Tag Archives: Community

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN IZZI LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF EBONYI STATE

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to examine the Role of Women in Community Development in Izzi  Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. A total of six (6) communities in the study area were used for the study. 230 people were selected through simple random sampling techniques to complete the questionnaire. The instrument used for the study was a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher for the collection of data and the survey research design was adopted for the study. The questionnaire contained 20 items based on the research questions. The mean and frequencies were used for the method of data analysis. The data were analyzed and interpreted using mean scores. The results of the findings revealed that political and economic instability militate against effective role of women in community development because valued resources are not properly allocated to the appropriate quarters. Inconsistent policy formulation and programmes design as well as unpurposeful leadership militate against the Role of Women in Community Development. However, women are formidable productive force and a store of incredibly human resources which are required for community and national development. Therefore, women should not be discriminated and marginalized due to their potentialities in development sphere. Based on the findings, it was recommended that political and economic stability, review of government policies and programmes on the role of women, emancipation of women should be urgently and properly carried out completely, special child care/security allowance should be given to the women. Women should be heard, seen and involved in all ventures through their concerted efforts and all plans for the achievement of the objective of women development progress should be prudently designed and faithfully executed.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

It is pertinent to note that women are at the heart of development in various nations, state, local governments and even communities as they control most of the non-monetary economy (subsistence agriculture, bearing children, domestic labour etc.) and play vital role in the monetary economy (trading, wage labour, employment etc.) (Yawa,1995). Everywhere in the world, women work both around the home and outside the home. The most topical issue in international developmental programme is women.

In support of this, Eze (2008) asserted that the instrumental role of women in community development is obvious, hence, cannot be over-emphasized. The woman as an individual is an agent of production of life itself. This inevitable role places her in the position of the life blood of the entire humanity. Woman is the first teacher, the sustained and maintainer of the home, the peace maker, and the symbol of beauty as well as the major character molders of the child. She is the mother to human race. As mothers and wives, women do avert considerable impact on the productivity: male workers. As workers in their own rights, they can be linked to the rejected stone in the Holy Bible which has definitely become the corner stone of the house. By their sheer psychological and intellectual make up, women do perform more than mere complementary roles in the production process  Jerminiwa, 1995).

To be candid, most of the contributions by women globally had not been recognized until recently when the United Nations declared:-the Decade for Women (1976-1985), making it mandatory on governments to focus on issue of women as an integral component national development.

To ensure the actualization of this noble objective, the United

Nations General Assembly in 1979 adopted the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Consequently, subsequent conferences on women were held in Copenhagen, Demark 1980, Nariobi in Kenya 1985, and Benjing in China, 1995.

Notwithstanding, an international news magazines “Africa Today” reported in July, 1995 that the full implementation of all the strategies and recommendations of the various conferences on omen issues had still not been achieved and enthusiasm was waning. According to the magazine, the United Nations itself reported that only six out of the 184 ambassadors to UN are women and only four out of the 32 UN specialized agencies and prgoramme are headed by women.

But in Nigeria the 1995 constitutional conferences has only eight women out of a total of 369 delegates.  Sadly, much of women’s work remains invisible, unremunerated and unrecognized.  But women are now challenging the status quo to right women are working for an improvement in their socio-economic statues and for recognition in national development (Amah, 1995).

According to Eking (2008), women have come a long way.  The concern for “women in development or women’s progress and women is emancipation is anchored in the practiced that women as subordinate to men.  Consequently, Anikpo (2000) contented that various rights were denied women and their contributions to National Development were either stifled or ignored.  Deliberating on the matter, Ebo (1996) raised pertinent issues on the emancipation of both Nigerian women and men in national development without which women folk will slow down the pace of national advancement.

It is pertinent at this function to take a critical look on the role of women in community development, A case study of Izzi local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

A community is a group of people occupying a geographical space or area and is bound together by common culture, language value and aspirations. Succinctly, Ede (2001:55) sees the community as a group of people, made up of adult, children, social and non-social people living in a certain territory or geographical setting where they all share a mode of life but not all are conscious of its organization and purpose”. He further explained that there is a nonsocial part of the community such as little children and mentally deranged people who are not conscious of the way of life of the society and their rights and obligations. Culture in its simple forms to complex forms is being universally defined and understood as the totality of the ways of life of a people or a society. Onwueje Ogwu (1994) sees “culture as all material objects made by man ranging from stone implements to atomic energy and non-material things thought out and institutionalized by man ranging from values, norms to ideas like marriage, economy, drama dance and language”

