International Journal of Innovative Research and Development

Abstract

The major concern of this research work is to examine the role of local government in rural development, in Nigeria. Nkanu East local government council in Enugu state was selected for a case study. The study used both primary and secondary data. It also used quantitative methods for data presentation and interpretation and then content analysis for discussion of research questions. Systems theory was adopted to explain how local government as a system, functions as one of an interdependent system, and how dysfunction in a part affects the other parts. Three research questions were presented for investigation. The summary of research findings are that, (i) local government system is strategic in rural development programmes in Nigeria; (ii) Nkanu East local government did not substantially implement rural development programmes in the area during the study period, and (iii) bad leadership posed hindrance to implementation of rural development projects in the area. In addition, problems confronting local government were identified. They are interwoven, and consist of lack of autonomy, mismanagement of scarce funds, poor supervision, and discomfiting legal framework put in place by the state to control the system. The results are bad leadership, corruption and high level of profligacy experienced across every tier of government in Nigeria. In consonance, the study made some useful recommendations, aimed at eradicating these problems and then, repositioning the system.  

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Abstract

The study focuses on the consequences or implications of arms proliferation on the contemporary human society, with particular emphasis on the emergent arms race and security trends in Nigeria. The growing debates across intellectual bents and traditional boundaries of states are on how armed conflicts and crimes are related to or engendered by arms proliferation. The debates find confluence in the fact that the evolving trend is a universal evil; posing challenges to human civilization and must be tackled to halt the blistering reign of destructive culture and impunity from gaining deeper ischolar_mains in the world. This is in recognition of the fact that today’s world is faced with varying degrees of crisis which involves use of arms of differing sophistications, many of which are possessed illegally despite prohibitions on illegal arms trade. It props up armed related crimes and resort to use of arms for attacks in conflict situations. The hallmarks are incidences like gang shooting, kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery, and communal conflicts. They are essentially promoted and sustained by arms at the disposal of unauthorized users. The study observes that it causes collateral damage and invariably results in avoidable deaths, injury, discomfiture and displacement of many innocent citizens. Many others are victims of legitimate arms abuse by some ruthless law enforcement agents. The entire scenario plunges society into psychological trauma of insecurity and there is no room for a healthy air of life in such precarious situation. To that extent, the study recommends that there should be community focused mopping of illegal arms in circulation, closure of arms black market to destroy the network, clampdown on syndicates and dealers on illegal arms and promulgation of deterrent laws with severe penalty to discourage trading on illegal arms. The data used for the study is generated from the secondary source and evaluative method applied in data analysis. It adopted ‘‘Attribution Theory’’ for an explanatory framework, to show how armed conflicts is attributed to arms proliferation. The central thesis is that there is logical relationship between arms proliferation and armed crimes and conflicts. 

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