nigeria

The precursor of local government was the native administration established by the

colonial administration. As one of its principal authors posited, Native Administration

was: Designed to adapt to purposes of local government the tribal institutions which the

native people have evolved for themselves so that the latter may develop in a

constitutional manner from their own past, guided and restrained by the traditions and

sanctions which they have inherited, moulded or modified as they may be on the advice

of the British officers. It is an essential feature of the system, within the limitations, the

British Government rules through these native institutions which are regarded as an

integral part of the machinery of Government with well defined powers and functions

recognized by Government and by law and not dependent on the caprice of an executive

officer (Cameron 1934).

15
 The Native Administration was charged with the collection of taxes, maintenance

of law and order, road construction and maintenance, and sanitary inspection, especially

in township areas. This system of government, which was modelled after the Millsian

ideal of local representation, generated two types of conflicts among the fledging ethnic

groups in Nigeria.

The first arose in cases where two or more ethnic groups were ‘lumped together’ in

one native administration. Given what Post and Vickers (1973) have aptly called the

‘differential incorporation’ of Nigerian peoples into Nigeria, some groups who had earlier

access to the British and had acquired some education tended to dominate the Native

Administration. If such domination could be justified, as the British did, on the grounds

of the opportunity it afforded the privileged group to groom others in the art of

governance, the superimposition of the paramount ruler of one group as permanent native

authority even when there was no pre-colonial history of dependent relations, encouraged

local separatism. Most of the groups joined in such non-consensual matrimony agitated

for separation and independence.

Regardless of nomenclature, local government is a creation of British colonial rule

in Nigeria. It has overtime experienced change in name, structure and composition.

Between 1930s and 1940s, for instance, local government was known as chief-in-council

and chief-and-council, where traditional rulers were given pride of place in the scheme of

things. In the 1950s, election was introduced according to the British model in the

western and eastern parts of the country with some measure of autonomy in personnel,

financial and general administration Nwabueze, (1982:20-21). It was on this premise that

the rising tide of progress, growth and development experienced in the local governments

in these areas was based. The pace of this development was more noticeable in the south
16
than in the north.

During this period, heterogeneity was the hallmark of local government as there

was no uniformity in the system and the level of development was also remarkably

different. The introduction of 1976 reforms by military administration of General

Obasanjo brought about uniformity in the administrative structure of the system. The

reforms introduced a multi-purpose single-tier local government system (Ajayi, 2000:70).

As Igbuzor, (2005:147), noted “in 1976, the federal government embarked in

collaboration with the state government embarked on extensive reform on which were

outlined as follows:-

a) To make appropriate services and development activities responsive to local wishes

and initiatives by devolving or delegating them to local representative bodies.

b) To facilitate the exercise of democracy self government close to the Grass root of

our

society.

c) Mobilization of human and materials through the involvement of members of the

public in their local government.

d) To provide a two way channel of communication between local government (both

state and federal)

For the first time in history of local government in Nigeria a uniform system was

developed for the whole country. According to the then chief of staff, supreme

headquarters, Brigadiers Shehu Yardua in his forward to the reform stated thus, “Was

essentially motivated by the necessity to stabilize and nationalize government at the local

level.

17
Unlike the previous reform measures which were restricted in scope and range. The 1976

local government reform conceptualized local government as the third tier of government

operating within common institutional framework. The intentions of 1976 reforms were

debated by the constitution drafting committee (CDC) and the constituent assembly in

1978 and were enshrined in the 1979 constitutions. The Dasuki reform of 1984 and 1988

reform further consolidated the position of local government in the country. Hence, they

have all been in corporate in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999. The

reform went further to enshrine the principle of participatory democracy and of political

responsibility to every Nigerian.

The reforms also introduced population criterion under which a local government

could be created. Consequently, a population of within 150,000 to 800,000 was

considered feasible for a local government. This was done to avoid the creation of non-

viable local council and for easy accessibility. There was provision for elective positions

having the chairmen as executive head of local government with supervisory councillors

constituting the cabinet. This was complemented by the bureaucrats and professionals,

such as Doctors, Engineers, etc., who were charged with the responsibility of

implementing policies (1976 Guidelines).

