This study focused on the Constraints of Effective Development Policy-Making in Nigeria Local Governments (A Study of Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State).The pace at which development in the local government can be realized is hinged essentially on the ability of the government to formulate appropriate and effective development policies. Determining the reasons why development policies are hardly achieved in the local government formed the main objective of the study. The literature review was anchored on the Hybrid theory. In carrying out this study, the descriptive research design was adopted. The population of the study was 562 (five hundred and sixty two) as at April, 2018 out of which the sample size of 233(two hundred and thirty three) was derived using the Yamane’s formula. Stratified random sampling technique was adopted in determining the number of questionnaire administered to respondents. Both the primary and secondary sources of data were used for data collection. Data were gathered for the study with a well structured 5 point Likert scale questionnaire. The tool used for data analysis was simple percentage. The basic finding is that there exists, indeed, some factors that constitute serious obstacles to effective development policy making in Nigeria local governments, one of which is the varying levels of interference from politicians and state government. The study concluded that interference from the state government influences effective development-policy making in the local government. The study recommended that the local government should be allowed to function more independently with little or no interference to ensure effective development policy-making.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page i

Approval page ii

Certification page iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Table of content vi

List of tables vii

Abstract viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problems 3

1.3 Objective of the study 3

1.4 Research questions 4

1.5 Significance of the study 4

1.6 Scope of the study 5

1.7 Limitation of the study 5

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1.1 Conceptual Framework 6

2.1.2 Background of the Nigeria Local Government 9

2.1.3 The role of the Local Government as an agent of development 11

2.1.4 A brief history of Enugu East Local Government 15

2.1.5 Concept of Development 16

2.1.6 Public Policy as a tool for Development 18

2.1.7 Development Policy 19

2.1.8 Development Policies in Nigeria Local Government 19

2.1.9 Empirical Review 21

2.1.10 Theoretical Framework 24

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research design 28

3.2 Area of Study 29

3.3 Sources of Data 29

3.4 Population of Study 30

3.5 Method of Data Collection 31

3.6 Sample and Sampling Technique 31

3.7 Sample Size Determination 32

3.8 Instrument of Data Collection 33

3.9 Validity of Research 34

3.10 Reliability of Instrument 34

3.11 Method of Data Analysis 34

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Data collection and analysis 35

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Summary of findings 50
5.2 Conclusion 50

5.3 Recommendations 51

Reference 52

Appendix 55

Questionnaire

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the Study

The local government has most often been described by many authors and scholars as the government at the grass root because it is the closest to the people in comparison to the state and Federal government. The existence of this tier of government in Nigeria dates back to the activities of the British colonialist and their quest to bring down government closer to the local people in other to maintain law and order as it where in those days. As Olasupo and Fayomi (2012) pointed that “prior to independence and the prolonged civil war, Nigerian local government system was essentially de-concentrative but in 1976, it became devolved and “should do precisely what the word government implies i.e., governing at the grassroots or local level” Today, the local government have metamorphosed in to a more sophisticated administrative institution charged with the responsibility to perform not only administrative duties, but also engage in the development of the local area in which it is mapped out to serve. The importance of local government is a function of its ability to generate sense of belongingness, safety and satisfaction among its populace. All forms of government, regimes or political systems have so far ensured the attainment of this goal. Such strategy for ensuring national development and political efficacy is found in the concept and Practice of local government. Whatever is the mode of government; local government has been essentially regarded as the path to, and guarantor of, national integration, administration and development (Omatsola, 2011). To achieve the speedy development of the local government, a well articulated action plan in the form of developmental public policies/ programs must be enthroned. Public policy guides and determines present and future public decisions as well as private individual or private business institutional actions, decisions or behavior. In essence, a public policy determines the activities of government and given private institutions in relation to providing services designed to solve a given problem (Ugwuanyi and Chukwuemeka, 2013). Being an administrative/ governing institution, the local government through the policy making process, articulates the developmental needs of the people and then try to use the resources available to them to accomplish these policies. Over time, it has become glaring to administrators and scholars that the challenge of policies in most developing nations of the world and Nigeria as well has remained the divergence between policy intent and policy outcome. This is as a result of the gap in implementation. In the words of Dialoke,Ukah and Maduagwuna (2017) Implementation gap manifests in the widening of the distance between stated policy goals and the realization of such planned goals. The implementation gap from policy formulation in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized as successive governments make policies that are not realizable throughout their tenure.

It is very clear from records that Nigeria over the years has initiated well articulated developmental, economic and social policies, intended to launch the nation on the path of meaningful development.

1. Statement of the Problem

The importance of well articulated development policy/ policies for the local government in Nigeria can never be over emphasized. It is a sene qua non for the achievement of rural development and growth. The problems of most development policy no matter how good they are on paper are that they most often do not address the need of the people for whom those policies were intended to affect. This could be as a result of a proper need analysis and articulation by policy makers; who most often concern themselves with politics rather than policy outputs. On the other hand, most development policies are usually too numerous but with little technical knowhow on how to bring them to fruition. The last but not the least as identified is the dwindling financial muscles with which to implement development programmes in the light of competing needs.

1. Objectives of the Study

The general objective of this study was to examine the constraints on effective development policy making in Nigerian local governments.

Consequently, the specific objectives which this study sought to unravel were: To

Ascertain the reason as to why the developmental needs of Enugu East local government are hardly achieved,
unravel how the unavailability of skilled human resources have impacted the execution of development policies in Enugu East local government
determine how the financial resources for implementation of development policies in Enugu East local government can be enhanced.
1. Research Questions

Why is it that the developmental needs of Enugu East local government are hardly achieved?
How have the unavailability of skilled human resources impacted the execution of development policies in Enugu East local government?
How can the financial resources for implementation of development policies in Enugu East local government be enhanced?
1. significance of the study

The aim of this work like every other research endeavor is to contribute meaningfully to the bulk of extant knowledge on the subject matter. This work will help students have a better understanding of the subject matter. On the other hand, this work will be of great benefit to decision makers/ policy makers as turbulent challenges facing the success of developmental policy making will be unraveled and curative/preventive solutions proffered.

1.6 Scope of the study

This work sought to explore the constraints on effective development policy making in Nigeria local governments. It is mainly focused on Enugu East local government area of Enugu state.

1.7 Limitation of the study

Poor attitude of respondents: This was the greatest challenge the researcher encountered as some of the respondents were reluctant to answer the questions addressed to them.

Finance: This is one of the major problems that face every researcher. Due to level of financial status of the researcher, the cost of acquiring the necessary information of the write up was affected.

Time: This was a great challenge as the researcher combined the research work with course work.