NIDEREF

THE ROLE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE ATTAINMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

by

DR.EPHRAIM S.ESSIEN,PhD,AmbP

Department of Philosophy
University of Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt,Nigeria
&
Department of Classics/Philosophy
University of Cape Coast
Cape Coast, Ghana

Being a paper at a conference organized by THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCE CENTER OF THE NIGER DELTA ENVIRONMENT RELIEF FOUNDATION(NIDEREF)



CONFERENCE THEME: LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS


DATE: 15 JULY,2010



VENUE: EL-QUEEN HOTELS CONFERENCE HALL,BORI,RIVERS STATE,NIGERIA



CONTENTS



INTRODUCTION/DEFINITIVES


HISTORICITY OF LOCAL  GOVERNMENT


STRUCTURE  OF LOCAL  GOVERNMENT


FINANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT


FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL  GOVERNMENT


THE  UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS


LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS


PROBLEMS MILITATING AGAINST LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE  TOWARDS THE REALIZATION  OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS


CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS


REFERENCES



INTRODUCTION/DEFINITIVES
Aristotle, the  great Greek  philosopher, who was described by Dante, the Latin poet, as the “master of those who know”, had suggested that “definition of terms (names ) is  the  beginning  of any discussion” rendered in Latin as “initio disputandi est definitio nominis”. In line  with the above glaring veracity,   the writer intends to give explication  of key terms used in this address. Before such an exercise in linguistic analysis, however, permit the writer  to declare that this paper intends, secondarily, to indicate the extent to which  the  United  Nations Millennium Development Goals  have been attained at the Local Government level of  administration in Nigeria,  the Niger Delta and  our States in  particular. However, the paper focuses more and primarily on the responsibility of the local government towards the attainment of these self-same goals.
We  thus  wish to  explicate the concept  of Local Government and to give a cursory insight into what the  goals  to be achieved  are all  about. Let us say here, that after the explication  of terms, we shall  go on to address the historicity, structure, finance and  function  of Local Government. We shall then  connect Local Government to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, mindful of what they ought to do.  If  there  are problems that can militate against  the Local Governments in their attempt  to practically address  these  goals, we shall discuss them, and thereafter make  some recommendations. To the explication of terms now we turn.

Local  Government: What it is
The Federal  Government  of  Nigeria, through the 1976 Local Government Reforms,  explained Local  Government  as follows:
“Local  Government is Government at Local  level exercised through representative councils established by Law to exercise specific power within defined areas” (Government print: 1976).
The United Nations Office for Public Administration explained Local Government as:
“A political division  of a nation  (in a Federal  or State system) which is constituted by  Law and has substantial control   of  Local affairs including   the power  to impose taxes to exact labour for  prescribed purposes.
W. A. Robson,  in the Encyclopedia  of  the  Social  Services,  defines  Local Government as involving:
“The conception of a territorial, non-sovereign community  possessing the legal  right and  the necessary organ  to regulate its   own  affairs.
This, in  turn, presupposes  the existence   of a Local authority with the  power to act  independently of external  control as well as the  participation  of  the  local community  in the  administration of  its affairs”.
The Encyclopedia Americana, International Edition( 1978), volume 17, defines Local  Government as: “a political subdivision of  national  government  or in the case  of Federal  Systems, a  subdivision  of regional Government”.
The New Columbia Encyclopedia (4th Ed.), defines it as the: “sub-political administration of the smallest sub-divisions of  a country’s territory and  population. Ugwu (2002) defines Local  Government  as “the lowest  unit of  administration to  whose laws and regulations communities who  live  in a defined geographical area and with a common  social and political ties are subject.

Though these definitions may tend  to vary,  yet they expose features characteristic of Local Government, among which are that:
i.    Local  Government  is government at the local level;
ii.     It has its  autonomous  existence and endowed with a legal status;
iii.    Specific powers are reserved for it;
iv.    It can impose taxes and   incur expenses;
v.    it  exists within a defined territory;
vi.    It is seen as a distinct tier of   Government;
vii.    It must provide authority   over a given population;
viii.    It  must  provide avenues for   the promotion  of the welfare of the members  of the community;
ix.    It comprises elected members, such as chairmen and councilors.

Having listened so far to   the definitions given above,  at  least , each  one of us are  present can say  something  about what Local  Government is, at least , the fact that  it is the  government closest to us at the  grass  root level. And, as a matter  of fact, may  we now  draw your attention  to the origin of the word “Local “. “Local” as a term is derived from Latin “Locus”, which means “place”. This understanding  of the etymological meaning of “Local” as “place”  can further assist us  in  understanding Local Government as the government of  our  immediate “place”,  be it our town, group of villages or group  of clans. Your local government thus means the government of your place.