In 1991, a major landmark reform was introduced as the system had legislative

arm. In addition, the Babangida administration increased the number of local government

from 301 in 1976 to 453 in 1989 and 589 in 1991. The Abacha regime also increased the

number to 774 local councils that we have today and the administrative structure also

underwent some changes (Ajayi, 2000:71).

In summary, it can be said that no public institution in Nigeria has been so

subjected to frequent reforms than local government. Nearly every successive

18
administration introduces one administrative change or the other. Apart from the

celebrated 1976 reforms, state government officials have also introduced various

manipulations.

19
 References

Ajayi, K. (2000) Theory and Practice of Local Government. Ado Ekiti, UNAD.

Igbuzor, (2005:147),
EFCC Reports Indicts 15 Governors. Vanguard news electronic edition.
www.vaguardngr.com.

Ugwuoke, (2005:32) Democracy and Development in Africa Nigeria: Longman Nigeria

Plc.

Ola, E.G., Tonwe, DAN (2003) Local Government Administration and the Challenges to
Rural Development in NIGERIA, Articlesbase free online articles dictionary, electronic
edition.www.articlebase.com.

Igbuzor, O. (2005) Perspectives on Democracy and Development, Garki: Joe

Tolalu associates.

Nwabueze, (1982:20-21). Local Government Administration in Nigeria: A Practical

Approach" In Ajayi, K (ed) Theory and Practice of Local Government, Ado Ekiti, UNAD.

Lloyd, P. C. (1963), “The Itsekiri in the Nineteenth century: An Outline Social

History”, Journal of African History, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 207-231.

Nwabueze, B.O. (1982) A Constitutional History of Nigeria. London, Longman.

Local Administration and local Government, Lagos; Amfitop Prints.

Vickers (1973) Local Government Reforms guidelines, Lagos, Federal Ministry of

Information.

20
 CHAPTER THREE

3.1 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

In arriving at the procedure adopt and putting the nature of this research work into

consideration. The researcher consequent method to be used is primary and secondary

source of data collection.

Primary Source: Information from primary source refer to those data discovered through

effort personal interview questionnaire and observation.

However to ascertain information that will be reliable, the research adopted the use of

questionnaire for doubtful gathering of information.

Secondary Source: This refers to the existing information, which may be used for the

purpose of research work on dated field of study. These includes; Existing accounting

textbooks’, Magazines, Library, Journals in accounting.

Instrument of Data Collection

For the purpose of convenience the instrument used by the research fact is directly from

Local Government Council and the rest of the data was gotten from the internet and other

relevant materials like textbook, Journals and magazines.

3.2 STUDY POPULATION AND SAMPLING

Population refers to the entire subject which researcher is investigating (Evoborakhai

2003). It is also refers to all conceivable element, subject or observation relating to a

particular phenomenon of interest to the research (Mohammed 2015) there we men the

total population of Keffi Local Government Council of Nasarawa state taking for this

study.

21
 CATEGORIES POPULATION SAMPLE SIZE

Senior Staff 170 17

Junior Staff 300 30

TOTAL 470 47

Source: Research Survey, 2022

SAMPLE SIZE

These are the total number of staff use from the population because the whole population

of the Keffi Local Government Council cannot be use the researcher because of the time

frame so therefore the total number of the sample used by the researcher is indicated in the

table above.

References

(Evoborakhai 2003) A short Diplomatic History of the Cold war, An African

experience, Benin: Alen Publications.

Mohammed 2015, ‘Keffi North Local Government Boss woos investors’, Online
Nigeria news, 22 July. Online edition.

Omagbafosa, W.O., (2005) The Itsekiri Nation, A speech presented at Itsekiri

Student Association Celebration Keffi State University Abraka Chapter. Unpublished.

An interview with Emiko Buwa, staff and member internal revenue drive for the
council.

22
 CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Data Presentation

The presentation and analysis of data generated for this study are presented in

tables. The analysis is based on the research instrument distributed to 15 staff’s and 35

members of the communities in the local government area of Keffi local government area

of Nasarawa State, with a 100% return rate.

