ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM OF FINANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN YOLA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF ADAMAWA STATE

Abstract

This paper aims to assess the problem of finance and service delivery in local government in Nigeria with specific reference to Yola North local government of Adamawa State, 2015-2020. It utilizes both secondary and primary methods of data collection and their contents are analyzed qualitatively. The findings of the paper revealed that Local government is the closest government to the people in Nigeria, yet the people are deprived of the benefits of its existence. This is evident in the deteriorated state of education, health, roads, electricity, pipe-borne water, markets, transport systems, etc. as in some states attributed to poor service delivery of local governments in those states that are regarded as the poorest states in Nigeria since the commencement of democracy in 1999. It concludes that local government is ostensibly meant to have prudent and effective management of finance/funds for efficient and effective service delivery. Local governments are created to fulfill and facilitate grassroots development. Unfortunately, the problems of finance and service delivery are thwarted by corruption, a narrow revenue base, inadequate finance/funding, and constitutional lacuna, among others. It therefore recommended among others that there is a need for re-strengthening the institutions and mechanisms saddled with ensuring integrity and accountability in local government. This would go a long way to lessen resource mismanagement, plunder, and outright conversion of public funds to private advantage.