# Introduction ocal Administration or Local Government Administration in Nigeria as the case may be, has passed through four distinct phases. The first phase or epoch covered the period between 1914 and 1950; the second period fell within 1950 to 1966, the third epoch 1967 to 1976, while the final era was from 1976 to date. local government system was essentially deconcentrative but in 1976, it became devolved and "should do precisely what the word government implies i.e., governing at the grassroots or local level" iii Poor is philosophically interchanged with poverty because they share the same characteristics and whether the phenomenon is referred to as poverty or poor, is mere semantic. The characteristics that the "poor" and "poverty" severally share in common include low income per head, food scarcity and malnutrition, low energy consumption, low savings and low level of capital formation iv . Collectively, the poor or the poverty afflicted people can also be identified by the environment that they occupy. Okunade identified two of such environment, which are the rural areas and the fringes of urban settlements v . Their environment is characterized by a variety of social inhibitions and what Okunade termed infrastructural network handicaps. Compared with urban centres, Olowu says the "the quality of life is very low in the rural areas, whether we speak of life expectancy, food intake, living conditions, literacy level or the primitiveness of agricultural technology. Besides, rural conditions are worsening steadily in view of Nigeria's strategy of development which, because of the wide disparities between urban and rural areas that it promotes, encourages massive youthful rural depopulation to the urban centers with resulting problem both for the urban as well as the rural areas" vi Henry Nwosu, in analyzing the situation of women in relation to poverty said, "Historically, psychologically and sociologically, women have always formed the bulwark of the family and hence the society. They are solid foundation to every family in every society. Generally, women constitute the majority of the population in every nation state" vii iii Federal Republic of Nigeria. Guidelines For Local Government Reform, Kaduna: Government Printers, 1976. Forward. iv . This is particularly so in our local and rural areas in Nigeria. Phase I Under the colonial administration, local government was known as Native Authority or Administration system. It was a form of indigenous rule under colonial authorities whereby "traditional institutions of chiefs and other traditional rulers administer the natives under the supervision of British Administrative Officer" viii . There was nothing wrong with the use of indigenous institutions, chiefs and rulers in the then newly established local administration, for that was the existing governing structure before the advent of colonialism but there was certainly something wrong with the quality of these people expected to run these traditional institutions in 'modern governance' -Indirect Rule system. Very few of them (traditional rulers or chiefs), if any at all, had western education and exposure in modern governance to be able to run this newly introduced local administration. Ayoade expressed this better, according to him, "The policies were transmitted to the traditional rulers who hardly understood the logic and rationale of the policies. Nevertheless, they transmitted those policies to their people and expected compliance" ix Besides lack of western education necessary for these indigenous rulers to understand their 'superintendents', some roles expected of them to perform by the new system were also repugnant to tradition of the people. For instance, the Native Authorities were expected to "be able to levy and collect tax for the salaries of the chiefs and other officials and services of the authorities" . x . But while some communities were already accustomed to this, others were not; though they also had their own traditional ways of carrying out such services . In brief, their lack of exposure to Western education and modern governance hampered their administrative and service delivery capacity in the Native Authority system. It is therefore interesting to note that the operators of this Native Authority system could neither be described as executives, legislators nor administrators. Because they executed, legislated or administered nothing. At best, as Ayoade observed, they (traditional rulers) were mere "administrative curriers" to the colonial officers. This brings into question the status of the Native Authority System itself. Notwithstanding all these, the system made important achievement of whittling down the autocracy of patriarchal traditional rulers because hitherto these traditional rulers, under traditional system of governance, were embodiments of executive, legislative and judicial powers. The Native Authority system dismantled these and shared them among various stakeholders that included the colonial authorities. According to Gboyega, the new Native Authority system "comprised of four main interdependent parts: . Secondly, under the system, communities felt no strong sense of belonging and self-involvement in the system called local government then xv "The system of Sole Native Authority (SNA) had been a great source of oppression and suppression to the Egba people. Even most of the members of the council were not free to express their minds. . Thirdly, towards 1946, the system had acquired a new nomenclature -Sole Native Authority System. As a Sole Native Authority System, Egba women expressed their disgust to it this