HISTORICITY OF LOCAL  GOVERNMENT IN  NIGERIA. 

Modern  discourse on the genesis of  Local Government in Nigeria  may be anchored on  the 1976 Local  Government Reform, but  the onto-genesis of  Local Government dates back  to the  Indirect Rule and Native Authority  systems introduced by  Lord Lugard and Sir Danald  Cameron  respectively. 
As a  mater  of  fact, Local  Government   in Nigeria underwent epochal transmutations.  And the stages of  evolution of  development of  Local Government in Nigeria  can be categorized  into the following
EPOCHS:
i.    Indirect Rule system, Native Authority system/Local Administration (1900-1950s);
ii.    Period of the introduction of British model of Local Government (1950-    1956);
iii.    The period of decline of Local Government (1960-1970s);
iv.    Local Government during the Military regime (1966-1975);
v.    The 1976 Local Government Reforms and Local Government in the     Second Republic (1979-1987);
vi.    Babangida Local Government Reforms (1985).

This epochal schema can again be regrouped into:
1.    The colonial period: 1900-1960; and
2.    Post colonial period:  1960-1976

Colonial Period: 1900-1960
The definitive essences of this period were the systems of Indirect Rule (1891-1929), the Native Authority (1931-1949), and the rise of Modern Local Government (1950 onward)
Then, Nigeria was administered in three parts, namely;
1.    The colony and the protectorate of Lagos with capital at Lagos administered by a high commissioner.
2.    The protectorate of Southern Nigeria     with capital at Calabar     administered by a high commissioner;
3.    The protectorate of Northern Nigeria with the capital at Zungeru     administered by the Divisional Officers (DOS) and Assistant Divisional     Officers (ADO).

INDIRECT RULE: 1891-1929
By 1960, Nigeria had come to be recognized by other colonial powers as a British colony. This was a consequence of British being the  first   to establish an occupation  on the   area  by signing treaties of protection with Nigerian rulers, and later by invading and occupying their territories. The desire to achieve a total and  effective  control over the Nigeria  area constituted the  prime  objective of British colonial administrators in the early phase of  their rule  which lasted from 1900 to  1914 (Falola et al, 1991: 1). The  Indirect Rule, in principle , was one of the  nonviolent methods adopted by Britain in ruling her African colonies. Indirect   rule in  theory believed that  the  British were to rule Nigeria  and  other colonies through  indigenous rulers and  institutions. This system gained  some success in Western and  Northern Nigeria where the  local institutions were  prominent and well  established.
After  the  institution of the council of  chiefs in   1897, by the legal force of the Native  Council Ordinance of 1901, native  chiefs were made  presidents of council. In Eastern Nigeria, the indirect rule  system did not succeed due  to non existence of well established local  institutions.
Native Authority  System:  
In 1931, Donald Cameron, “Governor of Nigeria” (1931-1935) as he then was,   established the  Native Authority system in Nigeria. Native councils  instead of  Native Courts  became Native Authorities. Council members  were  elected with the acceptance  of the  people.
However, this system was  beset with a plethora of problems,  ranging from  poor  performances, its undemocratic proclivity, the  alienation of the  educated elite of the various native authority councils, to the dominating role of  European officers (District officers). A  reform became an utmost necessity. And from 1948 John Macpherson, “ Governor  of Nigeria” as he  then was,  aimed to establish democratically elected  Local  Government Council.

British Model Local  Government
Pursuant to the Local Government Ordinance of 1950, the local government system based on the British model was introduced into southern Nigeria. Under the ordinance the whole region was divided into urban councils, county councils and local councils. This had a ripple effect as the Local Government Law of 1952 also introduced democratically elected councils in western Nigeria. In 1954 the Native Authority Law was re-enacted to further modernize the native authorities (Ojong, 2002: 53). It is worthy and wise to note that the active participation (participatio actuosa) of natives in local government councils imbued in them the nationalist mood to agitate for independence, which came in 1960.

Post Colonial Period
Yes! The independence came in 1960, but  the  progress of Local  Government was militated against mainly by militarism.

Local Government Administration  (1960-1976)
There came a decline   in Local  Government  consequent upon the military  intervention  of 1966. Moreover,  there was  reduction  of Local  Government source of revenue, a reduction in  statutory grants and loss  of  Local Government autonomy  in  financial affairs.
In  the former  Western region   the Local Government (Amendment) Law of 1960 abolished  the power of  the council to levy education and general rates on the  basis of need  (Ojong, 2002: 53). In the  former Eastern region, the  civil war  made  Local  Government to cease  to exist  temporarily. And   even  after  the  war,  the system could  not  recover its status quo ante(pre-existing status).  Thus, a whole scale reform was  deemed almost too  necessary.




