DEMOCRATIZING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM AS A BASIS FOR THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA

Local governments exert tremendous impact and influence on the general life pattern of people in Nigeria, particularly in the rural areas, where no less than 75-80% of the Nigerian population resides. More than a passing interest in the effective and efficient operation of the machinery of local government in the country is therefore demanded of whoever is concerned about the general welfare and progress of the Nigerian people and society. It is on this consideration that the paper examines the democratization of the local government system as a basis for the socio-economic and political development of the country. The paper relied on secondary sources of data collection and adopted democratic-participatory theory as its framework of analysis. The study found that The democratization of the local government system would guarantee local government autonomy as well as people’s participation in their own development. These are critical factors that would ensure that people’s standards of living are qualitatively enhanced through the institutionalization of democratic culture and good governance at the grassroots level. Accordingly, the paper recommended the immediate and urgent democratization of the local government system in Nigeria to foster rapid socio-economic and political development of the country.