way : The Alake always passed as 'Mr. Know all". The Egba women would very much like the power of SNA removed because we are not happy under it. It is foreign to the custom of Egba # Global Journal of Human Social Science Volume XII Issue IX Version I ( D D D D ) A Fourthly was the restlessness of the educated elites who felt uncomfortable with their total exclusion from the Native Authority System. In trying to address these defects, the last colonial Secretary of State, Lord Creech-Jones, in 1947, had argued that: "The key to resolving the problems of African administration lay in the development of an efficient and democratic system of local government. I wish to emphasize the words: efficient, democratic and local. Local because the system of government must be close to the common people (the poor in particular) and their problems, efficient because it must be capable of managing local services in a way which will help to raise the standard of living, and democratic because it must not only find a place for the growing class of educated men, but at the same time command the respect and support of the mass of the people" xviii . xviii tended to replace the old one -single tier -that had been in place since 1914. This multi-tier system was a concentric circle of variety of three Local Government systems: e.g. the County, District and Local council or Provincial, Divisional councils. The service types they rendered to the rural people made the distinctions among these three layers. To alleviate the suffering the poor, county or provincial councils were assigned with services related to education, maintenance of roads and bridges. The Districts or Divisional councils were in charge of markets, dispensaries and sanitary services while Local or District councils, the smallest of them all, were responsible for the maintenance of streams and footpaths xix The basic difference between the single and multi tier system of Local Government then was while one emphases uniformity the other de-emphasis it. Although the intention of adopting uniform system might be, according to Adedeji, to promote unity but the opposite is the case . . Uniformity, according to him, ignores the difference in history, culture and modes of social organization of the various communities in a Although, the President of the Local government, under this new dispensation, had purely ceremonial functions like presiding at budget meetings and on other important occasions, he sometimes attempted to exercise executive authorities that tended to cause occasional out breaks of misunderstanding, if not outright fiasco, between him and the executives of the council xxiii . How one expected a peaceful cohabitation of an entirely illiterate president of Local government with educated treasurer and secretary of Local government seemed not clear. It is not an overstatement that the restless educated elite at that time would actually encourage and work for the success of their colleagues both at the council pools and administration, so that, having formed majority in the council, they could always over turn the decisions or plans of their reactionary opponents. Alex Gboyega alluded to this when he said that 1950 Local government reform tended to produce more participation than even the government wanted and "traditional" members of the councils. The traditional members according to C. E. Emezi, were either ex-officio members of these councils or to sit on them by and from amongst themselves. The president of the council was the traditional ruler of the place but where they were more than one, the office rotated amongst them. mechanistic. Diversity, rather than uniformity increase latitude of action. This indeed explains why American Local Government system is characterized by great variety and diversity xxi Secondly, Regional governments, especially those of the Southern part of the country began to pass . laws that provided for broad political participation under acting on 'order from the above' xxv . The intensity of this was high in places where educated traditional rulers headed the councils. Power tussle, not just on who ran the councils but who is superior in the system, frequently ensued between them and the technocrats. Perhaps the regional governments deliberately xxv Ayoade, John.A.A, Op, cit. P20. created this cleavage between the traditional rulers, as Following these policy statements, regional governments into which the whole country had broken into, began to reform their Native Authority systems to comply with the policy. First was the structure of the new local government system -Multi tier system -that representative or democratic system of local government. The broadened participation included local representatives of the people, traditional rulers and chiefs, which the law still permitted to act as the chairmen of the local government councils xxii . It should be noted that this is the beginning of gradual attempt at xxii Emezi C.E, Op. cit.P10. empowering local government system towards poverty alleviation at the local and rural areas. The local government law of western region of 1952 was more explicit on this when it distinguished between elected the presidents of the councils and the technocrats so as to have inroad into happenings going on at the grassroots, for Local governments, as earlier form of government, were too important to the politicians and the regional governments to be left alone. Hence they, regional governments, held tenaciously on to power to create and abolish Local governments. With this power, they created, abolished and dissolved erring Local 2012 u J n e Civil