Since women are part of the community, there is much need for. Apart from the physical attractions, women are indispensable at home not only in the domestic work they do, but also in taking care of the children. In support of this, Oyesakim (1982) asserted that women perform certain functions that make for development such as child bearing and economically, they are helping hands to man. In his opinion, Demise (1991) describes the roles and duties of women in the family as wives, mothers, and village/community politicians. He was of the opinion that women function in various capacities ranging from founders of nations/states. Also there are assumptions that women are the main custodians of social, cultural and values of a society at large and a community in particular.

However, this custodian role of women has been threatened by colonialism, modern technology and advent of Western Education where women were grossly under-privileged.

Obviously, Nigerian association with the British as its colonizers left an indelible mark on the socio-cultural attitudes and patterns of behaviour of its citizens. During the colonial era, women were relegated to the Kitchen, thus destroying the indigenous courage and capacities displayed by their great grandmothers in service to their communities (Dadirep 1995). Coming from a background where a woman’s place was in kitchen, the colonial masters and administrators thought it strange to find the African woman involved in substantial economic and political activities outside the home (kitchen). According to Dadirep (1995), the Victorian period in England in the 1gth country re-emphasized the act that the physiology of women naturally made them timid, feeble and unable to think because they had smaller brains than man.

Development means different things to different people Mabogunje (1980) identifies development to be economic growth and modernization.

Mabogunje (1991) identified the eight cardinal elements of sustainable development as they affect women as education, health, culture, politics, economy, agriculture, enhanced environment, quality and peaceful co-existence.

Perhaps, the field where women have excelled and where they have contributed immensely to national development as well as community is trading with reference to the transportation, exchange, and distribution of food stuff.

More so, the better life programme which was (launched in 1987 and the family support programme of the Abacha administration did a lot to enhance women’s participation in development process. However, despite their attendant circumstantial and congenital constraints, some specific achievements can be attributed to the programme in some parts of Nigeria such as:

  • Formation of co-operative societies and unions.
  • Many women are deeply involved in the following
  • Production of book soap
  • Production of honey
  • Founding of day care and primary schools
  • Organization of literacy classes
  • Preservation of perishable food items
  • Promotion EPI/ORT activities
  • Promotion of sanitation programmes.

It also undoubtedly clear that woman played a lot of vital roles in politics during the pre-colonial era. Nigerian women participated in politics and government through the institution of women chiefs, the authority of first born daughters and the age grades. They held various positions in their various ethnic groups. Currently, women are involved in all socio-cultural, economic, political and leadership aspects of the society.

Many of them were elected into various positions in their different communities, states and Federal level. To be precise, women are fully involved in developmental processes.

Conclusion: In spite of the imposed constraints or impediments on the Nigerian women at large and the study area in particular, there is over whelming evidence from what has been discussed in this introduction that women can be formidable productive forces which are needed for community and national development. They can dictate the pace and direction of the economy and society. Their sheer numerical strength is enough to jolt cynics. Their contribution

cannot be discounted in house-hold and national economics. The performance in national development efforts should be;

  • Ensure major policy interventions to bring women’s social status and economic chance at par with those of men.
  • Shift emphasis in regional development efforts to the provision of infrastructures and location of production ventures in marginalized areas.
  • Identification and elimination Of all appearances of discrimination based on sex.
  • Special child care security allowance should be put in place due to the tact that a properly brought up child is an assets to the society and not to the mother alone.

Converted efforts have been made by women themselves to be heard, seen and involved in all ventures, including political strides because the best advocates for women’s emancipation must be women themselves.

  • Cottage economic activities that are socially, acceptable and economically viable should be identified.
  • Credit facilities should make easily accessible to women.
  • All plans for the achievement of the objectives of women’s development progress should be prudently designed and faithfully, executed (Jeminiwa, 1995).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The problem of this study is to identify the actual roles of women in community development in Ezzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State so that the non-recognition, discrimination, marginalization, oppression and suppression of women as well as other negative tendencies will be ended for the effective development of our society. It wilt also identify the causes and consequences of some of the factors that either militate against favour the role of women in community development in the study area.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objectives of this study are to critically examine the

-des of women in community development in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyl State, Specifically, this study sought to:

Determine the factors that affect the role of women in community development.

