LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC GOODS: SOME LESSONS FROM THE

BRITISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM

Olayiwola, A.R.O.

Department of Political Science

Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria.

E-mail: nusramurana@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract: The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) guarantees the system of Local Government by democratically elected Local Government Councils. The Law that ensures the existence of such councils should provide for their establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions. In the same vein, the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution enumerates the functions to be conferred by Law upon Local Government Councils. Such main functions include the participation of councils in the Government of a State as respects: (a)The provision and maintenance of primary, adult and vocational education; (b)The development of agriculture and natural resources and (c)The provision and maintenance of health services, to mention just a few. This paper on Local Governance and Public Goods contends that Local Government System in Nigeria has abysmally failed to comply with the constitutional provisions as well as in the performance of stipulated functions for the benefit of local populace. Despite the propaganda on the Local Government Reform, the grass root Local Governance with the expected public goods and where the people in the locality can identify and solve their local problems without external interference are yet to be realized. The paper compares and contrasts the Nigerian Local Government System with/to that of Britain and submits that although, the British system itself is not perfect, nevertheless, there are lessons to be learnt in Local Governance and Public Goods, especially, on the performance of functions, the financing, composition, structure, establishment and general services of the Local Government Councils.