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INHIBITING FACTORS ON THE ACTUALIZATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

This study examines the nature and structure of community development as a catalyst for national development which is essentially a function of community development at the grassroots level. In other words, developing our respective communities that constitute the country is a way of directly or indirectly developing the country at large. It also examines the roles played by higher tier of government in the development of the rural community vis a vis the local government.

Community Development in Nigeria is as old as history itself, it could be traced to the early man and his settlement into community which was brought about by the discovery of fire and farming. Before the coming of colonial masters, Nigeria as a whole has employed commercial efforts as the means for mobilizing community resources with the aim of developing her localities. However, as much as development is meant to advance the total well-being of the individual and social economic advancement of the nation at large, it must take into account the enlightenment of everybody through education.

Since Nigeria's independence in1960 till date, the vast rural communities of the country are in a deportable state. It is an established fact that the majority of Nigerians that live in rural communities are characterized by illiteracy, diseases, neglect, exploration and equality being oppressed by the nation. As regards the level of economic development, quality of life, access to opportunities, facilities and amenities, standard of living and general liability, the gap between the urban and rural communities in Nigeria is very large and noticeable.

Community development is a way of strengthening civil society by prioritizing the actions of communities, and their perspectives in the development of social, economic and environmental policy. It seeks the empowerment of local communities, taken to mean both geographical communities, communities of interest or identity and communities organizing around specific themes or policy initiatives. It strengthens the capacity of people as active citizens through their community groups, organizations and networks; and the capacity of institutions and agencies (public, private and non-governmental) to work in dialogue with citizens to shape and determine change in their communities. It plays a crucial role in supporting active democratic life by promoting the autonomous voice of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. It has a set of core values/social principles covering human rights, social inclusion, equality and respect for diversity; and a specific skills and knowledge base.

On this ground, rural areas are therefore a geographical location or an area which is inhabited by a population which is less than five thousand (5,000) people, majority of whom are farmers and whose economy is predominantly agrarian in nature. However, it is virtually impossible for the poor to acquire the bare essentials of life, let alone contribute meaningfully to the progress of the society within a national setting.

(Ajayi, A. R. and N. Otuya 2006) said “Enlighten a man, you develop the community”. Therefore community development has to be man oriented. ASAN should determine the direction of community development. When man’s needs are met, he strives for higher others' needs which bring self-actualization.

Community development is therefore a way of strengthening civil society by prioritizing the actions of communities and their perspective in the development of social, economic and environmental policies.

Therefore, it is worth noticing that most advocates of community development seem to exaggerate and over-emphasise the “community centered” approach (self-help and felt need) to community development, whereas the government roles cannot be left out. In other words, people's effort towards developing their communities cannot work without the complementary quota of the government.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The notion of community development owes a great deal to the efforts of colonial administrators. After the Second World War in 1945, the British colonial office became concerned with community development. Community development has been perceived to be problematic which must be adequately addressed in any dynamic society because the development of the local communities has a significant role to play in the development of the country. Also, the development of local communities have been abandoned by the state government thereby placing the burden on the local government councils which are incapable of solving quarter of- the communities major challenges which includes political and socio-economic problems without the intervention of the state government.

The state government through the local government is always confronted with a series of problems such as frequent change in administration and policies, too much control mounted by the state and central government especially on finance. This is evidenced in the release of statutory grants which are disbursed at government discretion; in fact the so-called locally generated revenue can only be expended subject to central or regional approval.

It has also been observed that the rate at which government response to communities in terms of development is on very low account. However, government intervention in the development of local communities is a function of disaster(s) which has claimed a lot of lives and has made some people homeless in the community, or by disease outbreak in the community in which the government will be forced to provide health facilities in the community where there is none and improve health facilities in communities which the facility is not up to standard. All these therefore infringe on community development both local and state government in Nigeria.

In the case of eti-osa resettlement community, there has been a picture of neglect by the Lagos state government in terms of development. This could be explain from a low infrastructural view because the resettlement community have been faced with different problems of infrastructural development such as the provision of good and motor able road to ease transportation from and to the community, the lack of provision adequate health facilities that has amount to the death of some individuals in the community, lack of adequate security that has amount to the increase in domestic violence, lack of adequate electricity that has made some businesses to collapse in the community, lack of provision of a standard government school both primary and secondary that has made the children to trek miles to another community in search of education among others. All these are functions of the Lagos state government to provide for people in the community.