war era was another important epoch in the administrative development of Local government. Not only was development in the East stalled, poverty was alarmingly skyrocketing as the East was at that time the theater of war. As a result of this civil war there was governments, beside the fact that they "must also approve their annual budget before they can be implemented". This way, Local governments under this second phase were effectively subordinated to the regional governments. The upshot of this for the local government system was lack of autonomy. The lack of autonomy concomitantly also meant that these Local governments were dependent on the regional governments in a "horse and the rider" relationship. While Local governments were the horses, regional governments were the riders. Given this, Local government system during this period cannot be properly called so, but, as Ayoade suggested, "Agents of the central government at the local level". As agent of the regional governments, they ( education in the use of power and authority and in the risk of power (d) education in practical ingenuity and versatility (e) that Local Government could serve as a training ground for national politicians (f) that information about the localities can be easily and cheaply made available to the local and central government authorities (g) that Local Government helps to realize the basics of a democratic state (liberty, equality and welfare). Liberty, they argue, is realized through Local Government because (i) Local Government provides for individual access to power and to the point of pressure and control (ii) it enables the minorities to avail themselves of governmental position and power and keep power close to the people thereby facilitating control of government officials by the people (iii) as a level of government it is a countervailing power to other governmental levels (iv) as a power sharing device, it help to localize and confine problems that may arise out of the government process xxxi. Finally, it is believed that Local Government would teach the local politicians and the rural communities in general, the art of weighing and xxxi Fatai Ayisa Olasupo. "Philosophy and Poverty Alleviation". Nigerian Journal of Environment and Behaviour. Port Harcourt, Nigeria: Besty Publishers, 2003, P42. First, as there are 774 Local Government councils throughout the country today so are there 774 Traditional or Emirate councils. Secondly, as Local Government councils render services allotted to it by the constitution so do the Traditional or Emirate council. Today in the academia, they (Emirate/Traditional Council) are referred to as "fourth level of government" or "fourth estate of the realm", "grass-root" government or community government, "village government" "local development agencies" village development organs etc. These traditional councils are seen as "alternative non state structures that can respond to the economic and social needs" of the people. Conceptually, "it focuses on the totality of structures within the local community that comprises both state and societal organizations xxxiii xxxiv . Attributes of these types of government are distinct from conventional Local Government system. They non-state organs rooted in the indigenous traditions of social order, voluntary, and most importantly, "active and often successful in the provision of services required by their clientele". In recent time, according to Olowu, some of them have become active in the political arena as well . However, the way women are making progress democratically in the new Local government system, opposite is the case in traditional councils. While, since, 1987, women are making progress as elected chairpersons of Local government system, the reverse is the case in traditional council. Below In any case the differences between these "traditional government" and the conventional democratic Local Government system are in the areas of legislative role (making of bye-laws) and democratization. Whereas modern Nigerian Local Government system is democratic, representative, legislative and executive, "traditional government" of Babangida's vision lacked all these attributes and thus merely assists the other levels of government in service delivery, dissemination of information and explanation of government policy to the rural populace . Additionally and more importantly, they engage in conflict resolution at all levels of governments -Local, State and Federal. Hear Sheu Malami, a scion and icon of Sokoto Caliphate: we called upon now because there is crisis? So we are like fire -fighting equipment, when there is no fire the equipment stays there. You don't maintain it. When there is fire you look for it. You will see when the country return to normal, traditional rulers will go back to the cobwebs In 1988, the Military administration of General Babangida toyed with the uncomfortable coexistence of the democratic Local government system and the traditional rulers whom Ayoade referred to as "over mighty "subject" in the council area" xliii . Thus, traditional rulers were 'privatized' in theory and not in practice. All these show that even though the two councils have been separated to avoid clash of authorities they still maintain uncomfortable coexistence. xli. Chief of general staff, Vice-admiral Augustus Aikhomu had, in his address to the assembled newly-elected Local government chairmen, directed that "A traditional ruler travelling outside his Local government area should inform the chairman of the Local government" xlii. Again, "A traditional ruler wishing to raise any issue with the state