FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The various local government laws made provision for comprehensive function local government irrespective of their sizes, population, finance, staff and management capabilities, looking at the functions of the local government as laid down in the laws it, almost all the functions of the local governments had their equivalents at the local government level. In addition, there were other activities of every local character such as maintenance of cemeteries, markets and Motor Park which local government performed exclusively.

What may be properly considered to be the functions Of local government must be considered and appraised in the light of the sphere of the state economic and social policy? For example the effect of Education Programmes (UPE) can only be considered in the light of the polities at the centre and its social and economic effects.

The approach to this study is practical firstly, if a local government is subordinate to the state government, then it goes without saying that the local government more often is easily affected by the state government have big whip.

We shall now examine some of the local functions of the local government. The most important one is to maintain law and order in its area of jurisdictions. It is a historical truth that were there is no, peace and order the people cannot carry cut their normal day to day activities namely: going to their farms, market, attending schools, maternity homes etc. this happens when there is a break-down of law order like the civil war, constant operations by men of the underworld that is the armed robbers, unhealthy political rioting etc.

Secondly, the local government keeps center government informed of the needs, aspirations and feelings of the local people.

By this, we mean that the local government helps the state government to translate and explain its policies, plans and programmes to the people at the grass roots.

On its own, the local government undertakes development works, provides amenities and meet the need of the local people in the local area as contained in the instrument that create it. That is the directive from the state government.

These functions on services are however subject to the financial capacity of the local government. However, one could note the benefit of the community and so they are vary from one local government to the other or one place and their needs.

Therefore, the functional area of local government services includes:

1.     AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: BY preventing soil erosion, protecting livestock and farm products and by preventing animals from wandering.

2.     ROADS AND TRANSPORT: By constructing good roads, maintaining them by keeping them in constant repairs. It constructs bridges, public parking and collect fees from their users.

3.     TRADE AND COMMERCE: it builds market stalls, controls their uses and levy charges. It can also provide and maintain public weighing and measuring machine for farm products. (Cocoa dealers attempted to cheat the illiterate farmers)

4.     Health, sanitation and housing. It builds, operates and maintains hospitals, maternity, homes, dispensaries, ambulance, and services, refuse disposals, drainage and seaway system. It also sees to the prevention of harmful insect's e.g. mosquitoes and tsetse files. It has power to supervise, ensure and maintain public health through health officers. It is responsible for the issuance of the certificate of ownership and make sure that building is created to approve plans.

5.     Public Recreation the local government constructs, maintains, recreational grounds, parks, towns halls, public liberates, welfare centers for juvenile delinquents, destitute etc.

6.     SPECIAL DUTIES AND POWERS: The state government may authorize the local government to make bye-law to.

a)     Regulate and control the sale of liquor

b)    Regulate slaughterhouses, sales and hawking.

c)     Condemn unhygienic food etc.

d)    License motor vehicles, canoes, boats, bicycles, etc.