AN APPRAISAL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS EFFORTS TOWARDS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT(A CASE STUDY OF ENUGU NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA)

This research work was undertaken with a view to ascertaining the community development in Enugu state of Nigeria with a focus on Enugu North local government Area- as a case study. The work looked critically (in question) towards community development within its area of jurisdiction. In doing this, the researcher based his study on the provision of the 10976 local government reform in Nigeria which made community development one of the explicit functions of the local government councils. In carrying out the research, primary and secondary data were used. Related literature were reviewed (secondary data chapter 2) and questionnaire were equally prepared and administered to local government functionaries (primary data chapter 4). The technique use in analyzing the primary data is the chi-square (X2). The finding of the research was reached using the result of the tested hypothesis. For the analysis, it was found that many factors act as stumbling blocks on the way of community development in Enugu North local. Government area and the state general. Such factors include: a. Lack of adequate organization frame work and orientation b. Lack of dedication and commitment on the part of the local government councils to the cause of community development. c. Misplacement of organization priorities and consequently, misdirection of funds d. Lack of executive capacity arising from lack of adequate trained, motivated and dedicated staff for effective and efficient implementation of council decision. e. the unhealthy political atmosphere existing in the local government councils. f. And finally, the unreliable external funding and inability to generate revenue for development purposes. From the above findings, the researcher concluded by making a sense of recommendations among which are the co-ordination of the development efforts of the various formal and informal organizations in the overall community development programmes, and procurement of adequately trained personnel for the organizational and educational processes associated with community development.