ABSTRACT

This research work was undertaken with a view to ascertaining the local government and rural development in Nigeria in Eket local of Nigeria with a focus on Eket local government Area as a case study.  The work looked critically (in question) towards local government and rural development in Nigeria within its area of jurisdiction. In doing this, the researcher based his study on the provision of the 10976 local government reform in Nigeria which made local government and rural development in Nigeria one of the explicit functions of the local government. In carrying out the research, primary and secondary data were used. Related literature were reviewed (secondary data chapter 2) and questionnaire were equally prepared and administered to local government functionaries (primary data chapter 4). The technique used in analyzing the primary data is the chi-square (x2). The finding of the research was reached using the result of the tested hypothesis. For the analysis, it was found that many factors act as stumbling blocks on the way of local government and rural development in Nigeriain, Eket local government area and the state general. Such factors include: lack of adequate organization frame work and orientation, lack of dedication and commitment on the part of the local government to the cause of local government and rural development in Nigeria, misplacement of organization priorities and consequently, misdirection of funds, lack of executive capacity arising from lack of adequate trained, motivated and dedicated staff for effective and efficient implementation of council decision, the unhealthy political atmosphere existing in the local government and finally, the unreliable external funding and inability to generate revenue for development purposes. From the above findings, the researcher concluded by making a sense of recommendations among which are the co-ordination of the development efforts of the various formal and informal organizations in the overall local government and rural development in Nigeria programmes, and procurement of adequately trained personnel for the organizational and educational processes associated with local government and rural development in Nigeria.