The 1976 Local Government  Reforms
The Federal  Military  Government  embarked on extensive Local Government  reforms  in 1976. These reforms, interalia, were:
a.    There should be  a  Local  Government  council, which  would  operate through a uniform single tier Local  Government structure all over the country;
b.    There should be a complete democratization of Local  Government      system and  membership  of the  Local Government were to be elected;
c.    The  abolition of  provincial and divisional  administrations;
d.    The Local Government councils operated through chief  executives;
e.    The creation of  307 Local Government councils;
f.    Provision was made for  statutory allocation to be made to Local     Government  by both federal  and state  Governments;
g.    The establishment of Local Government service board, which  takes the      responsibility for recruiting, posting, promoting and the discipline of  senior staff in the Local Government.

The 1976 Local Government  Reforms entrusted  political responsibility     to the  people at the grass  root  level. It also sought the social and     economic  development of and the  effective delivery of service to the     respective local  population scattered all  over the country (Orewa and     Oduwumi:  2001: 22) .
There had  been  subsequent Local Government reforms after the 1976  Local Government reform.  These were:
i.    The 1976 Guidelines for  Local Government  Reforms;
ii.    The 1979 Constitution  of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
iii.    The  1984 Dasuki  Report  of the Nigerian Local  Government;
iv.    The 1992  Handbook on Local Government Administration;
v.    The 1989  Constitution of the Federal  Republic of  Nigeria;
vi.    The  1992 Handbook in Local Government  Administration;
vii.    The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of  Nigeria.

These  reforms did not  deviate in  substance and essence from the 1976
Local  Government Reforms, but rather derived  from them.
Thus the 1976 Reforms became the cradle,  the genesis, the touch-stone, the   key-stone, the corner-store, the pillar, the  rock, the fulcrum,  the crux,  the axis, the epicenter, the quintessence,  the groundwork, the foundation, the “fons et  origo” (font and origin) of modern Local Government Laws and  practice in the Federal Republic of  Nigeria.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF NIGERIA

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
Basically, the  structure of the presidential  system of Local Government  at the  grass  root level consists  of the  legislature and the executive,  the judiciary being absent.
THE EXECUTIVE ARM
This consists of the chairman,  vice chairman, supervisors and secretary of  council. The chairman of the Local  Government council is the chief executive  and accounting officer of the council. The secretary of council, and the supervisory councillors  are appointed by the chairman of council.

THE LEGISLATIVE ARM
The Legislative arm of the Local Government council is composed of the leader of the council  and other councillors. The functions performed by the legislative arm are defined by law  but  essentially include:
a.    Debating  approving and amending the  annual budget  of the   Local     Government;
b.    Vetting and monitoring the  implementation of projects and  programmes  in the annual budget of the Local Government;
c.    Examining and  debating  the  monthly statement of  income and     expenditure rendered to it  by the Chairman of the Local Government;
d.    Advising, consulting and  liaising with  the  Chairman of council;
e.    And performing  such other functions that may be assigned  to  it from     time to time  by an  edict  or law of the state in which it is situated.

There  may  be other theoretical Structurization of the Local     Government. These can be categorized into the
Administrative      Structure
where the Chairman, Secretary, Supervisory councillors and     Heads  of Department are involved;
The Financial Structure
where  the  treasurer and  Auditor General of the Local Government are involved;
The  Committee Structure
where there are several committees such as:
i.    The Financial and general purpose Committee
ii.    Police  and Community relations Committee
iii.    Education Committee
iv.    Works and Housing Committee
v.    Health  and Environmental services Committee
vi.    Agriculture,  Rural and  Social Services Committee
vii.    Financial and Economic planning Committee;

The  Personnel Structure, headed by the  head  of  Personnel.
The Personnel Department is responsible for the  Personnel of all  Local Government which acts in liaison with the Local Government Services  Commission, which is charged with responsibilities of staff discipline, welfare and  training in the Local Government.
Due   to the concomitant democratic resonance of modern Local Government system, the political  structure of the local government tends to  overshadow other structures and thus remains  pivotally  significant.


LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE    
In his  analysis of the  society, Karl Marx  was apt to  submit  that  there are basically two  principal  structures in  the society, the  first   being  the substructure  and the second being the superstructure. The  first, sub-structure refers  to the economic system, while the  second,  the super-structure refers to the political system. The thinker went  on to aver that the sub-structure controls the super-structure. Put in other words, the  economy of any given society dictates the political structure of that society. The U.S.A.   is  the  most  vibrant economy  in the whole  world. Owing  to  this  singular fact, the U.S.A. has  almost the best  systems in terms  of its polity, defense, education, etc.
Here, we  intend to  say that   the  finance of the Local Government  can dictate the pace of the administration of the Local Government. Surely,   “the  success or  failure of the  effectiveness or  ineffectiveness  of any Local Government largely  depend  on financial resources available to the  individual  Local Authorities and the  way these resources are utilized”(Adedeji:1969:96).

