THE ROLE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND CITIZENS PARTICIPATION IN THE SUSTENANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

Ndukwe Onyinyechi Kelechi

Department of Political Science

University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Email: onyinyechikelechi@yahoo.com

Abstract: The paper examined the role of good governance and citizen participation in the sustenance of Local Government System in Nigeria. Despite series of local government reforms in Nigeria, governance at grass root level has failed to bring the desired change. It is revealed that bad governance and non citizen participation in the act of governance has contributed to the failure of the local government. This is attributed to some factors like undue interference of the state in political and financial related matters of the local government, and lack of establishing a training foundation for the development of strong political leadership at the grass root level. This undermines good governance and creates low political participation at local level. The paper adopts a descriptive approach and relied mostly on secondary data. It therefore recommends that because of low level of citizen participation, formal and informal approaches should be adopted to orientate the citizens on the need for active participation in the political system. Also, to review the section of 1999 constitution that created complexity or gap in the inter relationship that exist between the state and local government with regard to financial autonomy and conducting election at the local level. For most states runs the affair of local governments with non elected members thereby alienating citizens from participating in governance. The existing relationship has created bad governance and affected democratic principles of proper representation.  

Keywords: Local Government, Good Governance, Citizens Participation, Sustenance, Proper representation