government on matters relating to a particular Local government area should do so through the chairman of the Local Government" . Following massive protest of the traditional rulers that threatened the relationship between them and the military government, the military government of General Babangida soon reversed these orders although it had already created superiority tussle between the elected Local government council and the non elected leaders can play in good governance" he advised them (traditional rulers) "to be monitoring the local councils' chairmen and their activities in their domains" xliv IV. # Constitutional Roles of Local Government . To demarcate their lines of authorities, the 1979, 1989 and the Draft Constitutions of 1995 enshrined the different roles of these conflicting councils in their bodies. Three criteria, Gboyega observed, were applied in allocating functions to newly reformed Local Government councils. The parameters applied included: (i) Require detailed Local knowledge for efficiency performance; (ii) In which success depends on community responsiveness and participation and (iii) Which are of personal nature requiring provision close to where the individuals affected live, and in which significant use of discretion or understanding of individuals is needed These parameters were applied to produce two lists of functions for Local Government. The first list, according to Gboyega, was considered the primary or mandatory functions that all Local Government had to perform. These are: of the traditional or emirate councils. The civilian administration of retired General Olusegun Obasanjo reopened the wound when he became civilian Head of State. Some traditional rulers from Ekiti State, led by the then Governor of the state, Ayo Fayose, visited him at Aso Rock. According to the President, "in recognition of their importance" (traditional rulers) "and the role they advance for comments of the traditional rulers xxxviii. Fourthly, payment of their salaries, just like those of judges and diplomats/ambassadors, were to Given these complementary poverty alleviation roles that the constitution ascribed to the two disparate councils, it is clear which of the councils is ordinate and subordinate. While the new democratic Local Government system is indisputably the champion, the traditional council is there to provide advisory and complementary services. However, "in small towns and remote villages", as Olufemi Vaughan observed, "where state institutions are profoundly ineffective, local chiefs and village heads combine their "traditional" and customary functions with the pressing demands of community development" National Assembly in 1981fixed the proportion of the the expression "zero allocation". "Since Local governments depend on the fiscal transfers to fund their services, "zero allocation" according to Gboyega, "became an excuse for the inability to provide services" liv . As for diversion, Gboyega accused State governments of often withholding their statutory contributions to the Local governments and thereby Often, the claims of what each agency accomplished conflict with one another. This situation according to Nwosu, during General Babangida's regime, required special Directorates of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) presidential teams to inspect in each state of the federation what each state claimed to have accomplished with DFRRI funds as well as special presidential grant of 1million naira to each of the Local Governments for the construction of urban roads. "According to him, it partially resulted into politics of signboards; that is, a particular road at different times would at different occasion, depending on the team inspecting, have sign boards showing that "this is a DFRRI constructed road at another occasion the same road would have a signboard indicating "this is a road constructed with the presidential grant" lviii . lvii Ibid. # VI. # Conclusion Local government system in Nigeria did not start as a service delivery agent or channel through which poverty among local and rural folks could be addressed. The first and second epochs in its evolution were meant to lay the structure of modern system of local government although concrete structure that it would need to embark on service delivery had been laid -appointment of Secretary and Treasurer -and not least, the agitation of educated Nigerians for democratization of the system to accommodate them (educated class). The third epoch, when educated Nigeria assumed the mantle of leadership as leaders of government business and, later as premiers, marked the utilization of local government system as service delivery assistant to the Regional governments. It became a truly devolved body, able to generate fund, initiate and implement policies under military regime in 1976. But corruption at all the levels of government, including the Local Government itself, undermined its capacity to deliver services and thus unable to sufficiently alleviate the suffering of the local and rural poor in the country. lviii Ibid. P 193. Nevertheless, no other body safe current Local government system, can adequately decide the needs and priorities of the local community. This is because, as Gboyega noted, "that decision of the representatives of the people regarding the needs and priorities of the local community are apt to be more accurate and, at any rate, legitimate because it is of the community, rather than if they were made by agents of the central government" lix A What the table above shows is that, in certain typical localities in Nigeria, it should not surprise one to