The sources of  Local  Government revenue can be located under
1.    External sources
2.    Internal sources

The External sources  of the  revenue represent the revenue from the  external sources  as  specified in  accordance with  constitutional provision of  revenue sharing between the Federal, State  and  Local Government, namely:
a.    Federal Statutory allocations  in  percentage  (20-25%); monthly     allocations of  value added tax (VAT);
b.    Statutory allocation which is 90% of  total internally  generated revenue     of the State Government
c.    Loans,  bonds and  debentures

2.    The Internal sources are  as  follows:
a.    Revenue from  taxes and rates;
b.    Licenses and  fees;
c.    Commercial undertakings;
d.    General sources. 

FUNCTIONS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Local Government system by democratically elected Local Government Councils is guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, section 7.  Based on this section 7, the 1999 Nigerian Constitution provides for the functions of a Local Government Council under its Fourth Schedule. This schedule tends to derive mainly from the Basic and Constitutional Transition Provisions(Decree 15 of 1987). Thus, functions of Local Governments are categorised into
i.     The Exclusive list; and
ii.    The Concurrent list.

The exclusive list of functions are those functions that are solely performed by Local Governments, while  the concurrent list of functions are those that the Local Government performs in collaboration with State and federal Governments. The State and/or Federal Government can also perform these functions on behalf  of local Governments  until Local Governments are in a position to perform such  functions.

According to the Fourth     Schedule 1 of  the 1999 Nigerian Constitution,
The main functions of a Local Government Council are as  follows:
a.     The Consideration and  the making of recommendations to a State     commission on economic planning or any similar body on
(i).    The economic development of the State, particularly  in so far as  the     areas of authority of the council and of the State are affected, and
(ii)     proposals made by  the said commission or body;
(b).    Collection of rates, radio and television licenses;
(c).    Establishment and maintenance of cemetries, burial grounds and     homes for the destitute or infirm;
(d).    Licensing of bicycles, trucks(other then mechanically propelled trucks),     canoes,  wheel barrows  and carts;
(e).    Establishment, maintenance of and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, markets, motor parks and public conveniences;
(f).    Construction  and maintenance  of roads, streets, street lightings, drains and other public highways, parks, gardens, open spaces, or such public facilities as may be prescribed from time to time by   the  House of Assembly of a State;
(g).    Naming of roads and streets and numbering of houses;
(h).    Provision and maintenance of public conveniences, sewage and refuse disposal;
(i).    Registration of all births, deaths and marriages;
(j).    Assessment of privately owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly  of a State; and
(k).    Control and regulation of:
(i).     Out–door advertising and hoarding;
(ii).     Movement and keeping of pets of all description,
(iii).    Shops and kiosks,
(iv).    Restaurants, bakeries and other places for sale
(v).    laundries, and
(vi).    Licensing, regulation and control of  the sale of liquor

Under section 2 of the Fourth Schedule, the functions of a Local Government Council shall include participation     of such council in the Government of a State as respects the  following     matters:
(a).    The Provision and maintenance  of primary, adult  and vocational         education;
(b).    The development of agriculture and natural resources, other         than the exploitation of minerals;
(c).    The provision and maintenance of health services; and
(d).    Such others functions as may be conferred on a Local                 Government Council by the House of Assembly of  the State.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS
As earlier indicated above, the executive arm of the Local Government is     constituted by the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman elected with him, the secretary and Supervisors appointed by the Chairman. The specific     functions of these key officers specified in the Handbook on Local     Government (1999) are as follows:
(a).    The Chairman
The Chairman, as  the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, shall perform  the following functions:
(i).    He shall observe and comply fully with the checks and balances spelt out in the existing guidelines and financial regulations governing receipts,  and disbursement of public funds and other assets entrusted to his care  and shall be liable for any breach thereof;
(ii).    His accountability shall not cease by virtue of his  leaving office and he may be  called upon, at any time, even after leaving office, to account for  his tenure as chairman.
(iii).    The Chairman as chief Executive and Accounting Officer shall face periodic checks in order   to ensure full adherence to the finance (control and management), And to  this end:

