REVISITING THE PERSPECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA’S QUEST FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
REVISITING THE PERSPECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA’S QUEST FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Summary/Abstract: Although, the roles of the grassroot government in community development have been explored; but an up-to-date analysis on the specific objectives of this paper is unavailable. Consequently, the specific mandates of this paper are tripartite: to examine the concept of community development and associated perspectives/angles of community development; to highlight the roles of local governments in community development; and to relay the hindrances hindering local governments from performing its function of implementing and fostering community development. Rooted in participatory theory and qualitative research design; the paper made pertinent findings and observations regarding the objectives of the paper. On the perspectives, the following angles of community development were analyzed: Community development as provision of basic infrastructure, community development as community building, and community development as neighborhood regeneration. Re-examining the functions of local government in community development, this paper observed that local government is an agent of mass mobilization and participation. Revisiting the perspectives and functions of local government in Nigeria therefore highlights the need for further reforms aimed at strengthening local governments for effective community development as local governments have been unable to truly become vehicles of: mass mobilization, massive economic growth and development, and social and economic justice in Nigeria.

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