  • Ascertain the contribution and level of development in the study area through women
  • Examine the areas requiring more participation of women in the development of community in Izzi Local Government Area

Determine how women contribute in the provision of funds and other resources for developmental projects in the community in the study area.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following questions are formulated which if adequately answered would identify the roles of women in community development in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

  1. What are the factors that affect the role of women in community development in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State?
  2. What are the contribution of women and the extent of the

evel of community development in Izzi Local Government Area

through the role of women?

3, What are the areas that require more participation of women for community development in your area?

  1. How do the women contribute in the provision of fund and other resources for the execution and implementation of community developmental projects?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work is expected to serve as an adjunct to existing literature on the role of women in community development in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyl State in particular and Nigeria at large. This work can be regarded as a managerial, administrative, and policy guide.

The results of the findings and recommendations of this research work will among other things.

  1. Provide prudent and useful guide for government, organizations, communities, managers, project implementers, individual investors, industrial and developmental sectors as well as present and future researchers.
  2. In addition, the study seeks to promote participation of women

n development of the society to enable them handle their

duties and functions better.

Furthermore, the study service to improve the quality of materials and allocation of resources for community development to combine with the ones which women provide willingly for better performance in the study area and elsewhere.

In addition, the study hopes to promote cordial relationships Detween government project executors and implementers, women s well as the entire community.

Finally, it will serve as a catalyst forwards further research on community development and its effects on the people and the society.

1.6 SCOPE /DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY  

The scope of this research is limited to the role of women in community development in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The delimitation of this research study to Izzi Local Government Area only is as a result of area where reliable data is available.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study concentrated on the role of women in community development in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State due to time frame and financial constraints. Another limiting factor is the necessary materials to be used which are very scare while the respondents may lose some questionnaires on which can make the sample small in relations to the entire population.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

  1. Development: This means a widely participatory process of social changes in society intended to bring about social and material advancement (including greater equality freedom and other valued qualities) for the majority of people through gaining control over :eir environment.
  2. Role: This is the function or postion that somebody has.

Community: A community is a group of people occupying a geographical setting and bound together by common culture, language, value and aspiration.

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THE PROBLEM AND PROSPECTS FACED BY VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (A Case Study of Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State)

ABSTRACT

The problem and prospect faced by voluntary organization towards community development is the main focus of this study. This study is aimed at identifying the development so caused by voluntary organizations towards community development at large particularly Okene Local Government. In the course of this study, the aim and objectives of voluntary organization towards community development are to: in light of the concept of voluntary organization on Okene Local Government to understand better and appreciated their physical, economic and social environment to help locate the need of their communities and proffers solution to the problem. The second aim of project work is to drive a useful comment in Okene Local Government towards community development to drive home some possible benefits and help design plans for further investigation and improvement. The population of the study was 3479, out of which 5% represents the sample size is 174 people. Questionnaire was administered to 174 respondents but only 97.7%% (170) was found valid. The data gathered was analysed using frequency and simple percentage. Some recommendations based on the subject matter were made such as that government should encourage the formulation of voluntary organization at all level of community development and conclusion was invariably drawn.

 

Chapter One

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

A voluntary group or union (also sometimes called a voluntary organization, common-interest association, [Prins HEL et al, 2010:226] association, or society) is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement, usually as volunteers, to form a body (or organization) to accomplish a purpose (Dictionary.reference.com). Common examples include trade associations, trade unions, learned societies, professional associations, and environmental groups.

Voluntary organizations emerged as self-help entities to combat economic and social inadequacies (Baarda, 2006). Voluntary organizations serve as an effective community development vehicle by their nature they build economic self-reliance and civil society. The benefits of voluntary organizations accrue to the larger society because they create local jobs, re-invest locally, emphasis on education and skills raises local management capacity, reduce migration and concentration of capital. People come together in voluntary organizations to pool their resources together so as to meet individual needs that could not be resolved by individual limited financial capacity (Birchall, 2004). The aim of voluntary organizations is to produce goods and deliver services, and to satisfy the legitimate needs of members and also to promote cooperation, relations, participation and consequently to promote interpersonal connections. Voluntary organizations provide services that benefit both members and the local community. It was also observed that it is an essential tool for development of less economically developed communities (Ibrahim, 2004).