(a).    All instructions relating to expenditure of public funds by the Accounting Officers shall be in writing;
(b).    All accounting officers shall  be responsible to account to the public accounts committee for all monies voted for each department and shall be peculiarly liable.
(c).    The Chairman as Chief Executive and Accounting officer shall render monthly statement of income and expenditure and annual reports to the Local Government Council for it  to consider and debate in  order to ensure accountability and enforce the performance ethics. The format and content of the annual report shall place emphasis on performance and concrete achievements of the Local Government targets  and output during  the relevant year;
(d).    The Local  Government chairman shall render quarterly returns of the actual income and expenditure  of the  Local Government to the State Government for onward transmission to the office  of the Vice-President   of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with  a copy to the Central Bank of  Nigeria;
(e).    The Chairman as Accounting Officer shall be bound  by  the provisions of any other rules, regulations, guidelines, edicts and laws governing the roles and functions  of a Chief Executive and accounting Officer;
(f).    The Chairman shall ensure the strict observance of  the spending limits by all concerned;
(g).    All reference to the secretary as accounting Officer in the financial Regulations  and any other rules, regulations, guidelines, edicts or laws shall be construed as reference to the chairman;
(h).    The Chairman shall direct the officers of the Local Government and shall allocate responsibilities to the Vice-Chairman Secretary and Supervisors at least once every week;
(i).    The chairman shall hold meetings with the members of the Executive Committee of the Local   Government, i.e., Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Supervisors at least once every week;
(j).    He shall maintain liaison with the Local Government Legislature and the leader  of the legislature in the interest of the Local  Government;
(k).    He shall countersign the annual performance evaluation report of the heads of department of the Local Government which shall be initiated by the secretary to local Government.

(b).    The Vice-Chairman
The Vice-Chairman, who shall  be elected with the Chairman of Local  Government, shall  be assigned responsibilities for the administration of a department of the Local Government.
1.    He shall act for the Chairman in his absence;
2.    The Vice-Chairman may be called upon at anytime, even after leaving office, to account for his tenure as Vice-Chairman.

(c).    The Secretary to the Local Government
The Secretary to  the Local Government shall be appointed by the Chairman  and shall hold his office  at the pleasure of the Chairman. He shall:

1.    Serve  as the secretary of the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Local Government and keep the records thereof;
2.    Coordinate the activities of the departments  of the Local Government;
3.    Liase, on behalf  of the Chairman, with the Local Government Council through the leader of the Council;
4.    Liase  with the secretary to  the State Government and other necessary  State functionaries on State-Local Government relations; and
5.    Perform such other duties as may be assigned  to him,  from  time to time,  by  the Chairman.

(d).    Supervisors
The Supervisors shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Local Government  in consultation  with the Local Government Council. Each Supervisor shall hold his appointment at the  pleasure of the Local Government Chairman who appointed him or her and the  supervisor’s tenure shall automatically remain the discretion of the  Chairman.

The functions of the supervisory  councillors as the political heads are as follows:
(a).    Political heads of their respective departments;
(b).    Member of the finance and general purpose Committee which  in effect is the cabinet to the Local Government,
(c ).    Giving directives to executive heads of Local  Government departments  on general policy issues only, but not on the internal management of the  department;
(d).    Assisting the Chairman to supervise the execution of Local Government projects within their respective departments;
(e).  Chairman of relevant committee i.e. their respective departments (such as Education, Works, health, etc;
(f).    Carrying out such other functions as Chairman or council may assign  to them from time to time.

The Functions of the Legislature  in the Local  Government
The Legislature comprises  the leader of the council, the deputy leader and councilors.  The legislative powers vested in the Local Government  Council are exercised by the bye-laws passed by its legislature and assented to by the chairman.
The functions  of the legislature  in the Local Government  include:
(i.)    Law  making
The  Legislature makes  bye-laws. The list of matters on which  a Local Government Council is expressly empowered to enact bye-laws are contained in section 1 (a), (b)  of the fourth schedule  of the 1999 constitution  for the  exclusive list. The concurrent list  of matters on which both a Local Government Council and the State Assembly have  powers to legislate  on are on section  2 (a) (b)  of the fourth schedule.
2.    Making Resolutions  and Approval.
The council exercises its powers through resolutions  and approval in relation to  individual or specific cases.
(a). A resolution  to remove the chairman or leader  of the council by a two third majority. This function is distinct from the authority to  make bye-laws, which have wide applicability in the area (Ojong:2002:75).
(b). The power  to approve by a simple majority  of the members  of  the council  the nomination of the Chairman of the Local  Government,  for the appointment  of the  Vice-Chairman  of the Local Government in case  of vacancy by reason of death, resignation or removal.
(c ). The power to approve  the nomination  of any one appointed by  the Chairman of the Local Government as Supervisor. (Ugwu: 2000:18,  Issues in Local  Government and Urban Administration).


