OBSTACLES TO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines obstacles to effective implementation of policies in the local government system of Nigeria, using the secondary method of data collection, which is based on the use of textbooks, academic journals, government documents, internets sources, conferences papers, and so on. Findings from the study reveal several obstacles bedeviling the effective implementation of policies in the local government system of Nigeria, which include ambiguous goals; poor ambitious nature of some local government  policies; undue political interference; paucity of data and reliable statistics; culture and values of most policies; change in government; lack of mass commitment; corruption, among others. In addition, several recommendations were advanced in order to address the identified obstacles to effective policy implementation at the local government level. These are ensuring that the policies formulated at the local government levels are based on statistical fact, realistic and are characterized with clarity of goals; creating opportunity for citizens’ participation in order to ensure that the local government policies are people-oriented and are peculiar to resolving the actual problems of the people; the completion of  all relevant and pragmatic ongoing programmes and projects of successive administrations before the commencement of new projects; and the replacement of the various state independent electoral commissions with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the agency to be responsible for the conduct and management of local governments elections.