Ayotunde Odewale

This study appraises the performance of local government on their mandatory roles, especially in delivery of essential services to the populace at the grassroots in southwestern Nigeria between 1999 and 2019. Data for this study were collected through the primary and secondary sources. The study revealed that generally, local government has not been able to perform to expectation in discharging their mandatory functions due to fact that state governments had been diverting their attention more to concurrent functions than their mandatory functions. The study also revealed that the performance of local government in their mandatory functions has been a story of good to bad from year 1999 and 2019. The paper highlighted some recommendations and concluded that local government in southwestern Nigeria has significantly, though at a low ebb, performed their mandatory functions in provision of essential service to the populace between 1999 and 2019.

The quest for restructuring Nigeria’s federal system has been a frequent tune from most of her citizens. This challenge has created a wide gap in the federation which threatens the sovereignty of the nation. These agitations for secession/disintegration, and restructuring from different strata of the nation have constituted a major threat to Nigerian sovereignty. Hence, the study looks at the make or mar locus confronting Nigeria federal system. Primary and secondary data were used for this study; the primary data were gathered through the use of a questionnaire, while content analysis was used for secondary data. The study revealed some issues involved in the agitation for restructuring which includes among others, the secession of some federating units, the creation of additional states, corruption, leadership crises, and the poor state of the country’s economy. Hence, the study recommends that there is an urgent need to restructure Nigeria’s federalism structure, especially the c...

This study examines the Council Manager's System used in the administration of the Local Government of Osun State with the aim of showcasing the deficiencies in the system, in contrast with the ideal system practiced in developed countries. The paper further aims to expose the implications of this system, and to urge cautions to the stakeholders, especially the Osun State Government, about the consequences of this system for grassroots development. This study relied on both primary and secondary data. It is shown that the system is deficient in some ways as it does not conform to the ideal structure and composition of council manager system. The paper concludes and recommends that the continual use of the system will deter the needed positive change at the grassroots, and if the state government decides to opt for council manager system in the management of the Local Government of Osun State, then the ideal system should be opted for, in order that the local governments in the state to formulate and implement policies that would engender socioeconomic and developmental programmes at the grassroots.

The provision of essential and basic infrastructure, especially at the Local Government level in Nigeria constitutes a major role in socio-economic and political development, and in improving the standard of living at the grassroots. Sadly, the road infrastructures are in a state of dilemma particularly the Local government roads due to so many constraints. The paper intends to look at these constraints and proffer possible solutions. Both primary and secondary methods were employed. The paper discovered that local government roads constitute the highest trunks of roads, and which got increasing day-by-day due to its proximity to the populace, and yet, the most negligible trunk of road in Nigeria. Finally, some recommendations were articulated.

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on educational activities in the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community during and after the lockdown era. The pandemic affected almost all the facets of life including the educational sector. Though, the school closure during the lockdown is intended to control the spread of the virus but had widespread socio-economic impacts. Primary and secondary data were used for the study. The study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic is a major factor of disruption in academic calendar this was as a result of the world being faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has held the economy at ransom not exempting the educational sector. Hence, the study conclude that the during COVID-19, educational activities in OAU was faced with many challenges as in other higher institution in Nigeria, such as school closure, loss of academic session, poor learning and limited social ties. The study recommended among others; government and the institu...

This paper unveil s the dichotomy between the state and local government projects especially on primary education and road construction in southwestern Nigeria. It reviews the related concepts. The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through conduct of in-depth interviews. The results showed that the existence of various projects delivered solely by the local government; the ones financed through JAAC; and the ones jointly financed with the state government in the area of primary education, and road construction. This difference was evident in the areas of financing and inscription on the project. The paper highlighted some recommendations and concluded that local government had contributed immensely in concurrent functions with the state government, especially in the areas of primary education and construction and maintenance of roads in southwestern Nigeria between 1999 and 2015.

The necessity of policing by all actors, both the state and non-state, becomes more expedient in Nigeria societies characterized by diver's insecurities vices range from book-haram insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, herdsmen/ farmer clash, and ritual killing. The process of localizing security architecture is essential in Nigeria federation, so as tackled this menace of insecurities that have been threating the unity of Nigeria nation. This paper examines the modalities and theoretical insights of the operation Amotekun initiative in the Southwest Nigeria with a view to providing information on the prospects and challenges of the regional security network. Data was garnered basically from secondary sources. It is assumed that the criminality that have pervaded the southwest Nigeria could be reduce to minimal, if the initiative is well managed, and in extension, to the entire federation. The paper identified some challenges that may confront the initiative, which range from; unnecessary suspicion among the nations in Nigeria federation, conflict with other statutory security agencies, and using the initiative to settle personal discord among others. It recommends the need for legal framework from each states of the region for its establishment, operations and finance and appropriate synergy among all the tiers of government and agencies of government in security sector so as to achieve the ultimate goal of securing lives and properties. The paper concluded that operation Amotekun should be nurtured because there is nothing too big in securing the lives and properties of the citizen, which is the primary function of any government.

This paper assesses the impact of local government on social service delivery in south-western Nigeria in tandem with their full constitutional responsibility particularly on primary education and road constructions. The related concepts were review. The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through questionnaire administration and in-depth interviews. The study revealed that local government has a significant impact on social service delivery in Southwestern Nigeria (r = 0.438, p < 0.05). The paper highlighted some recommendations and concluded that local government had performed considerably well in delivery of social service to the populace in their concurrent responsibility with the state government, but relatively low in their mandatory functions.

The study examines the nature and rationale behind the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) by some states in Nigeria, especially in southwestern Nigeria. In this paper, critical consideration is given to understanding why the creation of more local governments has not influenced development. Ordinarily, it is expected that the more government is closer to the people, the more development ought to be to the grassroots. Yet, this has not always been the case. This can be traced to the fact that the creation of local governments in Nigeria has always been influenced by political considerations rather than developmental considerations. The methodology used for this paper is based on content analysis. The SWOT Analysis tool was used to describe the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing local government creation and administration in Nigeria. The findings revealed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that are likely to occur. The paper suggests that creation of local government should be more on viability that would lead to development at the grassroots rather than the political gains surrounding such creation.

This study examines the Council Manager's System used in the administration of the Local Government of Osun State with the aim of showcasing the deficiencies in the system, in contrast with the ideal system practiced in developed countries. The paper further aims to expose the implications of this system, and to urge cautions to the stakeholders, especially the Osun State Government, about the consequences of this system for grassroots development. This study relied on both primary and secondary data. It is shown that the system is deficient in some ways as it does not conform to the ideal structure and composition of council manager system. The paper concludes and recommends that the continual use of the system will deter the needed positive change at the grassroots, and if the state government decides to opt for council manager system in the management of the Local Government of Osun State, then the ideal system should be opted for, in order that the local governments in the state to formulate and implement policies that would engender socioeconomic and developmental programmes at the grassroots.