Abstract:
This research examined the effect of local government on social and economic development with a particular emphasis on Obafemi owode local government. It aimed to classify the services rendered by local government and to evaluate the impact of services on people's well-being. The questionnaires were planned and conducted, i.e. for the inhabitants of the region, in order to collect the opinions of the inhabitants of the area. Questionnaires were easily distributed to 110 inhabitants and 100 returned. This was also reinforced by interviews, focus group conversations, personal evaluation and analysis of the related literature. The study showed that mismanagement of funds, the joint accounting scheme, lack of transparency and accountability, and the small sources of funding available to local councils, and the failure to make efficient use of their internal sources of revenue, had a negative influence on the provision of public utilities at local level. This is evident in inadequate educational facilities, poor health centers, highways, etc.; However many issues have been described as constraining the efforts of the local government to provide services. These include: lack of suitable sources of income, mismanagement, shared accounts, excessive intervention by the state government, etc. Accordingly, this study proposes the absolute independent status of local government, both financially and administratively, with a view to completely serving its mission, feasible sources of income and a well-founded leadership procurement mechanism, with citizens of unquestionable character and honesty at the helm of affairs.