find two federal agencies, two state agencies and even a Local Government agency each executing one rural road or another without much co-ordination of personnel, equipment or funds. This tended to create in some cases the problem of who accomplished what; particularly in the area of rural road construction lvii . ![(ii) The Native Authority, usually headed by a Chief who enjoyed legitimacy under the indigenous political system, and often supported by a council of elders; (iii) The Native Treasury; and (iv) The Native Courts composed of representatives of the Native Administration" xiii Under the first epoch of local government administration in Nigeria therefore, the poor may not have been tangibly affected by the system with regard to alleviating their problems materially but, intangibly, were beginning to experience freedom as traditional rulers were no longer sovereign in their various domains. Their sovereignty had been fragmented and dispersed. Phase II . The failure of the first phase of Local government administration development is attributed to three factors. First, it lacked executive powers to assist the local and rural poor. What it had, at best, was regulatory powers because, as Gboyega observed, it had no mandate to provide any social welfare services and consequently engaged only the staff essential for their rudimentary administrative purposes xiv xii Ayoade, John.A.A, Op, cit. P19. xiii Alex Gboyega. Political Values and Local Government in Nigeria. Lagos: Malthouse Publishing Limited, 1987, P.14. xiv Ibid](image-2.png "") ![of Kajola-Ijesha Palace of Eyelobinrin of Kajola-Ijesha](image-3.png "") ![xx xix Cletious.E Emezi. "The Changing Patterns Of Local Government In Nigeria". The Nigerian Journal Of Local Government Studies (Ed.) Vol. 1 No.1, Ile-Ife: Local Government Training Programme, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Administration, University of Ife, 1983, p8. xx Adebayo Adedeji. "Search for Alternative system of Governance of the Grassroots" Daily Monitor, Sept. 5, 1997, p16.](image-4.png "") ![xxiv xxiii Ibid xxiv Alex Gboyega, Ibid. P.46 . Historical Epochs of Local Government Administration in Nigeria: Women and the Poor heterogeneous polity and by so doing upsets Local Governments that are established on the fundamental assumption that people matter and that neither they nor Thus, as mentioned earlier, conflicting composition of the management of Local government at this period did not allow for proper local government administration. While the traditional rulers who were presidents of the Local government councils were mere titular, technocrats of the Local government councils -Secretary and the Treasurer -exercise executive their socio-economic, political and cultural dynamics are powers, though through directive from the regional government as they had no any initiative other than xxi Adebayo Adedeji. Op cite P16.](image-5.png "A") ![Alex Gboyega. "Local Government and Democratisation in Nigeria, in the last two decades". Paper presented at the National Conference on Two Decades of Local Government in Nigeria. Held at the prevalent of emergency both in the West and the North. Sole Administrator ship system of administration was adopted in the West and Mid-West. It was a system supported by force and the emergency situation of the period xxvi . It was not meant to perform any meaningful duty other than mobilizing support geared towards the war efforts. The North, during this period had also desired complete abolition of Native Authorities and its Local government as means of assisting local and rural poor. The realization that 70 to 80% of Nigerian poor reside in the rural areas of the country led to this serious debate not just among the scholars but more importantly in the government circles. The best strategy of alleviating the sufferings of this class of people was the core of these debates. To assist them (local and rural poor) was not the issue but by what means? There were those who argued for and against institutional xxvii . Local government development during this period, as earlier said, was in stupor while poverty was on the increase as virtually all replacement by advisory council whatever assistance any governmental and nongovernmental organization had for the rural people should be channeled through the institution of Local approach. In other words, the argument revolved aroundGlobal Journal of Human Social ScienceVolume XII Issue IX Version I mobilized towards successful completion of the raging war.The 1976 Local government reform was a landmark in four important respects that empowered it. The empowerments are in the areas of uniformity, Phase IV Government. But there were those who contend that other avenues other than creating any institution for that purpose should be explored. Three major areas where those in favor of creating Local Governments for the rural people to manage their affairs hang their contention on were local concern or interest, political education and accountability xxx.xxx Alex Gboyega. Political Values and Local Government in Nigeria.Ibid. constitutional recognition, separation of traditional rulers from the Local government council and constituted into making the newly reformed democratic Local government councils a third tier of government with Five areas that proponents of this view believed Local Government could be the best strategy for service delivery were (a) provide political education to the rural people, (b) education in the possible and expedient (c)](image-6.png "xxviii") ![Despite abundant evidences of women traditional rulers in the country particularly in