Community development and local governments in nigeria: A discourse

This paper examined the Role and Challenges of Local Government in Community Development in Nigeria. Local government since its creation in Nigeria has been and is still involved in the process of community development which ultimately translates increased standard of living among rural dwellers. Though there is glaring evidence of serious inadequacies in basic social services and amenities to the rural community, emphasis in this regard has been placed on mobilization for sustainable community development. Research and studies have shown that local government plays a variety of roles to meet-up with the challenges of community development. The paper is made up of Introduction; Conceptual Clarification; local government and Community Development; Approaches to Community Development, challenges to community development, Conclusion and Recommendations. It concluded that local governments have not been able to play their constitutional roles, let alone making attempts at rural development due in the main to the fact that they have been emasculated by other tiers of government. It suggested the Integrated Rural Development approach in view of its comprehensiveness for sustainable rural development. The paper strongly recommended autonomy for local governments. It further canvassed fiscal and political reforms as avenues for strengthening governance in the Nigerian local government system.