SECTION A

GENDER, AGE, EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION AND RELIGION

DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS.

Table 4.1

Gender Respondents Percentage

Male 35 68.0%
Female 15 32.0%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

The table above shows the gender distribution of 50 respondents. It is clear that

68.0% were male, while 32.0% were females.

Table 4.2

Age Respondents Percentage

18-25 20 31.7%
27 and above 30 68.3%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

23
 The above table reveals that the respondents between 18-25 years have the lowest

distribution with 31.7% while those who were between 27 and above is 68.8% of the total

respondents.

Table 4.3

Marital Status Respondents Percentage

Married 35% 66.7%
Single 15% 33.3%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022
From the above table, one can conclusively say that out of 50 respondents, 33.3

were single while 67.7% were married.

Table 4.4

Educational. Respondents Percentage

Qualification
SSCE 15 33.3%
NCE/OND 15 46.7%
HND/B.Sc 20 20%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

The table above depicts that 33% percent were respondents with Senor School

Certificate (SSCE), 46.7% are those with NCE/OND Certificates while 20% percent are

those with B.Sc and HND Certificates of Degree.

Table 4.5
24
 Religion Respondents Percentage

Christian 30 66.7%
Muslim 0 0%
Others 20 13.3%
Total 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

The table above shows the religion distribution of respondents. It obvious that

66.7% percent were Christians, while 13.3% of the respondents were other religions.

SECTION B HYPOTHESIS ONE

H1: KEFFI LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL CONTRIBUTES SUBSTANTIALLY

TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS RURAL AREAS?

Table 4.6

Opinions of the respondents on the main aim of establishing Keffi Local

Government Council is to bring development to the rural people?

Options No of Respondents Percentage

Yes 20 88%
No 17 10%
Undecided 3 2%
Total No of Respondent 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

From the table above, 20, respondents which represents (88%) of the total

respondents are of the view that the aim of establishing the local government if to bring

development to the rural people, 17 respondents accounts for (10%) are of the view that

the creation of local government is meant to bring development to the people while 3 or

(2%) of the respondents is undecided in the issue.

25
 Table 4.7

Opinions of the respondents on Keffi Local Government Council contributes

substantially to the development of its rural areas?

Options No of Percentage
Respondents
Yes 15 10%
No 15 70%
Undecided 20 20%
Total No of Respondent 50 100
Source: Field Survey, 2022

Table 4.2 shows that 15 respondents (10%) of the total respondents agreed that the

Keffi Council contributes substantially to the development of its rural areas. This is

followed by 15 or (70%) percent who said no that the council has not fulfil it obligations

towards rural/grassroots development of the communities that made up the council area,

while 20 respondents accounting for 20% percents remains undecided. Finally, from the

analysis of the responses it clear that Keffi local government council has not contributed

substantially towards rural development.

Table 4.8
26
 Opinions of the respondents in what ways have Keffi Local Government

Council contributed to rural development?

No of
Options Perc
Respondents
entage
Funding of projects in the rural areas 5 3.3%
Empowering the rural people economically 3 2%
Empowering the rural people politically 2 2.7%
Provision of amenities for the betterment of
the rural areas 20 13.3%

All of the above 15 10%

None of the above 50 70%
TOTAL 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

Table above indicates that 105 respondents representing 70% percents of the total

respondents disagreed or says that the local government have not contributed to rural

development in either funding of projects in the rural areas, empowering the rural people

economically, empowering the rural people politically, provision of amenities for the

betterment of the rural areas, and 15 which accounts for 10% percents says that the

council has contributed in the provision of basic amenities in the area.

27
Table 4.9

The following amenities are provided by the local government in your area?

Options No of Percenta
Respondents ge
Water 10 3.3%
Electricity 5 3.3%
Motorable Road 3 2%
School 5 3.33%
Health Centre 3 2%
Wood bridge 15 6.67%
Canopy Jetty Market 2 1.3%
Total No of 50 100%
Respondent
Source: Field Survey, 2022

From the table above, 5 respondents which represent 3.3% of the responses agreed

that the council have provided water, and electricity and school, 3 that 2% says they have

motorable roads, and health centre while 10 respondents representing 6.6% which

comprises those living in the riverine areas of the local government agreed that the local

government have provided wood bridge for them any basic amenities in their

communities. From the foregoing it deduced that though the council have little but need

to more in the area of provision of basic amenities.