Naturally, developing sustainable economic cooperation among individuals will be more profitable further than the creation of conflicts. It is only for this strictly pragmatic reason (and not for any other moral reasons as in the case of other social philosophies), that it is justified to found institutions that minimize conflicts and promote cooperation (Fairbairn, 1994).

Birchall (1997, 1998) traces the birth of modern voluntary organizations to Britain at the end of the eighteen century. Friendly organizations emerged among working class group to protect themselves against life hazards through mutual insurance, numbering over a million by 1834. They were seen as a self-help movement, being a response to the insecurities of reliance on wage labour arising with industrial revolution.

In Nigeria the development of voluntary was influenced by government policies. This could be traced back to 1926 when the department of Agriculture started to organize Cocoa farmers around Abeokuta and Ibadan in western Nigeria, to sell their cocoa voluntarily (Ibrahim, 2001).

A voluntary organization is an organization in which those who transact with (i.e. patronize) the organizations also own and formally control the organization, and derive significant benefits from those of transactions over and above any financial returns they derive from their investment in the organization (Ijere,1992).

This definition captures the patronage-based returns aspect that appears to distinguish Voluntary Organizations from other forms of organization.

According to International Voluntary Alliance (1995): Voluntary organization is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically- controlled enterprises.

Another definition provided by Mladentaz (1933) cited by Ibrahim (2001) describes Voluntary Organization as: “Association of persons, small producers or consumers, who have come together voluntarily to achieve some of common purpose by a reciprocal exchange of services through a collective economic enterprise working at their common risk and with resources to which all contribute to the development of community’’.

The notion of community development owes a great deal to the efforts of colonial administrators. After the Second World War the British Colonial Office became concerned with ‘community development’. Mayo (1975: 130) suggests that administrators ‘concocted’ the term out of their attempts to develop ‘basic education’ and social welfare in the UK colonies. For example, a 1944 report, Mass education in the colonies, placed an emphasis on literacy training and advocated the promotion of agriculture, health and other social services through local self-help (Midgley et al 1986: 17). This was a set of concerns similar to those surrounding the interest in rural development and educational ‘extension’ in North America in the first two decades of the century. Community development was defined in one UK government publication as:

“active participation, and if possible on the initiative of the community, but if this initiative is not forthcoming spontaneously, by the use of techniques for arousing and stimulating it in order to achieve its active and enthusiastic response to the movement.” (Colonial Office 1958: 2)

The concern with community development was, in part, a response to the growth of nationalism, and, in part an outcome of a desire to increase the rate of industrial and economic development. The notion began to feature strongly in United Nations documents during the 1950s – and these drew extensively on the British literature and experiences in Africa and India (Midgley et al 1986: 18). Three important elements were identified:

  1. a concern with social and economic development.
  2. the fostering and capacity of local co-operation and self-help.
  3. the use of expertise and methods drawn from outside the local community.

Within this there does appear to be a certain contradiction. Community development emphasizes participation, initiative and self-help by local communities but is usually sponsored by national governments as part of a national plan. While from one side it can be seen as the encouragement of local initiative and decision making, from the other it is a means of implementing and expediting national policies at the local level and is a substitute for, or the beginning of, local government (Jones 1977).

The focus on the social and economic, local and global, also helps to situate debates about community development – and the disillusionment with its achievements that was widespread in many Southern countries by the 1970s. Many governments, particularly in Africa, failed to provide adequate financial support but nevertheless extolled the virtues of self-help. Community development was soon recognized by the people to amount to little more than a slogan which brought few tangible benefits. (Midgley et al 1986: 18)

This study therefore focuses on Problems and Prospects of Voluntary Organization in Community Development in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.

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THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (A CASE STUDY OF BENDE L.G.A IN ABIA STATE)

CHAPTER ONE

1.1     INTRODUCTION

Local government has and will continue to be of the prime mort of development in different parts of the world and their importance and impact on the daily activities of citizens cannot be over emphasized.

The terms local government refers to a political authority set up by a nation as a subordinate authority for the purpose of dispensing or decentralizing (political) power in the English souse, it means local self government.

Local government is a political sub-division of a national government or in federal system, a sub-division of regional government in fact local government administration so intentioned with community development that any discussion on one out of necessity involves in essence was created solidly to bring development to the community at the grass-roots.

Community development is with a new ideology. It is defined as a process by which the efforts of the people themselves are lives with those of government authorities to improve the economic social and cultural conditions of the communities to integrate into the life of active and to enable them to fully contribute to the national progress.

