THE IMPERATIVE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY AND IT INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS (A CASE STUDY OF ETSAKO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA. EDO STATE)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
    The concept of inter-governmental relations is associated with the stated having a federal administration system where the relationship between the federal, central or national governmental and major sub-national unit (province, region or state) formally spelt-out in constitution. Intergovernmental relation have been seen as  a system of transactions among structured levels of government in a state. It is also seen as registration of which the parties are negotiating advantageous position for power, money and problem-solving responsibility (Olugbemi, 1980).
    The goals of intergovernmental relations are said to be to promote peace and harmony the three tiers of government, which are the federal, state and local government. To accelerate of self-reliant economy. In so doing intergovernmental relations will help to minimize inter-jurisdictional conflict among the various level of government. Also to boost greater natural economic integration through the activities  of the three levels of government. Again to enhance the emergence of co-operative rather than competitive generation there is also need to enhance effective and efficient utilization of available human and material resources among the three level of government. To help solve the problem of rural and urban poverty. To achieve a situation where there is special need to integrating programmers on a nation wide scale. To look into a situation where states,  local  government or unit of the federal set up have responsibilities with no resource base to perform them (John Nwafor; Unpublished work).
    On the side of local government autonomy since the inter-governmental relations is basically based on the three tires of government that is federal, state and local governmental, but come to look at the federal and state government is said to have more autonomy than the local government due to the fact that they are the last tire of government (John Nwafor; unpublished work). That is why local government is not given its full autonomy to do things on it own. The other tiers of the government still tell them what to do, how to make their own policies, how to elect/appoint those to rule them like the chancellor or chairman and so on. Local government is still dependent on the other tires of government making them too subordinate and loyal for my liking (Nwokedi, Ralph; 2002).
    The level of these relationship between and within the nation federating units (Now consisting of federal, state and local government ) particularly as it relate to revenue sharing has continually remained issues in the front burner of the nation polity. The encroachment of local finance by the state government has negatively affected the performance  of local government in terms of its constitutional responsibilities. The setting up of state and local government joint account committee, local government service commission, ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs and other allied agencies at the state level have made local government autonomy a mirage in Nigeria. Hence, this work is to examine the nature of local government autonomy as well as it relationship with other levels of government (Wada Enejo&Aminu Isa. 2014).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
    To appreciate the depth of crisis in the federal system in Nigeria, one has to follow the recent trend of the raging controversy between the federal and state government over the exercise  of power or control of revenue resources of local government on how not to have assumed the undue prominence given to it as a constitutional question if Nigeria leaders particularly the federal level had adhered  strictly to the norms If federalism and followed the precedents established by the past democratic government in Nigeria federation.
    In  Nigeria, the issue of sharing resources among the three levels of government has remained controversial due of government has remained controversial due to lack of acceptable formula. It generates tension and bad blood among the three tiers of government. This has resulted in setting up of different committees or commissions to prescribe the formula  to be used. Also there exists a conflict between the federal state and local government over acceptable formula for sharing revenue. For instance, the conflict is usually whether the principle of derivation, need, natural interest or landmass should be used as a basis for the purpose.
    Even when these principles may be generally accepted as the main basis for working out revenue allocation formulary, conflict might arise following as to which of the principle takes precedence over others as the main criteria for sharing the revenue.
    This is the problem of tax jurisdiction, which refers to the problem of which aspect of government should collect revenue over a particular area.
     These have been serious problems between the federal state and local government. Their share of tax revenue seriously affect local government. They are the lowest level of government. Likewise they collect the least amount of tax revenue, makes them still stagnant.
    Another problem is the existence of control of level of government by another in any aspect (Abonyi, 2005). Local government is domination by the federal and state governments. They do not have their own autonomy making them too dependent on the other levels of governments. Mention must be made of the problems of finding the best method of channelling revenue from one level of government to another especially from the federal to the local government (Ugwu, 1998:90).
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
     The main objective of the study is impact of intergovernmental relations on local government autonomy, with particular reference to Etsako West Local Government area of Edo State.
    Other objectives of the study include:
1.    To determine if local government enjoys local government autonomy status.
2.    To determine if local government areas allocation is equitable
3.    To determine if states government encroaches on revenue power of the local government areas.
4.    To determine if mechanism for smooth intergovernmental relations management is effective.
5.    To recommend measures required for an improving local government autonomy.
1.4. SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY
     This study will be of great benefit to Etsako West local Government Area of Edo state. This is because it will be exposed to the challenges it is facing in local government autonomy.
    It will also be of great significance to researchers by ways of making them aware of problems that have been uncoveredby these research, so that they would know where to start from in their subsequent research work in the area of local government autonomy in Nigeria. It would also be useful to University student like students of University of Benin when doing a likely research.
    The study would be significant to policy makers and policy implementers, as they would make use of the findings and recommendations of this study.
1.5 HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY
    The following are the null hypothesis of this study,
1.    Local Government Areas do not enjoy true autonomous status.
2.    Local Government areas  current revenue allocation formula is not equitable.
3.    Local Government Areas revenue power is encroaches upon by the state government.
4.    Mechanism for smooth intergovernmental relations management is not effective.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
    This study in the imperative of local government autonomy and inter-governmental relations in Nigeria But due to the fact that there are many local governments in Nigeria. The researcher decided to center the research in Etsako West Local Government Area in Edo state Using it as a case study.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
     The researchers met with some problems in under taking this study, notably in some areas of data collecting. The problems are as follows: time was a problem as the time allowed for the study was grossly inadequate. The researcher has to use the time allowed for lectures for research. Choosing the right Local Government for case study, it was not easy to get accurate and detailed information needed by the researcher from the selected wards. There was the unwillingness on the part of most people to respond to the questionnaire. This affected an extent the information gathered. For whatever was their reason, some were gathered that their responses will be used against them by politicians and elected representatives.
1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERM
     In the curse of this research work, some concepts were used and for easy and comprehensive understanding of the entire work, these concepts shall be explained.
Imperative:
A factor that is importance or influences making something necessary.
Local government:
This is the third tier of within the state and is chargewith the responsibility and administration of the people at the grass-root. It is also a government established at the local level through an act of parliament to deal with specific matters as it affects the local people.
Autonomy
 Autonomy is the freedom to the local governments to exercise authority within the confines of the law or constitution. This is to enable them to discharge legally or constitutionally assigned responsibilities satisfactorily, but with out undue interference or restraint from with or high authority.
Inter-Governmental Relations
Intergovernmental  relations  is a system of transaction among structured levels of government in a state. In other words, it is a behavioural patterns among officials or managers of a hierarchically structured organization.(Olugbemi, 1980).