Local Government Autonomy and Grassroots Development in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis of Benue State

Abstract

This study examines the enduring challenges of local government autonomy and grassroots development in Nigeria, using Benue State as a case study. Anchored on the principles of federalism and structural-functionalism, the research adopts a mixed-methods design, integrating quantitative data from 320 respondents with qualitative evidence from key informant interviews and official financial records. The study assessed three dimensions of autonomy: fiscal, administrative, and political, and their combined influence on local government performance. Empirical analysis revealed that fiscal autonomy exerts the strongest influence on development (β = 0.48, p < 0.01), followed by administrative (β = 0.37, p < 0.05) and political autonomy (β = 0.29, p < 0.05), jointly explaining 68% (R² = 0.68) of the variance in grassroots development outcomes. Findings showed that state-level interference, particularly through the State Joint Local Government Account (SJLGA) and caretaker committee appointments, significantly undermines fiscal independence and democratic accountability. The study concludes that genuine local government autonomy remains largely theoretical in Nigeria, constrained by constitutional ambiguities and political dominance. It recommends constitutional reforms to guarantee direct federal allocations, enhance administrative discretion, and institutionalize democratic elections at the local level. True decentralization, the study argues, is indispensable for promoting inclusive governance, accountability, and sustainable development in Nigeria’s federal system