the communities with tradition of gender balance in ruler ship. Below is a calendar of gender balanced ruler ship from Ondo kingdom:2 22Ondo Male King and his KingmakersGlobal Journal of Human Social ScienceVolume XII Issue IX Version I](image-7.png "") ![xxxv xxxv Mead Timothy, D. "Barriers to Local Government Capacity in Nigeria". Aborisade O. and Mundt R.J, Local Government in Nigeria and the Unites States: Learning from comparison Ife: Local Government Publication series, 1995, P 198.](image-8.png "") ![xxxvi . The separations of the two councils notwithstanding, both councils -Local and Traditional councils -have areas of interaction. Under military regimes, a place was designed "for the traditional institutions in the form of a Consultative Council of Chiefs in each Local Government area which was expected to meet bi-monthly and consult with the Chairman and the Supervisory Councilors of the Local Right from colonial days, whenever there is trouble government uses traditional rulers as crisis manger. When there is no trouble, they forget us. Why are Government" xxxvii . Thirdly, Local Governments were also expected to make available to the office of the xxxvii Dennis Idonije Aidelokhai and Antony Ehidiamen Ehizuelen. "Traditional Institutions and Modern Governance in Nigeria within Adjustment Era: 1985-1995" in Governance in Nigeria: Economy, Politics and Society in the Adjustment years: 1985-1995. In Bello Imam (Ed.), Ibadan: Stirling-Horden Publishers, 1997.Global Journal of Human Social ScienceVolume XII Issue IX Version I consolidated fund xxxix . Due to poor revenue situation occasioned by unbridled and blatant deductions at source made from Local government revenues to finance some of their responsibilities, General Abacha devised a means of robbing Peter to pay Paul. His (Abacha) administration "approved deduction of of transfers from the federation account for the upkeep of traditional rulers". Under civilian administration of President Obasanjo, to drive home his administration's privatization policy, deduction from Local government federal allocation revenue was made voluntary, although deduction continuesxl ](image-9.png "") ![xxxviii Ibid xxxix Ibid xl Alex Gboyega. "Democracy and Development: The Imperative of Local Good Governance". An Inaugural lecture, 2003; Ibadan: The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, 2003, P36. xli Ayoade John A. A, op cit, P24 xlii Cover, "Royalty: Clouds of Uncertainty: New government directive confounds status of Nigeria's traditional rulers". Newswatch, April 18, 1988. 14. xliii Ibid](image-10.png "") ![Markets and motor parks; Sanitary inspection, refuse and night-soil disposal; Control of vermin; Slaughter house and slaughter slabs; Public conveniences; Burial grounds; Registration of births, death and marriages; Provision of community and local recreation centers; Parks, gardens and public open places; Grazing grounds, fuels plantations; Licensing, regulation and control of bake houses and laundaries; Licensing and regulation of bicycles, and carts And other types of vehicles except those mechanically propelled and canoes; Control or keeping of animals; Control of hoardings, advertisements, use of loudspeakers in or near public places, drumming; xliv Fatai Ayisa Olasupo . "Women Rulers in Governing Institutions at the Local Level in Nigeria: A Comparison" in Wither Nigeria? Proceedings of the 14 th General Assembly of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria August 9-11, 2 Abuja: Social Science Academy of Nigeria, 2005. pp 177-187.](image-11.png "") ![](image-12.png "") ![](image-13.png "") PoliticalScience:SomeTheoreticalAndMethodologicalConsiderations". Leadership, Democracy And The Poor (Ed.) Jos : APublication Of The Nigerian Political Science Association, 1991, P19-20.v ix Ayoade John .A.A. "The Development of Democratic Local Government in Nigeria". Aborisade and Mundt (Ed.). Local Government in Nigeria and the United States: Learning from comparison, Ife: Local Government Publication series, 1995, P19. x Emezi C.E, Op. cit. P8. xi Ibid. 2012u J n eVolume XII Issue IX Version I(i)D D D D ) A(Global Journal of Human Social ScienceIt is fraudulent to call it local government because there was nothing governmental about it to warrant that nomenclature. If it was not democratic, legislative (it had no legislative power at all xii ) or clientele service delivery system, what then is governmentalabout it? Some argue that it could appropriately be Male and Female Kingmakers in Ilesha West and East Local GovernmentMale Kingmakers Obanla Male king Baba OrisaFemale Kingmakers Female king. Yeyerisa-Arise Yeye OrisaOgboni of Ilesha Baba OdofinYeye Odofin Yeye OdofinOba-Odo Baba AroYeye Baodo Yeye AroOgboni of Ipole Ogboni of Ibokun Baba Salaro Baba EjemoYeye -dole Yeye Salaro Lejoka Yeye EjemoOgboni of Ijebu-jesaLoro201220122 16 u J n eu J n eVolume XII Issue IX Version I D D D D ) AThe introduction of Sole Native Authority System hasten the marginalization of women traditional rulers in communities with gender balance in traditional ruler ship. Such communities include Ondo, Ekiti, Ijesha, (in Yoruba land) Okpanam and Ibusa (in Delta State) and " Obabinrin Adenike Dununsin Yeye Mojumu(female king)of Ibokun Male and Female kingmakers in Ibokun, Ori-Ade Local government of Osun State. Male Kingmakers Female Kingmakers Odofin Odofinbinrin Ejemu Ejemubinrin Aro Arobinrin Owa Obokun of Ijesha land, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and Yeyerise (Female king) of Ijesha land, Obabinrin FeliciaVolume XII Issue IX Version I D D D D ) AGlobal Journal of Human Social Science (Osolo Saba SajukuMale KingOnisha (in Anambra state). Below are pictures of those in Ijesha land: Female King Osolobinrin Sababinrin Sajukubinrin xvii Modupe Obiwole.Global Journal of Human Soci al Science (Loja of Kajola Ijesha (Oba Omirin)Yeheloobinrin of Kajola IjeshaObabinrin (female king) ElizabethOwa Obokun of Ijesha land, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran and Yeyerise (Female king) of Ijesha land, Obabinrin FeliciaModupe Obiwole.xvi xv Cletious E.Emezi. Op. Cit.P 25. xvi xvii Ishola Olomola. Bade Ajuwon. Dayo Omotosho. "Oba Ibokun". Prominent Traditional Rulers of Yorubaland (Ed). Ile-Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University &Celebrity Publication Limited, Ibadan, 2003, P102. 