Grassroot Democracy and the Challenges of Rural Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State

Type Journal Article - Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
Title Grassroot Democracy and the Challenges of Rural Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State
Author(s)
Volume 1
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Page numbers 12-19
URL http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.682.3364&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Abstract
Grassroot democracy is a people/community – driven participation in elections, governance
and decision making. There have been several reforms over the years by the Federal
government of Nigeria aimed at stimulating self government and to encourage initiative and
leadership potential at the grassroot level. Oral interview and focus group discussion with
stake holders in grassroot democracy were used in generating data for this study. The
respondents were purposefully selected to include LGA present and past Chairmen, senior
local government council workers, members of political parties, traditional leaders, members
of community based organization and few members of the public. The result of the study
findings shows that the frequent interference and dissolution of local council officials by the
state government and the joint account syndrome has eroded grassroot democracy in the
country. The result of the study also show that these has incapacitated the local government
council in delivering social services to the rural dwellers and has entrenched corruption in
the system of local government administration. The study recommends among other things
constitutional amendment to allow for local government autonomy and abolition of the joint
account system

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