THE  UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

BACKGROUND: THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DECLARATION.
On 8 September, 2000, 189 heads of State and Government gathered at United Nations headquarters in New York, at the dawn of a new millennium, to reaffirm their faith  in the Organization and  its Charter  as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world (Preamble, UN Millennium Declaration). On this day they adopted  the UN Millennium Declaration.  This adoption of the Millennium Declaration in  2000 by  all  189  member States of the United Nations General Assembly was a defining moment for global cooperation  in the 21st century . The Declaration  outlines within a single  framework the key challenges facing humanity at the threshold of the new Millennium,  outlines a response  to these challenges, and establishes concrete  measures for judging performance  through a set of interrelated commitments, goals and targets  on development, government,  peace, security and human rights.  In recognition of the need  to translate  this commitment into action, a broad  interagency consultation arrived at the Millennium Development Goals.

THE GOALS
The Millennium Development Goals (herein after referred to as MDGs) are eight international development goals that all 192 United Nations member States and at least 23  international  Organizations have agreed to achieve by  the  year 2015 (wikipedia. Org. 29, June, 2010).  The Millennium Development Goals were developed from the   eight  chapters  of the  United Nations Millennium Declaration. There are eight  goals with  21 targets (www.  un.org/millennium goals/poverty. shtml), and a series of measurable indicators for each  target (MDGmonitor).
Below is an outline of  these  goals, their targets and indicators.
GOAL 1:  ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER
Target 1 A: Halve the proportion of people  living  on less  than 1 dollar a day
●    Proportion  of  population below and 1dollar per day
●    Poverty gap  ratio
●    Share of  poorest quintile in national consumption
Target 1 B: Achieve decent employment for women, men and young  people
●    GDP Growth per Employed person
●    Employment rate
●    promotion of employed population below and 1 dollar per  day
●    Proportion of family-based workers in  employed population
Target 1 C: Halve the proportion of people  who suffer from hunger
●    Prevalence of underweight children under five years of  age
●    proportion  of  population below minimum level  of dietary consumption (MDG monitor:  Goal 1).


GOALS 2: ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION
Target 2 A: By 2015, all  children can complete  a full course  of primary  schooling: girls  and boys
●    Enrollment in primary education
●    Completion  of  primary education
●    Literacy of 15-24 year olds, female  and male  (MOG Monitor:  Goal 2).
GOAL 3: PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN
Target 3A: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education  preferably by 2005, and  at  all  levels by 2015
●    Ratios of  girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education
●    Share of women in wage employment  in the non-agricultural  sector
●    Proportion of seats held by women  in  national  parliament (MDG Monitor . Goal 3).
GOAL 4 : REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY RATE
Target 4A: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015,  the  under –five Mortality Rate
●    Under-five mortality rate
●    Infant  ( under 2) mortality rate
●    Proportion  of 1-year–old children immunized  against measles (MDG Monitor: Goal, 4).
GOAL 5: IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH 
Target 5 A: Reduce by three quarters, between 1990  and  2015, the maternity mortality ratio
●    Maternity mortality ratio
●    Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel
Target 5 B:  Achieve by 2015,  Universal access to reproductive health
●    Contraceptive prevalence  rate
.        Adolescent birth rate
●    Adolescent care coverage (at least one  visit  and  at  least four visits)
●    Unmet  need for  family planning (MDG Monitor : Goal 5).
GOAL  6: COMBAT  HIV/AIDS,  MALARIA, AND OTHER DISEASES
Target 6A:  Have   halted by  2015  and begun to reverse the spread  of HIV/AIDS
●    HIV Prevalence among population aged  15-24years
●    Condom use  at last high-risk  sex
●    Proportion of population aged  15-24 years with comprehensive correct     knowledge  of  HIV/AIDs
●    Ratio  of school  attendance of orphans to school attendance of non-    orphans aged 10-14 years
Target 6 B: Achieve,  by 2010,  Universal access to  treatment for  HIV/AIDs for all  those who need it
.        Proportion of population with  advanced HIV  infection with access  to antiretroviral drugs
TARGET 6 C:  Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the  incidence of malaria and other major diseases
●    prevalence and death  rates associated  with malaria
●    Proportion of children under 5 with fever who  are treated with      appropriate anti-malarial drugs
●    Prevalence of tuberculosis cases detected and cured under  DOTS     (Directly Observed Treatment short course (MDG Monitor: Goal 6).
GOAL 7: ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 
Target 7 A:  Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country polices and programmes; reverse loss  of environmental resource.
Target 7 B: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving,  by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss
●    proportion of  land  area covered by forest
●    Co2 emissions, total, per capita  and  per 1 dollar
●    Consumption  of  0zone-depleting  substances
●    Proportion of total water resources  used
●    Proportion  of  terrestrial and marine areas protected
●    proportion of species  threatened  with extinction
Target 7C: Halve,by2015, the proportion of people without     sustainable     access to safe  drinking water and basic     sanitation
●    Proportion of  population with sustainable access to an improved water      source, urban  and rural
●    proportion  of urban population  with access  to improved sanitation
Target 7D: By 2020, to  have  achieved a significant     improvement in the     lives  of  at least 100 million slum     dwellers.
●    proportion of  urban population living  in  slum (MDG monitor: Goal 7).
GOAL 8: DEVELOP A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR  DEVELOPMENT
Target 8A: Develop further an open, rule–based,  predictable, non-    discriminatory trading and financial system.
●    Includes a commitment to good  governance, development, and     poverty reduction –both  nationally and  internationally.
Target 8B: Address the special  needs  of the Least Developed     Countries     (LDC)
●    Includes : Tariff and quota free access for LDC exports, enhanced     programme  of debt relief for HIPC and  cancellation  of official bilateral     debt, and more generous  ODA (Overseas Development Assistance) for     countries committed to poverty reduction.
Target 8 C: Address the special needs of kind locked developing     countries and small island  developing  states.
●    Through the Programme  of Action for  the  sustainable  Development  of small Island Developing States  and the  outcome  of the  twenty –second special session of  the general Assembly.
Target 8D: Deal Comprehensively with the debt problems of developing  countries through national and international measures  in order to make debt sustainable in the long term indicators.
Official Development Assistance (ODA)
●    Net ODA, total and to LDCS, as percentage of  OECD/DAC donors’ GNI
●    Proportion of  total sector-allocable ODA of OECD/DAC donors  to basic social  services (Basic Education,  Primary health Care, Nutrition, Safe water and sanitation)
●    Proportion of bilateral ODA  of OECD/DAC donors  that is united
●    ODA received in land locked countries as proportion of their GNIs
●    ODA received in small island developing States as proportion of their     GNIs
Market Access
●    proportion of  total  developed country imports (by value and  excluding     arms)  from developing  countries and from LDCs,  admitted free of     duty
●    Average tariffs imposed  by  developed countries on agricultural     products and textiles  and clothing from  developing countries
●      Agricultural support estimate for OECD countries as percentage of their     GDP
●    proportion of  ODA  provided to help build  trade capacity .
Debt Sustainability
    Total number of countries that have reached their HIPC decision point and number that have reached their HIPC completion point (cumulative).
    Debt relief committed under HIPC initiative.
      Debt service as a percentage of export of goods and services.