Table 4.10
28
Opinions of the respondents on, can the council alone bring about the needed

development of her rural areas in the provision of cottage hospitals, schools, roads

and farming equipments?

Options No of Percentage
Respondents
Yes 15 20%
No 30 66.67%
Undecided 5 13.33%
Total No of Respondent 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

From table 4.10, 15 respondents (20%) percent of the respondents are of the view

that the local government council alone can bring the needed development of her rural

areas in the provision of cottage hospital, schools, roads and farming equipments. On the

contrary 30 accounting for 66.67% of the respondents are of that the council alone cannot

alone bring the needed development of her rural areas. While 5 or (13.33%) of the

respondents remains undecided on the question. Thus, it is clear that only the council can

not bring the needed development of her communities.

Table 4.11

Opinions of the respondents on, does the council have tractors/caterpillars for

road maintenance and agriculture?

Options No of Percentage
Respondents
Yes 35 26.67%
No 10 53.33%
Undecided 5 20%
Total No of respondent 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

On the question does the council have tractors and caterpillars for read maintenance
29
and agriculture, 20 of the respondents representing 26.67$ percent are of that the council

have tractors and caterpillars for road maintenance and agriculture, 20 accounting for

55.33% percent totally disagreed, while 10 respondents (20%) is undecided as to whether

the council has caterpillars and tractors of not.

Based on the responses above the, hypothesis is rejected based on the empirical

verification gathered, which shows Keffi local government council has not contributed

very well toward rural/grassroots development going by the responses gotten from the

respondents as analysed below. Thus a null hypothesis is accepted which states that Keffi

local government council does not contributes substantially towards the development of

its rural areas.

Table 4.12

Opinions of the respondents on, does Keffi Local Government Council have

the following skilled workers?

Options No of Percen
Respondents tage
Doctors Yes
Engineers Yes
Accountants Yes
Auditors Yes
Administrators Yes
All of the above 50 100%
Total No of 50 100%
Respondent
Source: Field Survey, 2022

30
 From the above data, it is revealed that the council have the needed manpower

(skilled workers) as indicated by the responses (Yes) of the respondents in all the options

given.

Table 4.13

Opinions of the respondents on, are the skilled workers like Administrators,

Engineers, and Doctors enough to engineer the necessary development of the area?

Options No of Percentage
respondents
Yes 30 60%
No 15 30%
Undecided 5 10%
Total No of Respondent 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

From the table above, 30 respondents, representing 60% identified that the council

have skilled but they are not enough to engineer the necessary development of the area,

while 15 respondents accounting 30% was undecided as to whether the skilled workers

are enough.

Table 4.14

Respondents opinions on, do you think that none usage of the council artisan’s

engineers to use of contractors slows the pace of development in the area?

Options No of Percentage
respondents
Yes 30 66.67%
No 10 13.33%
Undecided 10 20%
Total No of 50 100%
Respondent
Source: Field Survey, 2022

31
 The data collected revealed that 30 respondents or 66.67% identify that manpower

in the council are used rather the council prefer to contractors and this slows down the

pace of development, as most contract are abandoned as a result of kickbacks, 10

respondents representing 13.33% said no, in other words the none usage of the council

artisan’s and engineers does not slow the pace of development in the area. While 30 of

the respondents remained undecided.

Responses from the data analysed, the hypothesis is rejected based on the empirical

verification gathered, which shows that the inadequacy of skilled workers (like qualified

engineers of all types, medical doctors, etc) affects the ability of Keffi local government

council in carrying out developmental programmes, but that the none usage on the

manpower (skilled workers like qualified engineers of all types, medical doctors, etc) is

the cause of slow pace of development in the area. Thus a null hypothesis is accepted.

Table 4.15

Respondent’s opinions on, at Present, would you say that Keffi Local

Government Council is well funded by the State and Federal governments?