Also the role of local government at the local level is clearly recognized as one of the underlying basis of the 1976 local government reformed which emphasizes that none of the principle objective of local government is to mobilize human and material resources through the involvement of members of the public in the promotion of local government many communities had built schools constructed roads bridges and organized higher education, scholarship schemes for linear children etc.

Community development as we recognize today is based on and has grown out of experience of the past.

What is new is that these principles are now becoming more widely recognized than ever before the principles of community development are not new, but it is the emphasis which makes almost a revolutionary. The concept of community development is based on the faith in the ability of people to learn to help them attain improved standard of living building better communities taking one one step at a time. Rural development has thus remained one of the priority items of the programmes of one administration. In draining up the blue print for rural development government of Abia State aims primarily at sensitizing and mobilizing the people at the grass-root level and deliberately and actively involving them in effective community development encouraging integrated and multi-dimension approach community development for the government to achieve the grass-roots development it must get closer to the people community development groups and local government should work very closely because for instance a service project such as maternity dispensary or school which is built without the relevant main tenancy expense of such service are usually too heavy to be borne unaided to such.

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

       Statement of the problem should help you clearly identify the purpose of the project you will propose. Often, the statement problem will also serve as the basis for the introductory section of your final proposal directing your reader attention quickly to the issues that your proposed project will address and providing the reader with a concise statement of the proposed project itself.

A statement problem need not be long and windy. One page is more than enough for a good statement of problem.

1.3  OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

       The broad objective of the study is to find out the roles of local government in community development in bende local government.

The following are the specific objective of this study.

  1. To determine the impact of finding on community development.
  2. To determine the impact of corruption on rural development in Nigeria.
  3. To establish the use of trained and professional workers in community development.
  4. To ascertain the impact of local government authority on rural development in Nigeria.

1.4  RESEARCH QUESTION

The following research questions, will guide the study.

  1. What impact dose finding have on the development of rural areas in Nigeria.
  2. To what extent dose corruption affect rural development in bende government.
  3. How dose lack of trained and professional personal affect the standardization of project in community development.
  4. What impact will local government authority have on rural development in Nigeria.

1.5  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

       Somehow, most communities in bende seem to be legging behind in community development because of the above mentioned problems. As such, his study will be of benefit, it many people.

       This work is expected to assist our policy makes who have taken it upon themselves to sensitize the rural dwellers in bende local government. This is because through the finding of this work, they would then appreciate the importance of identifying the needs of communities before embarking on any project in a community.

1.6  SCOPE OF THE STUDY

       It is obvious that Nigeria is a country that has 774 local government in the country this assignment was narrowed down to one local government area, which is bende local government area in easy accessibility and the emphasis therefore is the role of local government.

1.7  LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

       As a result of the numerous local government area that is bende local government in Abia state the emphasis therefore should be the role of local government in community development. Lots of constraints were encountered in the financial constraints, scarcity of material and ignorance on the part of the respondents. But by the grace of God, I was able to assemble to the best of my ability the key information that will form a picture of what the study demands and hope that their constraints will pave away in subsequent to make for enlacement where necessary.

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APPRAISAL OF THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS AN INSTRUMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA (A Case Study of Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State)

APPRAISAL OF THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS AN INSTRUMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA (A Case Study of Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State)

ABSTRACT

This research work was undertaken with a view to ascertaining “The Role of Local Government as an Instrument of Community Development in Nigeria” with a focus on Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State as a case study. The work looked critically (in question) towards local government and community development in Nigeria within its area of jurisdiction. In doing this, the researcher based his study on the provision of the 1976 Local Government Reform in Nigeria which made local government and community development in Nigeria one of the explicit functions of the local government. In carrying out the research, primary and secondary data were used. Related literatures were reviewed and questionnaire were equally prepared and administered to local government functionaries. The findings of the research were reached using the result of the tested hypothesis. From the research findings, the hypothesis that “the role of local government in community development is low” is rejected. The researcher therefore concluded by making a sense of recommendations among which are the co-ordination of the development efforts of the various formal and informal organizations in the overall local government and community development in Nigeria programmes, and procurement of adequately trained personnel for the organizational and educational processes associated with local government and community development in Nigeria.

