CHAPTER ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION

        Local government was nationally acclaimed as the third tier of government in 1976, it is a government, exercised by local councils in 1976, it is a government exercised by democratically elected local council in line with the 1979 constitution, which recognized local government as the third tier of government. 

        Local government is widely acknowledged as a viable instrument for the delivery of social services to the people, it is strategically located to fully carry out the above functions because of its nearness to the people.

        However, people at the grass root are only able to understand and recognize local government because they are able to feel its presence and impacts on their day-to-day activities.

        Local government is a determinant approach at ensuring bottom top transformation through responsive decentralization of national development strategies; it is not just a permanent feature in the political arrangement of the country but equally the most viable centre  for grassroots transformation. It is  generally referred to as the best form of decentralization.

        It has a developed power being recognized by the constitution. To this end, every state in the federation  shall ensure their existence under a law, which provide for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and function of such local government council.

        In order to reduce the work load being piled up on the local government service board which was created to carry out some specific functions and again to give enough freedom to carry out their functions  devoid of undue political interference, the boards were transformed to commission following the recommendations of the Dasuke committee of 1984 which was assigned with the responsibility to look into how best to ramp the concept of viable and efficient system of local government administration in the country.

        It is to be noted that with the creation or formation of local government service commission, the local governments no longer have any effective control over their staff. This was however, a deliberate design against the nepotism, corruption or sectionalism and other abuses, which attended to matter relating to personnel of the local government in the past years. 

        The proponents of the local government service board commission believed that the local government should be more effective in the performance of their lawful duties if their staff do not operate under              fear and tension of victimization. How much this has been achieved is the focus of the study.

1.1   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

        The problems of this study centers on the following issues:

i.            What are the statutory function of local government service commission.

ii.          To what extent id the local government service commission interfering with the functions and powers of local government in the discharge of their responsibilities?

iii.        What are the problems facing the local government service commission in  discharging their  responsibility.

However, frequent change of government effects the existing system of local government and the performance of the function of local government service  commission .

1.2   OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

    i.        To highlight the statutory function of the local government service commission.

  ii.        To  assess how far the local government service commission in Kogi state has performed its statutory function

iii.        To highlight the problem which the commission face in the performance of its function.

 iv.        To prescribe ways of Alleviating such problems

   v.        Suggest ways of making the commission more effective in the performance of its functions.

1.3   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

        The study is significant in the sense that it makes us to know the relationship between local government service commission and the local government councils across Kogi State.

        The study is also important because it enable us understand the role of local government service commission to the local council. It is also very valuable to the functionaries of the local government council as it  educates them on the relationship of the local government service commission to their councils.

        It is equally believed that the study will enhance the growth and development of the performance of local government across the nation.

        It is equally valuable to students and researchers.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTION

        The role of local government service commission in the management of local government in Kogi State.

1.5   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

        However, because of the time factor which is not on our side  and the un-cooperative attitude of some respondents and government officials who are supposed to release necessary documents for the research project.

        Secondly, because of financial constraints as a result of poor responses of some students who found it difficult to pay their levies.

        It should be limited to Kogi state with a particular reference from local government     service commission headquarters Lokoja.

1.6   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

        The study centers on the role of the local government service commission in the management of local government in Kogi state.

1.7   DEFINITION OF TERMS

    i.        Local government service commission: It is the body that is charged with the responsibility of administering the senior staff of the local government in Nigeria.

  ii.        Local government service board: This is the body that was transformed to be local government service commission.

iii.        Establishment management committee: They are the committee that handle the personal function of the staff of the local government on a preliminary basis before being passed to local government and local government service commission for defined decision.

 iv.        Senior staff management committee: It is the committee that holds preliminary discussions and deliberation or interview on the promotion or confirmation of appointment and discipline  of the senior staff on GL  and Above.

   v.        Junior staff management committee: This is the committee that discusses staff matters affecting staff of the local government on GL 01-06.

 vi.        Unified local government service: this explain the system whereby staff of local government on grade lever 7 and above in the state are administered on the same umbrella without any prejudice and again that is to say that local government service commission have uniform condition of service under unified system, senior staff of the local government can be posted to any local government.

vii.        Role: it is noun; it has to do with duty, task or junction. It also has to do with making the necessary impression form of service.

viii.        Posting: The deployment of staff to a particular duty post or office.

 ix.        Employment: the engagement of a person, service in return for some financial reward either salaries or wages.

   x.        Disengagement/separation: Bringing to an end the    service of a person in an organization. It can take the form of   retirement, termination of appointment, dismissal/retrenchment, resignation or withdrawn from service.

 xi.        Human resources: The people whose services are engaged by an organization.

xii.        Seminar/workshop: This is a short term training covering a period of within one day to two weeks, organized for the staff of an organization in order to acquaint them with new knowledge in different fields for the purpose of enhancing their performance at work.

xiii.        Autonomy: Freedom to carry out ones duties without external interferences.

xiv.        Statutory obligation/functions: The duties that have been assigned to an organization legally by the constitution of the statute establishing the organization.

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