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Nigerian Federalism And Local Government Autonomy
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Saliu further maintains
that, “theoretical frame work†refers to the conscious and deliberate
decision that a researcher has made in terms of the theory or a
combination of theories, which guide his research efforts. In view of
the foregoing, and in bid to conduct a systematic research, we shall
anchor our investigation on the theory and persuasion of the structural
functional theory.
Structural functionalism as described by
Haralambos and Holborn (2004: 936-937) is a theoretical framework that
is intended to explain the basis for the maintenance of order and
stability in society and the relevant arrangement within the society
which maintain from the biological sciences was abinitio adopted as a
mode of analysis by Gabriel Almond. Almond contends that every political
system has structures that are there to perform certain functions. It
goes further to say that every political system involves structure and
functions according to Robert Marton (quoted in Nwaogu 2002: 47) are
“those observed consequences which make for the adaptation or adjustment
of a given system “structures on the other hand, refer to “the
arrangement within the system which perform the function†it is
therefore evident in the view expressed above that for the continued
existence of a political system, all structures must be allowed to
perform its functions allocated to it by the constitution freely.
Gabriel
Almond the main proponent of this theory developed seven (7) specific
functions which every political system must perform;
Input functions
Political Socialization & Recruitment
Interest Articulation
Interest Aggregation
Political Communication
Output functions
Rule-Making
Rule-application
Rule adjudication. (Almond analyzed in Varma (1975: 209)
In
collaborating Almond’s position, Varma (1975:211) holds that structural
functionalism revolves around two main concepts- functions and
structures, on the basis of which three questions could be posed,
- What basic functions are fulfilled in any given political system?
- By what structure?
- Under what conditions?
Following
the above analysis the relevance of structural functional theory in
Nigeria Federalism and local government autonomy cannot be
overemphasized. In Nigeria, power is shared among the three level of
government (federal, state, and local) which in this regard are the
structures: these structure are expected to be taken care of by the
constitution taking cognizance of the notion that constitution is the
frame or composition of government, to the way in which a government is
actually structured in terms of its levels, the distribution of power
within it, the relations of the organs, and the procedures for
exercising powers (Nwabueze, 1993:1) inherent in Nwabueze’s view is that
constitution creates structures, assign roles or functions to them as
well as co-ordinates and regulates their respective and collective
activities and relationship with each other. In Nigeria federation, the
executive legislature and judiciary is assigned specific functions by
the constitution. Also the three levels of government, federal state and
local governments have their own powers delineated and delimited in the
constitution. It is expected that the levels of government performs
their respective functions as drawn in the constitution, the aim and
maintenance of order and stability which is about the most essential of
the state based on the liberal scholars, could have been achieved. Again
in a federal state, the various component units are equally structures
which are expected to perform certain functions. Since it is expected
that the central and regional government should exist independently and
also co-coordinately, and not a situation where the central government
assumes a dictatorial role on other levels, performing the functions the
regional government is to perform, it is then logical that all the
component units should be autonomous & economically viable as to
ensure uniformity in size of the government units as anything contrary
to this could suggest J.S. mills’ “law of instability†if a particular
structure is not viable there will certainly be limitations on the
functions it is expected to perform for the continuous existence of the
federation. Moreover, since the constitution has a pride of place in
federal practice, it then becomes imperative that the various structures
in a federation should participate in its making as this is also part
of their function. A deviation from this view, could amount to a
situation where the constitution will fail to reflect the aspiration of
the people. The constitution might as well fail to institutionalize the
appropriate structures whose functions it also ought to define and
delimit. In other words the constitution may even create structures, but
fail to assign appropriate functions to them. Furthermore, it is
important to note that the federal system of government has the local
government as the third tier and not an administration under any other
level of government as provided by the 1976 local government reform, and
also in the constitution (1999) 4th schedule, it assigns some functions
to the local government thus, in a federal system practice, the various
level of government are supposed to be sharing powers & functions
in such a way that power will not be concentrated or centralized on a
particular tier at the detriment of others. In line with structural
functional theory, if the local government is allowed with a full
autonomy to perform its function within its jurisdiction, in a way will
enhance service delivery at the grassroots. Both the input & output
functions should be performed simultaneously, output should be a product
of input function therefore constitution making as output functions
should reflect the inputs made by various structures. In a situation
where there is a deviation from this practice, structural defects set in
and if not properly managed, could lead to system decay.
1.7 Hypotheses
This
research work is anchored on the following assumptions: It seems
Federalism guarantees local government autonomy. Nigeria local
government system (Ofu Local Government) is not autonomous. There is a
correlation between the granting of full autonomy to local government
(Ofu Local Government) and enhanced service delivery.
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