Target8E: In co-operation with pharmaceutical companies,
Provide access to affordable, essential drugs in developing     countries.

    Proportion of population with access to affordable essential drugs on a sustainable basis.
Target8F: In co-operation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications.
Telephone lines and cellular subscribers per 100 population
    Personal computers in use per 100 population
    Internet users per 100 population
(MDG Monitor. Goal8).


IN SUMMARY, the millennium development goals focus on the following:
1.    Poverty and hunger.
2.    Primary education.
3.    Women empowerment and gender equality.
4.    Child mortality.
5.    Maternal health.
6.    HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis.
7.    Environmental sustainability.
8.    Global development.


LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ATTAINMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

Generally in Nigeria, progress towards reaching the goals (MDGS) has been very slow. However , in some states and local governments in the federation, some attempts have been initiated towards the attainment of some of these goals. Such areas includes Goals 2-Universal primary education-where in some states, for example, Akwa Ibom State, education is made ‘free and compulsory’ from the primary level to secondary level.

Goals 4,5,6, all concern the health sector, which again falls under the concurrent list of functions of the local government.  Some states, in collaboration with their local governments have made prenatal care free for pregnant women.  There are also provisions for free medical care for the elderly, especially those aged 70 and above in some states, assisted by their local governments.

Ladies and gentlemen, may it be noted here that we cannot give a good report of what local governments in our country have done so far towards the attainment of the MDGs. We rather intend to make recommendations in respect of what they can do and what they should do. It is here admitted that we have not done much due to some factors militating against our efforts. Permit us here to highlight some of these factors before we make the recommendation thereof.

PROBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE.
Ojong (2002:112) highlights some factors that inhibit the performance of local government generally. This paper extrapolate these factors they are similar to the factors that hinder the performance of local government in attaining the millennium development goals (MDGs). These problems, interalia, include:
1.        Poor financial base and limited revenue
2.    Limited autonomy, where, although constitutionally recognized, the federal and state governments dominate over the local government through the state government offices of local government affairs, the ministry of local government, and the local government     service commission.
3.        Leadership problem: this arises where the quality of leadership at both political     levels is     low.
4.        Lack of basic social amenities such as power supply (electricity), transport and     telecommunication facilities.
5.        Unqualified, inexperienced and unskilled staff
6.        Corruption and misappropriation of funds.
7.        Lack of accountability
Accountability entails compliance –that is, being held to account,
Transparency- that is, giving an account,
Responsiveness- taking account and demonstrating that you have     considered        inputs.
8.        Lack of local plans and weak programming capacity
9.        Instability arising from interferences from the higher tiers of government, who     distort their (local government) powers, structure, leadership, finances and reduce     their capacity to act on their own , thereby making them solely dependent.
In view of these plethora of problems, says Professor Adebayo Adedeji (2000:     people centered Democracy in Nigeria), “local Governments have failed in three     specific areas”:
a.    Non-delivery of needed services
b.    Lack of accountability ;and
c.    Inadequate models of good governance

