Intergovernmental relationship and challenge of development in kebbi state

Chapter one

Introduction

• Background of the study

Intergovernmental relations (IGR) are an integral and pervasive part of modern political systems, of growing importance as complexities of modern governance increase. They have become a notable feature of federal political systems; however, they are an important component of any political system with more than one level of government

There is no necessary correlation between the system of government and the degree of centralisation of IGR or the relative power between the various levels of government. Indeed, a number of federations such as Australia and the USA have steadily become more centralised while many unitary countries have recently decentralised. This is true both for developed countries such as the UK and Spain, which have devolved substantial policy and political authority to regional governments, and for developing countries such as China, Vietnam and Indonesia, where regional governments have increased their autonomous decision making power and financial independence

In Nigeria’s federal presidential system, the government has three arms and three levels which interact to perform the functions of the state as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. Basically, how these organs and tiers of government relate and interact in the performance of  government  functions is  known  as intergovernmental relations. The observable functional intergovernmental  relations  in  the  country  are majorly vertical  pattern  of relationships between  the  federal  and  state  governments  and  amongst  the  federal,  state  and  local governments. Given the nature of Nigeria’s  federalism that ascribed so much functions  and powers to the federal  government in  the  Exclusive  Legislative List,  the vertical  pattern  of  intergovernmental relationship holds sway  in  practice. The horizontal pattern of intergovernmental relations between  or amongst states and between or amongst local government councils merely exist only in theory as no two states or  more have pulled resources together to  provide common  services  to its  citizens, or have any two or  more local government  councils collaborated to address certain challenges  facing its  people as development partners. Based on this background the researcher wants to investigate intergovernmental relationship and challenge of development in Kebbi state.

Statement of the problem

The horizontal  pattern of intergovernmental  relations between  or amongst states and between or amongst local government councils merely exist only in theory as no two states or  more have pulled resources together to  provide common  services  to its  citizens, or have any two or  more local government  councils collaborated to address certain challenges  facing its  people as development partners

Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are;

1. To ascertain the relationship between intergovernmental relationship and development in Kebbi state
2. To ascertain the challenge of intergovernmental relationship in Kebbi state
3. To find out whether challenges of intergovernmental relationship affect development in kebbi state

Research hypotheses

Ho: there is no relationship between intergovernmental relationship and development in Kebbi state

Hi: there is relationship between intergovernmental relationship and development in Kebbi state

Ho: there is no challenge of intergovernmental relationship in Kebbi state.

Hi: there is challenge of intergovernmental relationship in Kebbi state.

Significance of the study

The study will be very significant to students and government of Nigeria. The study will give clear insight on the intergovernmental relationship and challenge of development in Kebbi state. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on the related topic

Scope and limitation of the study

The scope of the study covers intergovernmental relationship and challenge of development in Kebbi state. The researcher encountered some constraints, which limited the scope of the study. These constraints include but are not limited to the following;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Intergovernmental relationship: Intergovernmental relations are also defined as an interacting network of institutions at national, provincial, and local levels, created and refined to enable the various parts of government to cohere in a manner more or less appropriate to the institutional arrangements

Challenge: a call to someone to participate in a competitive situation or fight to decide who is superior in terms of ability or strength

Development: the process of developing or being developed.

ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study