Role of Local Governments in Agricultural Development in Nigeria: A Review

In Nigeria, agriculture is in the concurrent list and therefore, Local Governments by law have roles to play in agricultural development. The paper relies heavily on literature and participant observation. It highlights the roles of Local Government Councils and the extent of role accomplishment in agricultural development and suggests areas of improvement in fulfilling the mandate. Functions of a LGC in the area of agriculture include: establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slab, markets, gardens, parks; participation in the development of agriculture and natural resources, other than the exploitation of minerals. However, it is observed that LG in Nigeria has not performed to expectation, thereby recorded abysmal level of inefficiency and ineffectiveness. The failure of LG to perform its roles credibly is attributed among others to gross mismanagement and embezzlement of available fund, lack of financial autonomy, high level of corruption, general indiscipline among the workers, inadequacy of skilled workers, problems of participation and involvement, misplaced priority, poor job description of staff, absence of staff training and contacts with farmers. It is suggested that LGs should look inwards for improved IGR in order to make them financially self-reliant; linkages between LGC and ADP and other agricultural projects and programmes should be strengthened in order to foster development; bottom-up approach should be adopted in the linkage between LG and farmers for effective rural community involvement and participation in major decisions that affecting them; and there should be cost sharing by the three tiers of government in funding of extension at the LGA level and this could be done by legislation.