1S/N NAMETOWN ORL.G.ASTATETYPE OFDATETIME SPENTVILLAGEIN OFFICE1Yeye-LadegbaIleshaIleshaOsunOwa ObokunA.D 1646-16526 years2Yeye gunrogbo IleshaIleshaOsunOwa ObokunA.D. 1652-16531 year3Yeye WajiIleshaIleshaOsunOwa ObokunA.D. 1691-16921 year4Yeye WaiyeIleshaIleshaOsunOwa ObokunA.D. 1692-16931year5Yeye WayeroIleshaIleshaOsunOwa ObokunA.D. 1698-171214 yearsSource : At ay ero S. A(1 972 ) A S hort Histor y of the I j eshas Part I, Ilesha: Olufemi Press, P p 37-41. 2© 2012 Global Journals Inc. (US)xxxiii Dele Olowu. Ibid. xxxiv Ibid Traditional Councils, their draft estimates well inh) Determination of customary law and practice on allmatters including that relating to land;i) Making representation or expressing opinions to.government or any other organization on theIncluded in this list are:collective behalf of the Local Governments in theHealth centers, maternity centers, dispensaries andarea.health clinics, ambulance services, leprosy clinics andj) Deliberating on or making representation orpreventive health services;expressing opinions to Government or any otherAbattoirs, meat inspection;organization on, any matters which it deems to be ofNursery and primary education and adult education; 5% Information and pubic enlightenment; Provision of public libraries and reading rooms; Provision of scholarship and bursaries;importance to the Emirate or Chiefdom as a whole or which may be referred to it by Government or other organization xlviii .20125% Agricultural extension, animal health extension services, and veterinary clinics; Rural and semi-urban water supply;u J n eFire services;Provision of roads and streets (other than trunk roads),their lighting and drainage;Control of water and atmospheric pollution;Control of beggars, of prostitution, and repatriation ofdestitute;Provision of public utilities except where restricted byother legislation, specifically including provision of roadsand inland water transport;Public housing programs;Operation of commercial undertakings;Regulation and control of buildings;Town and country planning; andPiped sewerage systems xlvii .V. Constitutional Role of Traditional( D D D D ) Aor Emirate Councila) To formulate general proposals as advice to LocalGovernmentb) To harmonies the activities of Local Governmentcouncils through discussion of problems affectingthem generally and giving advice and guidance tothem.c) Co-ordination of development plans of LocalGovernment by joint discussion and adviced) Community Tax Assessment within the area as awhole in consultation with Local GovernmentNaming of roads and streets and numbering ofplots/buildings;Control and collection of revenue from forestry outsidethe 'forest estate' of gazette forest reserves;Collection of vehicle parking charges; and collection ofproperty and other taxes, community tax, and otherdesignated revenue sources xlv .xlv Ibid, P41xlvi Ibid, P21xlvii Ibid revenue to be transferred to Local government councilsfrom the Federation Account and from each State's totalrevenue ateach" liii .However, this monumental empowerment ofLocal government councils is bedeviled with series ofcorruption types: Deductions, Diversions, Withholding,Duplications, and even, Multiplications of the sameproject-execution by different governmental agencies.With regards to deductions, severally has Federal2012government deducted from the statutory transfers from the Local government Federal allocation to "fundprimary school staff salaries" that "often wiped away theu J n eentitlements of some Local governments, giving rise toVolume XII Issue IX Version ID D D D ) A(Global Journal of Human Social ScienceCouncils and announcement of tax. Also to aid, as is the usual practice, in collection of tax e) Determination of religious matters where appropriate.li . Although before its introduction, Local government councils, before 1970, generated most of the funds themselves, they had no spending power. While they were gatherer of funds, regional governments were spenders. In 1979 therefore, the national constitution of that year guaranteed fiscal transfer from the States' revenue and from the federation account to Local Government. According to Gboyega, "Section 142 of that Constitution provided that the Federation Account would be distributed among the Federal, State and Local governments. It also provided that each State should pay to its Local Governments such proportion of its total revenue as the National Assembly prescribed" lii . "The Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account, etc.) Act of 1981 passed by theand offices, except where these are traditionally the f) Support for Arts and culture. g) Chieftaincy matters and control of traditional titlesprinters, 1979; Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution. Abuja: xlviii Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution. Lagos: Government lii Ibid. P 24.exclusive prerogative of the Emir or Chief in whichGovernment printers, 1989, P 144.case the council's function shall be advisory to theEmir or Chief.xlix l Ibid. li Alex Gboyega. Ibid. P23. liii Ibid. liv Ibd. P38 lv . 