LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY AND GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

This paper examines the lack of autonomy in the operations of local governments in Nigeria. Using secondary data, the paper looks at the benefits of local government autonomy, explores the financial and constitutional obstacles to local government autonomy in Nigeria and recommends direct financial allocation to local government accounts by the federal government and the abolition of the powers of state governors to dissolve elected local government Councils.