1976, local government reforms - SS2 Government Lesson Note

The local government reforms of 1976 in Nigeria were aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of local government administration in the country. The reforms sought to decentralize power from the federal government to the state and local governments, and to promote grassroots development by giving more autonomy to local governments.

Some of the key features of the local government reforms of 1976 in Nigeria include:

• ·         Establishment of elected local government councils: The reforms established elected local government councils in all states of the federation. The councils were given the responsibility of providing basic services and amenities to their respective communities.
• ·         Increase in the number of local governments: The reforms increased the number of local governments in Nigeria from 301 to 774. This was done to bring governance closer to the people and to enhance service delivery.
• ·         Financial autonomy: The reforms granted local governments financial autonomy and provided them with a share of the revenue from the federation account. This enabled them to fund their own projects and programs without relying solely on the federal or state governments.
• ·         Strengthening of traditional rulers: The reforms recognized the importance of traditional rulers in local governance and sought to strengthen their roles in local government administration.
• ·         Establishment of a local government service commission: The reforms established a local government service commission to oversee the recruitment, training, and discipline of local government staff.