 

Chapter One

INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background of the Study

This chapter one presents the background of the study, aims and objectives of the study, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, research questions, statement of hypothesis as well as definition of concepts

Local government has and will continue to be of the prime of development in different parts of the world and their importance and impact on the daily activities of citizens cannot be over emphasized.

The terms local government refers to a political authority set up by a nation as a subordinate authority for the purpose of dispensing or decentralizing (political) power in  the English souse, it means local self-government.

Local government is a political sub-division of a national government or in federal system, a sub-division of regional government. In fact local government administration in connection with community development involves bringing development to the community at the grass-roots.

Community development is with a new ideology. It is defined as a process by which the efforts of the people themselves are lived with those of government authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of the communities, to integrate into the life of native and to enable them to fully contribute to the national progress.

Also the role of local government at the local level is clearly recognized as one of the underlying basis of the 1976 local government reformed which emphasizes that one of the principle objective of local government is to mobilize human and material resources through the involvement of members of the public in the promotion of local government. Many communities had built schools constructed roads bridges and organized higher education, scholarship schemes for linear children etc.

Community development as we recognize today is based on and has grown out of experience of the past. What is new is that these principles are now becoming more widely recognized than ever before the principles of community development are not new, but it is the emphasis which makes it almost a revolutionary. The concept of community development is based on the faith in the ability of people to learn to help them attain improved standard of living building better communities taking one step at a time. Rural development has thus remained one of the priority items of the programmes of any administration. In drawing up the blue print for rural development, the government of Kaduna State aims primarily at sensitizing and mobilizing the people at the grass-root level and deliberately and actively involving them in effective community development encouraging integrated and multi-dimension approach community development. For the government to achieve the grass*-roots development it must get closer to the people community development groups and local government should work very closely because for instance a service project such as maternity dispensary or school which is built without the relevant main tenancy expense of such service are usually too heavy to be borne unaided to such.

1.2       Aims and Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of the study is to find out the roles of local government in community development in Chikun Local Government.

The following are the specific objective of this study.

  1. To determine the impact of funding on community development.
  2. To determine the impact of corruption on rural development in Nigeria.
  3. To establish the use of trained and professional workers in community development.
  4. To ascertain the impact of local government authority on rural development in Nigeria.

1.3       Significance of the Study

The study being “The Role of Local Government as an Instrument of Community Development in Nigeria” will enable readers and future researcher to have a clear view of the role of local government in community development.

The researcher will assist reader and students who might want to carry out research work on the subject matter and will also serve as reference material for them.

 This work is expected to assist our policy makers who have taken upon themselves to sensitize the rural dwellers in Chikun local government. This is because through the finding of this work, they would then appreciate the importance of identifying the needs of communities before embarking on any project in a community.

1.4       Scope and Limitation of the Study

It is obvious that Nigeria is a country that has 774 local governments. The study is in “Appraisal of the Roles of Local Government as an Instrument of Community Development in Nigeria”.  But due to the fact that there are many local governments in Nigeria, the researcher decided to center the research in Chikun Local Government using it as the case study. The study covers the period between 2015-2017.

The researcher met with some problems in undertaking this study, notably in some areas of data collecting, time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage, and insufficient financial resources to execute the work more effectively. 

1.5       Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study.

  1. What impact does funding have on the development of rural areas in Nigeria?
  2. To what extent does corruption affect rural development in Chikun local government?
  3. How does lack of trained and professional personnel affect the standardization of project in community development?
  4. What impact will local government authority have on rural development in Nigeria?

1.6       Statement of Hypothesis

Research hypothesis is a tentative and predictive answer to a question which is subjected to the power of verification and its formulation can be expressed in:

  1. Null Hypothesis (Ho)
  2. Alternative Hypothesis (H1)

Since hypothesis is statistical method of testing the attributes of predictive condition, we can test the study under the following hypotheses.

(i)         Ho = Roles of Local Government in community development is low

(ii)        H1 = Roles of Local Government in community development is high

1.7       Definition of Concepts

The key terms in the work are the local government role in community development.

Local Government: Nworje (2004) local government is an organ of the state put in place to peddle the development activities of a particular place or district with the view of making the impact of government being felt at grass-root level. Also Eyiyee (1999) see local government as the smallest government body created to take care of all local interest that requires government attention.

Role: The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary puts role as “the function that a person expected to have or the function a person has”.

Community: According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, community means the people living in one place district or country considered as a whole.

Development: It means a programme, change gear towards the equipment and sustain ability of the value of life development entails that is continuously taking in man and his physical environment.