3ProejectsFed. Govt.AgenciesState Govt.Local Govt.Non Govt.Inolved In ExecutionAgencies Involved InAgencies Involved InAgencies Involved InExecutionExecutionExecution1.Rural RoadsDFRRIRuralDevelopmentWorks Department of2. Federal Min. of Agric.Authority Ministries ofLGs Communities(Rural Department)Works Task forces ADP2. Rural Electrification DFRRIState Rural ElectrificationWorks Department ofNEPABoard Rural DevelopmentLGs CommunitiesAuthority3. Rural Water Supply 1.DFRRIState Water Corporation1.Agric. DepartmentsUNDP European UnionFederal Min. of AgricultureState Rural Development2.CommunitieOther international nonAuthority3.PhilanthropiesgovernmentalMinistries of Health inorganisationssomeStatese.g.Anambra4.Food CropsDFRRIMin. of AgricAgric DepartmentUNDPFederal Min. of Agric.ADPCommunitiesEuropean UnionMAMSERVarious States grains, treeLocal non-governmentalboards and committeesorganisationSource : © 2012 Global Journals Inc. (US) Historical Epochs of Local Government Administration in Nigeria: Women and the Poor © 2012 Global Journals Inc. (US) * Search for Alternative system of Governance of the Grassroots" Daily Monitor AdebayoAdedeji Sept. 5, 1997 * Leadership, Democracy And the Poor in Africa's Political Science: Some Theoretical And Methodological Considerations RAdefulu Leadership, Democracy And The Poor (Ed.) Jos : A Publication Of The Nigerian Political Science Association 1991 * Political Values and Local Government in Nigeria AlexGboyega 1987 Malthouse Publishing Limited Lagos * Democracy and Development: The Imperative of Local Good Governance AlexGboyega An Inaugural lecture 2003. 2003 Ibadan: The Faculty of Social Sciences University of Ibadan * Local Government and Democratisation in Nigeria, in the last two decades AlexGboyega Paper presented at the National Conference on Two Decades of Local Government in Nigeria. Held at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Topo-Badagry on June 4-6, 1996 * History of Local Government Reforms and The Gains Made in Local Government Administration During The Transition Period AlexGboyega Local Government in Nigeria and the United States: Learning from comparison Ife Local Government Publication series 1995 * The Development of Democratic Local Government in Nigeria AyoadeJohn .A Local Government in Nigeria and the United States: Learning from comparison MundtAborisade Ife Local Government Publication series 1995 * Jos : A Publication Of The Nigerian Political Science Association BayoOkunade Leadership, Democracy And The Poor Leadership, Democracy And The Poor 1991 The New Local Government Reforms And The Nigerian Poor * Women and Politics in Historical Perspective BolanleAwe Women and Politics in Nigeria Ikeja Malthouse Press Limited 1992 * Foreign policy and Federalism: the Nigerian experience BolajiAkinyemi My Life 1986. 1962 Gaskiya Corporation Limited P21. See also Ahamadu Bello * The Changing Patterns of Local Government in Nigeria ECletious Emezi The Nigerian Journal of lix Alex Gboyega. Local Government and Political Value. Op cit P4 * Traditional Institutions and Modern Governance in Nigeria within Adjustment Era: 1985-1995" in Governance in Nigeria: Economy, Politics and Society in the Adjustment years: 1985-1995 AntonyEhidiamenDennis Idonije Aidelokhai Ehizuelen Bello Imam 1997 Stirling-Horden Publishers Ed.), Ibadan * Local Government And Rural Development In Nigeria DeleOlowu The Nigerian Journal Of Local Government Studies Ile-Ife Local Government Training Programme, Department of Public Administration 1983 1 Faculty of Administration, University of Ife * DeleOlowu Local Governance, Democracy, and Development * State, Conflict and Democracy in Africa RichardJoseph 1999 Lynne Rienner Publishers. Inc * Philosophy and Poverty Alleviation OlasupoFatai Ayisa Nigerian Journal of Environment and Behaviour. Port Harcourt P42 2003 Besty Publishers * Women Rulers in Governing Institutions at the Local Level in Nigeria: A Comparison OlasupoFatai Ayisa Wither Nigeria? Proceedings of the 14 th General Assembly of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria August 9-11 2 Abuja 2005 * Local Government and Rural Development OlasupoFatai Ayisa Journal of Development Alternative and Areas Studies (formally Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives and Area Studies) 78232 1 & 2 March -June 2005 San Antonio * Traditional Rulers under the Military 1979 -1999 OlasupoFatai Ayisa 2006 PhD. Draft Thesis * Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution. Lagos: Government printers 1979. 1989 Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution. Abuja: Government printers * Guidelines For Local Government Reform, Kaduna: Government Printers FederalRepublic Nigeria 1976 * The Conduct of Free and Fair Elections in Nigeria HenryNwosu Abuja: A National Electoral Commission Publication 11 1991 * Public Administration: A Nigerian and Comparative Perspective LadipoAdamolekun 1983 Longman Group Limited New York * Ile-Ife: Local Government Training Programme, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of 24. Olufemi Vaughan MeadTimothy DAborisade OMundt R Local Government in Nigeria and the Unites States: Local Government Studies PaulANigeria CrawfordBeckett Young USA University of Rochester Press June 1983. 1997 1 Dilemma of Democracy in * Learning from comparison Ife: Local Government Publication series VincentOstrom 1974. 1995 The Intellectual Crisis in American Public Administration