Options No of Percentag
Respondents e
Yes 50 100%
No 0 -
Undecided 0 -
Total No of Respondent 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

32
 From the above data, it is revealed that at present the local government council is

not well funded by both the State and Federal government. 50 of the respondents, which

represent 100%, gave yes as their response, while 0 or 0% percent of the total

respondents agreed that the local government council is well funded and 0 respondents

accounting for 0% percent remained undecided to the well funding of the council by both

the State and Federal governments.

Table 4.16

Respondents’ opinions on, the lack of funding of Keffi Local Government Council

affects her developmental strides in the rural areas?

Options No of Percentage
Respondents
Yes 30 60%
No 2 6.67%
Undecided 18 33.33%
Total No of Respondent 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

This question was designed to find out if lack of funding of the Keffi local

government council affects her developmental strides in the rural communities. From the

above table 30 or 60% of the respondents identified or agreed that lack of funding affects

the developmental strides council in the rural areas, 2 of the respondents representing

6.67% said no, that the lack of funding will not affect the developmental strides of the

council, while 18 or 33.33% of the total respondents is undecided in their opinions.

33
 Table 4.17

Respondents opinions on, the poor state of roads, schools, market, and

farming in the council area is occasioned by inadequate funding by the Federal and

State governments?

Options No of Percentage
Respondents
Yes 30 58.67%
No 20 41.33%
Undecided 0 0%
Total no of 50 100%
Respondent
Source: Field Survey, 2022

As shown in the table above, it is revealed that 30 or 58.67% of the total

respondents are of the view that the poor state of road, schools, farming and markets is

occasioned by the inadequate funding by both the State and Federal governments, as

result of inadequate funding the council only ends up in paying workers salaries, which

led to the bad state of the roads and other infrastructures in the council area,20 of the

respondents accounting 41.33% of the total respondents disagreed that the poor state of

infrastructure in the council area is not occasioned by the inadequate funding of the

council.

34
 Table 4.18

Respondents’ opinions on, what sources are available for generating revenues

by the council internally?

Options No of Perc
Respondents entage
Tenement rates from Yes
markets/stores
Ticketing at parks Yes
Licensing fees Yes
Sales of stickers Yes
Water ways rates Yes
Other levies Yes
All of the above 50% 100%
Total No of Respondent 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022

From the table above as the respondents opinion on what sources are available for

the council for generating revenues internally, the respondents agreed that the option

given are available to the council for revenue generation. But in an interview with a

member of the committee on internally generated revenue Mr. Buwa Emiko, said that the

council is not serious in pursue of revenue that is why she lacks finance more so most her

communities are located along the rivers.

Table 4.19

Respondents’ opinions on, do you think that the council generates enough
revenue internally?
Options No of Percent
Respondents age
Yes 34 77.67%
No 0 -
Undecided 16 22.66%
Total No of Respondent 50 100%
Source: Field Survey, 2022
35
 On the opinion of the respondents on if the council generates enough revenue
internally, 100 respondents representing 66.67% of the total respondents said (No) that
the council does not generate enough revenue internally, while 34 or 22.67% of the
respondents agreed that the council generate enough revenue internally and 16
respondents accounting for 22.66% of the respondents are undecided in their opinions.
Table 4.20
Respondents opinions on, how would you describe the local council’s drive for
internally generated revenue?

Options No of Percentage
Respondents
Satisfactory 17 31.33%
Not Satisfactory 23 62%
Undecided 10 6.67
Total no of 50 100%
Respondent
Source: Field Survey, 2022

On the respondents’ opinion on how they will describe the council drive for

internally generated revenue, 23 of the respondents which represent 62% of the total

respondents are of the view that it is Not Satisfactory, and in the interview Mr. Buwa said

that the un-seriousness is the order of the day. 17 or 31.33% of the respondents are of the

view that it is satisfactory; while 10 respondents representing 6.67% responses are

undecided. From the analysis above it is clear that Keffi local Government Council derive

for internally generated revenue is not satisfactory and this is occasioned by her un-

seriousness pursuing internally generated revenue.