These blames on the higher tiers of government by no means at all exonerate local governments from utilizing the means at their disposal to attain the goals set out before them.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The Latin maxim “QUIDQUID INITIUM HABET FINEM HABET” means “WHATEVER HAS A BEGINNING HAS AN END”. This paper is in its concluding stage. Here we shall make our conclusions and make recommendations.
We make bold to say that local governments in Nigeria have failed to deliver the needed services partly due to the problems emanating from their realms. In view of the millennium development goals, most local governments are yet to initiate any actions towards their actualization. Some may have started some actions without knowing that they are working in line with the millennium development goals (MGDS), partly due to their lack of exposure to the existence of these goals. This day, we are happy that  those goals have been highlighted and expounded in this address . Let this address be the mirror for Local Government Personnel, Chairman, Councilors, Supervisors to examine themselves. Honourable Chairmen, Councilors, Supervisors, what have you done for your people in your local Government , wards, towns, Clans and villages in the areas  of poverty and hunger , in primary education,  in promoting gender equality and women empowerment, in the areas of health and in combating  the scourge of HIV/AIDS and malaria. Have you provided safe water for your people to drink? Have you fed the hungry children and orphans walking down the streets ?


RECOMMENDATIONS

We shall recommend only  those ideals and goals  that can easily be attained by our Local     Governments, taking into consideration their limited financial resources.

1.    Establish city-to-city and Inter-Local Governments Exchanges to share Millennium     Development Goals themes such as maternal health, primary education , shelter for     the poor, combating HIV-AIDS, Sanitation, safe drinking water, feeding the hungry.      
2.    Educate the Local Populace through the media as well as regular meetings of the     Local and Village assembles.
3.    Mobilise and empower the rural women and youth in self-generating and small-scale     development projects. Through this they can afford to feed themselves and their     families.
4.    Take the Universal Basic Education Projects as the pathway towards reduction of     illiteracy and improvement of professionalism.
5.    Embark on water provision for all the villages in your Local Government.
6.    Ensure that all children are in school during school hours.
7.    Collaborate with Non-Governmental Organizations within their areas of Concern,     since most of these NGOs partner with the United Nations and international organizations in the march towards the     attainment of the MDGs.
8.    Ensure to establish, at least, an orphanage in your Local Government where the     fatherless and the motherless, especially those orphaned  by  the scourge of     HIV/AIDS can be catered for. These orphans should  be properly fed and sent to     school through the patronage of your Local Government.

These agenda, an eight-point agenda, are reasonably attainable within your means. We know you can attain these and surely you will. Can you attain these goals? Yes! You can. May God bless the entire Rivers State and may God bless the Federal Republic  of Nigeria. Thank you very much!


REFERENCES
Adedeji, A. (2000). People Centred Democracy in Nigeria

Robson, W.A.  in  Enclopedia of the Social Sciences,  International  Edition, -1978

The New Columbia Encyclopedia. 4th Edition


Ugwu, S.C. (2000): Issues in  Local  Government and Urban Administration in Nigeria.  Echrisi and Co,  Enugu


Falola at et  (1991): History of  Nigeria 3:Nigeria in the  Nineteenth Century, Lagos: Longman

Ojong, M.O. (2002). Introduction to local Government  Administration in Nigeria. Calabar: jerry  commercial  productions


Orewa, G.O. and Adewumuni (2001). Local Government in Nigeria:
The  Challengeing  Scene.  Lagos: Ethiope  publishing Cooperation


Adamolekun,L. (1979).  The  Idea of  Local  Government as  a third  level Government. Ibadan:  Heinemann Educational Books.


Gboyega, A.  (1983). Political  Values and  Local  Government in Nigeria.


United  Nations Millennium Development  Goal monitor Goal 1

United nations Millennium Development Goal Monitor     Goal 2                          United  nations Millennium Development Goal Monitor  Goal    3
United  nations Millennium Development Goal Monitor    Goal 4                
United  nations Millennium Development Goal Monitor    Goal 5           
United  nations Millennium Development Goal Monitor    Goal 6         United Nations Millennium Development Goal Monitor    Goal 7          United Nations Millennium Development Goal Monitor    Goal 8
United Nations Millennium Declaration 2000