Corruption in Local Governments in Nigeria and the Way Forward: A Case Study of Rivers State, Nigeria
- December 5, 2018
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Political Science
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume V, Issue XI, November 2018 | ISSN 2321–2705
Nweneka, Egbo
Department of Political Science, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Abstract:-This study unearthed the nature and incidences of corruption in local governments in Nigeria, with particular reference to Rivers State. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study and data was collected from secondary sources. The data were analyzed via the content method of data analysis. The findings of the study showed that corruption is pervasive at the local government level in Nigeria and Rivers state in particular. The study observed that corruption is not just one of the intractable pathologies ravaging local government administration but the progenitor of every other socio-economic woe affecting the local government areas in Rivers state. The menace is perpetrated by mostly the top echelon or leadership of the council in connivance with their godfathers cum state government officials. Corruption at the council manifest in the form of inflation of prices of bought items, over estimation of cost of projects; ghost workers syndrome, payment of huge sum of money to godfathers, outright embezzlement and diversion of the council funds. This wide-scale corruption at the local level has made the needed development at the grassroots a mirage. The study recommended mounting of serious war against corruption at the Nigerian local government areas by the anti-graft agencies and civil society organizations as the panacea to reduce the menace of corruption that has eaten deep into fabric of the country’s local government administration.
Keywords: Corruption, Nigeria, Local Government, Anti-graft, Law, Rivers State.
I. INTRODUCTION
Local government areas constitute the geographical entity headed by a local government i.e. a government that exists in the local government area to develop the people and the geographical area. Nweneka (2018b), stated the local governments aim at providing efficient services and facilitating development at the grassroots. The essence of local government area and local government council is for accelerated development of the inhabitants and the environment (Okara 2012).Agba, Akwara and Idu (2013:458) observed that it is a general agreement of most scholars and professionals that local governments in Nigeria have not justified the reasons for their creation through the delivery of cutting edge services to the rural people.
