Public accountability in the Nigerian local government system: practice, challenges and way-forward

Abstract

As the third-tier of government in Nigeria, the local government is designed to be a catalyst for grassroots development. Yet, a major paradox of the local government today is that the system has been characterized by gross under-performance owing largely to corruption and lack of accountability. This discourse examines public accountability in the local government system in Nigeria. It begins with a synopsis of public accountability and adumbrates the different fora through which account is to be rendered to stakeholders in the local government system. It then proceeds to highlight the institutional mechanisms put in place to enhance public accountability in the Local Government system and the challenges thereof.  The study which found that public accountability is at its lowest ebb in the local government system recommends the entrenchment and enforcement of ethical standards in the management of local governments and a credible electoral process amongst other suggestions. The study which is analytical, relied on secondary data sources and  was anchored on the agency theory.