The history of Local Government system in Nigeria dates back to the colonial days.
During this era, local government administration in Nigeria was vested in traditional rulers and it operated in an undemocratic manner.
Over the years, efforts have been made to democratize the local government system and make it more responsive to developmental needs.
The problems of this level of governance have been recurring decimal in the political history of Nigeria. These include among other things inadequate planning, poor implementation of policies, corruption and mismanagement of funds, inter governmental conflict and lack of participation by the people.
The 1976 local government reform views local government as government at local level exercised through representative councils established by law to exercise specific powers within defined areas.
These powers gives the local government chairmen substantial control over local affairs as well as the staff, institutions, financial powers to initiate and direct the provision of services, determine and implement projects so as to complement the activities of the states and federal government in their respective council areas.
Through the devolution of these functions, local government chairmen initiate and respond to local needs of their people.
From the above, local government chairman are elected through regular elections at specific period of time. The main distinguishing characteristic that differentiates local government chairmen from appointed government administrators is the fact that while the former are elected the later are appointees of the state to implement policies of the state.
In either way, life in local government area is seen as being stressful and confusing, because of the way the government works. How well a community performs economically, politically and socially depends on the creativity, innovations and visions of its local government chairman.
Most people especially those in corridors of power know that Akwa Ibom state in particular definitely would be “Okay”, but this will come to pass only when the rural communities are developed and also when the local government executives are committed to the development of communities.
Any body who wants to know why Akwa Ibom State is yet to be “Okay”, as rapidly as expected, should visit local government areas and see how life is pressed out in almost everything.
If varied developmental projects such as community hospitals, road construction, water project, viewing centres, amongst other amenities should be put in place, life, I guess could be a little bit “Okay”. It is not only in buying the most expensive cars for council executives even where there are no trekable or motorable roads in these local areas.
In my opinion, the available resources to local government councils should be channeled on infrastructural developments, for posterity sake.
Local governments, at least in principles, should deal with grassroots politics, maintaining law and order, providing basic sanitation, constructing and maintaining local roads, supplying portable water, administering local schools, providing skills and training, and employment for residents, etc.
Since community development is the process of building communities on a local level with emphasis on building economy, forging and strengthening social ties, and developing the non-profit sector, developmental programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of the people in the community should be embarked upon.
The chairmen should show committed interest in local community development, since they are the engines for the state. A quiet rural community can grow into a bustling city.
It is pertinent to note that in developed societies, when people are retired or tired of living in the cities, they relocate to rural communities where life is less strenuous.
However, the opposite is the case in Akwa Ibom Local Government. Living in a rural community is difficult because nothing works as it should.
Good enough the state government has introduced :free education”. The Chairman should make this gesture the cardinal point of their administrations by implementing this policy to the fullest.
The current council chairmen by their qualifications from different disciplines, possess the basic skills and knowledge needed to perform their duties. Because to develop and implement good polices, skills are needed for the analysis of social and economic data.
Without having the skills and knowledge for community development, the local government areas could be used as “looting centre”. This is because “you cannot give a backbone to an invertebrate”.
Although there are business opportunities in rural communities, but they lack requisite infrastructure to lure entrepreneurs and investors. For local government to attract investments, fester economic growth and development, it should have basic infrastructures and effectives leadership.
To improve local government image, chairmen should change the way they perform their duties. For instance, the should encourage education by way awarding scholarships to indigent and gifted children in communities.
Recently, the state government through inter-ministerial direct labour, embarked on many development projects in local government areas ranging from electricity, pipe borne water, health centres, renovation of schools and construction of roads.
Government chairman should take a due from these and embark on aggressive rural developments to attract peoples confidence on them and a sense of belonging.