Responses from the data analysed, the hypothesis is accepted based on the

empirical verification gathered, which shows that the Inadequate funding by both The

Keffi State and the Federal Governments hinders Keffi Local Government Council’s

ability in carrying out developmental programmes.

36
 CHAPTER FIVE

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary of Findings

This study has clearly shown that there is evidence of engagement of Keffi local

government in community development in some communities that make- up the council

area. The findings revealed that Keffi local government has over the years embarked on

some community development projects like road construction (wood walkways),

provision of healthcare services, but little is done in the area of provision of education,

provision of water and electricity in the area or the council or in communities that make-

up the local government. The findings also reveal that Keffi local government has not

effectively and efficiently engaged in integrating community development programme.

As this finding from chapter four revealed, Keffi local government has a predominantly

agriculture occupation. This means that greater percent of the population engage in

farming as an occupation. However, as observed by the researcher, the local government

to boast the productivity of agriculture in the area has initiated no much efforts or

projects. Road constructions which help farmers in the transportation of farm products

have not been adequately provided. This finding supports the view of Ayaide (1989) that

local governments have not made appreciable impact in community development.

Also supporting this with the figure in table 4.9, which analyzed respondent’s

views on provision of basic amenities (road constructions), where 70.% indicated

negatively that road construction and other amenities in Keffi local communities have not

been adequately pursued.

The findings also show that healthcare services in Keffi local government has not

been sufficiently followed the limited number of hospitals in the council area. Health care
37
services in Keffi local government face the problem of insufficiency. There is only one

general hospital in existence, which are functionally ailing and the Keffi local

government has provided one located and the headquarters. In addition, other existing

cottage hospitals are privately owned. Local governments have not provided adequate

healthcare services in most communities as a means of improving community

development as revealed by the case of Keffi local government area.

The findings further reveal that educational development of Keffi local government

council has not improved as expected. Few existing primary and secondary schools are in

acute shortage of facilities and are located in for distance from some communities

especially those who are in the riverine areas of the council that have to travel far distance

for school, the population structure also shows that greater number of people is in need of

education.

The findings also revealed that other social amenities such as water, electricity

among others have been in short supply. Water and electricity have not really been

provided in most of the communities.

It is also found that inadequate fund affect the engagement of Keffi local

government in community development. The finding of Keffi local government from the

Federation and State accounts has been enough for local government to carryout its

function. Internally generated revenue has not been adequately increased to finance

community development.

Finally, the findings show that lack of utilization of skilled workers like engineers

to the use of contractors is another hindrance to rural development in Keffi North local

government un-seriousness in revenue mobilization/generation internally is another major

hindrance to the development of the council area. The findings also shows that local
38
government lack some equipments to carry out the community projects which requires

heavy machines such as tractors and caterpillars and equipments which the rural people

do not possess in order to improve their farming inputs and complete their projects.

5.2 Conclusion

Generally, it could be seen that Keffi local government has not been effective in the

development of rural communities. It conclusion reveals that rural development are in

adequately carried out in the local government area. For instance, with exception of the

local government headquarters and few other communities are not electrified and the

possibilities of embarking on these projects are very remote. This has slowed down some

other projects like cottage industries, pipe-borne water in equally in short supply in the

local government area. The council has not performed well in the provision of medical

facilities as most of the communities in the riverine areas travels far for medical services.

The council has performed below expectation in the provision and maintenance of

primary schools in the area, in some communities pupils provide their own desks with

which to sit and learn, the council fails to utilize its manpower in carrying out projects

rather prefer the use of contractors who gives kickbacks. Finance is the bedrock of every

business and government, it evident that the council lacks the seriousness in the

pursuance of internally generated revenue relying mostly the Federal and State allocation

which are not enough even pay workers salaries.

5.3 Recommendations

39
 From the findings, I discovered that lack of seriousness on the part of the Keffi

local government revenue collection staff, dishonesty of revue officials, inadequate

vehicles and boats for revenue drive among others contribute to low internally generated

revenue in the local government.

❖ We therefore recommend that effort should be made by the council to revive

revenue drive in the council and reward dedicated and honest staff. There is also

need to procure additional vehicles and boats to help revenue personnel to

discharge their duty efficiently and effectively. We recommend that the council

should use direct labour in executing of projects rather than the use of contractors,

money paid to contractors can be channelled into other developmental projects in

the area.