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COMMUNITY POLICING AND CRIME PREVENTION

IMPACT OF COMMUNITY POLICING ON CRIME PREVENTION IN KADUNA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

The study examined Impact of Community Policing on Crime Prevention in Kaduna Metropolis. Objectively, three research questions were formulated. The survey design was used in the study. The sample size was 400. 400 questionnaires were administered to the respondents, but 278 questionnaires were found valid. The data gathered were analysed using simple percentage and mean. The findings revealed that: community policing in Chikun Local Government Area is effective; the factors that affecting community policing are corruption, poor funding, God fatherism, institutional constraint and poor perception of the police; and that serious retraining towards attitudinal change, professional efficiency and proficiency, equipping the police, increasing funding for the police and improvement in the conditions of services of policemen are the efforts taken by the government to ensure better community policing in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Based on the findings, conclusion was drawn and recommendations given that there should be serious retraining towards attitudinal change and professional efficiency and proficiency among both the rank and file and other officer cadre of the police; there is need for the police to improve its public relationship. They should see Nigerians as their fellow human beings who deserve to be treated with a high level of courtesy and decorum … .

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0     Background to the Study

Community policing is a philosophy founded on the principle that in a democratic society like Nigeria. The police are entrusted by their fellow citizens to protect and serve the public’s fundamental rights, liberty, equality, and justice under the law. To fulfil that privileged role, the police must be a part of, and not apart from the communities they serve. This fact reiterates the need for involving the communal, the local government, and the police to work together to stop crime. One rationale for public involvement is the belief that police alone can neither create nor maintain safe communities. Therefore, community policing has emerged as a main issue in the development of public safety for many countries in the world. For example, Singapore, Canada (Walker, 1992), England (Friedman, 1992), by 2000, many nations had introduced community policing as it becomes a worldwide growth.

On the 27th April 2004, His Excellency President Olusegun Obasanjo formally launched the Nigeria Police Community Project. Unfortunately, this project could not be as active as the country’s Modus Operandi is not under international best practices. Therefore, community policing has emerged as a leading issue in the development of public safety in many countries of the world as was experienced in England (Friedman, 1992), Singapore, Canada (Walker, 1992), Israel, and Scandinavian countries.

Community policing can be ineffective in Nigeria, as the country’s modus operandi is not following international best practices. For instance, Neighbourhood watch, as community policing is known as a situation in which the police and community members establish “citizen advisory committees that would open up channels of communication between police officers and the community” (Sykes, 1978). Citizen advisory committee is composed of police personnel, and members and leaders of a community, members of the business community, and the clergy living within that vicinity; and are all duly recognized by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN, as amended), and the 2004 Police Reform/Police Act. The local policing mechanism is acknowledged by government as a powerful body in solving crime problems in the country. Irrespective of this locally formed body in crime detection and arrest, the country is still battling to embrace international best practices in policing. The Nigerian Police are still developing strategies for improving the modern community policing in terms of developing a non-democratic platform where enforcement of law and order requires utilizing coerciveness, brutality, and disregard for fundamental human rights will be detached.

Qadri (2005) acknowledged that the main duty of the police is to enforce law and order, safeguard lives and property, fighting crimes and criminals, and render other essential services in the society. The organized public faces a lot of unruly behaviours that are inimical to human progress leaving no peace to its victim and the society and as such the work of the Police is necessary as to enforce and main law and order which task is enormous and requires concerted efforts from other agencies to achieve thorough going constructive results. Crimes are generally most obvious in the neighbourhood. The rate of crime in the society overwhelm the Police force and needs public support and co-operation. This calls for more police men which the government alone could not afford and therefore, calls for intensive partnership and concerted efforts of other body polity for the achievement of crime-free society in Nigeria. This need requires both the formal and informal organizations to join hands with the Police to fight crime. This idea or thought will definitely lead to greater success in crime prevention and control if not total eradication in our communities.

The blending of both the formal and informal policing in various towns and villages is called the police-public relationship which often time alienates for certain reasons among which is the claiming of superiority and egoism. However, mutual supports are very necessary in establishing cognitive relationship between the two social actors. There is a great need to bring the police much closer to the public, and verse versa is crucial or decisive to bring about a crime free society for all and sundry, and whereas in the past, police-public relationship has been estranged, and in shackles, making mutual supports very tough. However, the same sour relationship exist in Nigeria and Kaduna State is no exception. With growing urbanization and national development, there are signs of complexity and multiplicity of criminal offences and acts. Thousands of lives and millions of birr worth of property are being lost as a result of one crime or the other. In essence, there must obstacles to effective community policing and a solution to this problem.

