As a result of the
inadequacies of the local government system, which various states had prior to
1976, the federal military government undertook a nationwide reform of the
local government system in Nigeria
This was the first time
in the history of Nigeria when the federal government was involved in the
reform of local government. The main features of the 1976 local government
reform are outlined as follows:
- The reform created large sized local government area throughout the federation based on certain minimum population requirements. This results in uniform local government areas.
- The federal government for the first time was involved in the funding of local governments statutory percentage share of federation accounts and states revenue.
- The local government was made third tier of government of the federation. This means that it was not a mere council or administrative attachment to the state government. It was a government at its own level with all the powers of a government and authority.
- There was democratization of local governments throughout Nigeria. The members of local government councils were elected.
- The traditional rulers had no significant role in local government throughout the federation.
- The reform introduced full time chairman of local government and supervisory councilors (portfolio councilors).
- Councilors were paid fixed enhanced monthly allowances instead of sitting allowances.
- The reform was instrumental to the historic entrenchment into the constitution of the structure, functions and democratization of local government.
- Local governments were assigned a wide range of functions.
- Systematic training programme for local government staffs.