❖ Keffi local government should expound it revenue generation to the

water ways by collecting tax from the users of the water ways within her territories.

❖ There need for the council to procure tractors and fertilizers that will help the

farmers in their production, and also bridge communities that are close with

concrete bridge rather than wood walkways which will not last for a long period of

time.

❖ The present situation whereby development is concentrated in the local

government headquarters to utter neglect of the rural communities does not give the

other communities a sense of belonging. A change is required in this regard.

❖ It important for the Federal and State to review the allocation of local

governments, because the provision of primary education and health facilities will

be improved upon when there is better allocation from the Federal and State

governments.

40
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 G.E.D. Omuta (eds.) Perspectives on Development: A Book in Honour of Pius O.
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42
 Appendix

Department of Public Administration,

Al-hikma Polytechnic, Karu
Nasarawa State.

Dear Respondents,
I am a National Diploma student with the above named institution and department.
I am carrying out a research on “the Role of Local Government in Rural Development: A
study of Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State”.
I will be grateful if you will kindly co-operate with me by completing the
questionnaire. All information given will be treated in strict confidence and used for the
purpose of this research work.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Yours Faithfully

Abdulwahab Fausiyat Oluwatoyin

QUESTIONNAIRE

The Role of Local Government in Rural Development: A study of Keffi Local

Government Area of Nasarawa State

INSTRUCTION:

Instruction: indicate the appropriate response by ticking (√) where necessary in the

various columns

43
 SECTION A

Gender: Male [ ] Female [ ] Marital Status: Single [ ]

Married [ ]

Age: 18-25 years [ ] 27 and above [ ]

Religion: Christian [ ] Muslim [ ] Any Other [ ]

Educational Qualification: SSCE [ ] OND/NCE [ ] B.SC/HND [ ]

Official Status: Civil / Public Servant [ ] Trader [ ] Community Leader [ ]

SECTION B (HYPOTHESIS ONE)

1. The main aim of establishing Keffi Local Government Council is to bring

development to the rural people?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided

2. Keffi Local Government Council contributes substantially to the

development of its rural areas?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided

3. In what ways does Keffi Local Government Council contribute to rural

development?

a. Funding of projects in the rural areas

b. Empowering the rural people economically

c. Empowering the rural people politically

44
 d. Provision of amenities for the betterment of the rural areas

e. All of the above

f. None of the above

4 What amenities are provided by the local government in your area?

a. Water

b. Electricity

c. Motorable Road

d. Schools

e. Health Centre
f. None of the Above

5 Can the council alone bring about the needed development of her rural

areas in the provision of cottage hospitals, schools, roads and farming equipments?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided

6 Does the council have tractors/caterpillars for road maintenance and

agriculture?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided

SECTION C (HYPOTHESIS TWO)

7 Does Keffi Local Government Council have the following skilled workers?

a. Doctors

b. Engineers

45
 c. Accountants

d. Auditors

e. Administrators

8 Are the skilled workers like Administrators, Engineers, and Doctors enough

to engineer the necessary development of the area?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided
9 Do you think that none usage of the council artisan’s engineers to use of

contractors slows the pace of development in the area

a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided

SECTION D (HYPOTHESIS THREE)

10 At Present, would you say that Keffi Local Government Council is well

funded by the state and federal government?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided

11 The lack of funding of Keffi Local Government Council affects her

developmental strides in the rural areas?

46
 a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided

12 The poor state of roads, schools, market, farming in the council area is
occasioned by inadequate funding by the Federal and State governments?
a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided
13 What sources are available for generating revenues by the council
internally?

a. Tenement rates from markets

b. Ticketing at parks

c. Licensing fees

d. Sales of stickers

e. Water ways rates

f. Other levies

g. All of the above

h. None of the above

14 Do think that the council generates enough revenue internally??

a. Yes

b. No

c. Undecided
15 How would you describe the local council’s drive for internally generated
revenue?
a. Satisfactory

b. Not satisfactory

c. Undecided

47