The emergence of community policing was to create a real partnership with the existing legal framework for crime prevention and protection of life and property. The maintenance of law and order in any society  has usually been the exclusive role of conventional police and other law enforcement agents in the absence of active participation of the members of the community. During those days, the police do not only faced difficulty in tackling crime but also criticized for the        unfriendly nature of the relationship with members of the public. Thus, community policing has enjoyed an extensive coverage among scholars. It is in the light of the above that the study seeks to examine Impact of Community Policing on Crime Prevention in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

1.1     Statement of the Problem

Crime and the cases of crime is fast becoming a serious problem in contemporary world. The high rate of crime in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State has raised a general feeling of insecurity of lives and property, and have made residents of the local government to cry out for urgent assistance to curb the ugly situation in order to safeguard the lives and property of community members.

In an anxious bid to tackle this rising wave of crime, the federal and state governments have increased support to Nigeria police service in areas of personnel, logistics and firearms. However it seems that the more weapons and police personnel deployed to fight crime, the more criminal activities are committed. Chukwuma (2002) noted that the much that has been achieved seems to be crime spreading from one local government, state or region to another. The argument therefore is that to deal with the growing sophisticated armed kidnapping operations and other related criminal activities, more personnel and new methods or strategy like police/public partnership (community policing) should be introduced.

Each day unfolds with its strange tales of one form of crime or the other. There is hardly any day that passes now without one crime or the other being committed. From kidnapping to killing of innocent people has become more or less the order of the day. Indeed criminal activities have wreck untold havoc in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State including the loss of lives and limbs and the creation of fear and insecurity (Ezuugwu, 2011). With the increasing fear of the rampage effects of kidnapping and other associated criminalities in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, to what extent have the police helped the residents of Chikun L.G to reduce the fear and combat crime?

However, since the introduction of the new method, community policing, in the state in 2004, as a pilot project, not much social research based on the empirical data has been conducted to establish the effectiveness of community policing in crime prevention or reduction in the area. It is in the light of the above that the study seeks to investigate the Impact of Community Policing in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

1.2     Research Questions

These are some of the questions the study is designed to answer:

  1. How effective is community policing in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State?
  2. What are the factors that affect community policing in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State?
  3. What are the efforts taken by the government to ensure better community policing in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State?

1.3     Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to find out the Impact of Community Policing on Crime Prevention in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The specific objectives are to:

  1. Find out the effectiveness of community policing in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
  2. Determine the factors that affect community policing in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State
  3. Inquire the efforts taken by the government to ensure better community policing in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

1.4     Significance of the Study

The study has both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically, community policing has not received adequate research in Africa and especially in Nigeria compared to the extensive researches that have been carried out in the United States and United Kingdom. For this study will be theoretically significant because its findings will help to close the gap created by lack of existing literatures on community policing as a strategy for crime prevention or reduction in Nigeria. It will be an addition to the body of existing sociological, criminological and criminal justice literatures particularly in the area of crime reduction strategies. It will also stimulate further research on community policing in this part of sub-Sahara Africa, and Nigeria in particular.

Practically, the study will also draw the attention of the police on the need to strengthen their relationship with the members of the community where they are working, for effective crime reduction. The findings of this study will help Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State in particular and Nigeria Government at large to plan on how to improve community policing. The findings will also help the general public to understand how the community policing enhances or lowers effective crime control when properly applied.

Finally, the outcome of the study will no doubt help in the prevention of crime and social disorder, and be a useful material to research students of criminology, law, law enforcement agents and public administrators for a crime free society.

1.5     Scope of the Study

This study covered respondents like the Nigeria Police, Vigilante group and other security agents in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

1.6     Definition of Key Terms

Community Policing: It is a collaborative effort between the police and the members of the public to identify the problems of crime and disorder and to develop solutions from within the community in crime reduction.

Crime Prevention: In this study, it is the present interventions in stopping future crime.

Crime Reduction: It is all the effort from the people and the government to reduce the rate of crime in a given society.

Crime: Crime in this study means any action which contravenes the laws established by political authority.

Impact: Effect or Influence

 

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