It should be noted that since the people have been aware that the state government has neglected them, several attempts have been made by the residents of the community to bring to the knowledge of the government of their own predicament but all these attempts were never successful. This has then made it possible for the residents of the community both indigene and non-indigene to embark on a self-help approach to the development of their community, but this approach developed by the residents has created a form of division in the locality. This research therefore seeks to find the problem and suggest solutions to the development problems of this resettlement community holistically.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study will basically be to examine the strength of development in local communities following this goal, the objective of the study therefore shall be:

i. To identify the constitutional role expected of Lagos state government in the development of local communities in eti-osa local government.

ii. To examine the contributions of Lagos state government in the actualization of their roles in developing eti-osa resettlement in eti-osa local government.

iii. To identify the problems that affect the Lagos state government in the development of the eti-osa resettlement community in eti-osa local government as well as the various ways in which these problems can be solved.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This research work will however find answers to the following questions:

i. What are the constitutional and obligatory roles expected to be played by the state government in the development of local communities?

ii. What have been the contributions of the Lagos state government in the development of the eti-osa resettlement community in eti-osa local government of Lagos state?

iii. What are the factors that affect the Lagos state government in the actualization of their role in the development of eti-osa resettlement community in eti-osa local government in Lagos state?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

We cannot overemphasize the fact that the community is essential for national development. Therefore, Nigeria as a federal state, established the state government as a federating unit to ease the process of administration, to bring government closer to the people through the establishment of local government councils and also to enhance national development even at the grass root. To this regard therefore, this research work will help to raise the state government on the areas of concern in the development of local communities.

In addition, this research work will help open the mind of state government officials in responsible for local community development of the neglected role which are meant to be played by them but pushed to the burden of the local government councils.

Nonetheless, this study shall also serve as a useful material to the student of political science and those concerned with the study of community development to further enrich their knowledge about the roles of the state government in the development of local communities in Nigeria.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is carried out within the constitutional jurisdiction of the Lagos state government through the establishment of the local government councils and other government agencies established to see to the affairs of community development such as the community development association and also the impact of non- governmental association in their role played in community development.

To conduct an effective research in Nigeria is always a herculean task unlike in the developed countries, owing peoples attitudinal disposition towards the release of information is seen as sacred and too confidential to release for the feeling that it is a way of assessing the giver.

Insufficient time was a major constraint to the completion of the research. However, I will try everything possible to work within the limited time given for the research work. Also, limited intellectual capacity of the researcher hindered the study but this will be surmounted with the help of the supervisor. 

In addition, interviewing the government officials in charge of rural community development was however not an easy task because of the bureaucratic nature of the civil service. The lack of financial support to carry out this study is another constraint that may affect the quality of this research but notwithstanding, the efforts will be made in meeting the financial requirement needed for the research work to be effective.

1.7 METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY

This covers the type of data collection and interpretation method to be adopted in the course of the research. Thus, content analysis mode of research will be adopted, as it will make use of a descriptive qualitative method which will rely on secondary data for its analysis such as the use of newspaper, magazines, journals, textbooks, constitutions and online materials.

Furthermore, the use of oral interview will also be adopted so as to get clear facts from those who are charged with the responsibility of community development in Lagos state. Therefore those that will be interviewed include the following: the local government chairman, community development officer, the special adviser to the governor of Lagos state on rural development among others.

1.8 CHAPTER OUTLINE

To enhance coherence and linkages ideas that will aid easy understanding of this work, there is need for chapterization. Therefore this study will be divided into four chapters.

Chapter one is the introductory part with the background of the study , statement of the problem, research objective, research question, justification/significance of the study, research methodology, scope and limitations of the study, organization of chapters, definition of terms with references.

Chapter two reviews the literature, this includes the review of relevant literatures in the areas of Concept of state government, State formation in Nigeria, Functions of state government, the role of state in national development, community development, approaches to community development, rationale behind community development and theoretical framework.

Chapter three of this study analyzes the role of community associations in Lagos state, a brief history of eti-osa local government, historical background of the eti-osa resettlement community and evaluation of the role of Lagos state government in the development of the eti-osa community.

In the last chapter of this study which is chapter four, it gives details of the summary, conclusion and recommendation of the research. 

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

In the cause of this research work, there are some commonly used term which will be defined below to avoid ambiguity, these words includes the following:

Government: The regulation, restraint, supervision, or control which is exercised upon the individual members of an organized jural society by those invested with the supreme political authority, for the good and welfare of the body politic or the act of exercising supreme political power or control. It can also be referred to as the machinery by which the sovereign power in a state expresses its will and exercises its functions; or the framework of political institutions, departments, and offices, by means of which the executive, judicial, legislative, and administrative business of the state is carried on.

Community: A community is a social unit of any size that shares common values. Although embodied or face-to-face communities are usually small, larger or more extended communities such as a national community, international community and virtual community are also studied. In human communities, intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, risks, and a number of other conditions may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of cohesiveness.

Resettlement: According to the British English dictionary, resettlement refers to the process of moving people to a different place to live, because they are no longer allowed to stay in the area where they use to live. In other words, it refers to the act or instance of settling or being settled in another place.

Local government: An administrative body for a small geographic area, such as a city, town, county, or state. A local government will typically only have control over their specific geographical region, and cannot pass or enforce laws that will affect a wider area. Local governments can elect officials, enact taxes, and do many other things that a national government would do, just on a smaller scale.

Development: the term development often carries an assumption of growth and expansion. During the industrial era, development was strongly connected to increased speed, volume and size. However, many people are currently questioning the concept of growth for numerous reasons, a realization that more is not always better, or an increasing respect for reducing outside dependencies and lowering levels of consumerism. So while the term development may not always mean growth, it always imply change. Therefore, development simply refers to a change from a lower level to a higher level which takes a very long period of time and it is irreversible.

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