CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Although there are a lot of articles on effects of infrastructural development in education at both the grass–root and the nation at large, but not much attention has been paid to research on the involvement of local government. All the three tiers of government (Federal, State and Local government) and voluntary organizations are concerned with providing infrastructural facilities for the development of education in Nigeria, but it is difficult to come across a single book giving comprehensive account of the activity of all bodies involved in provision of educational infrastructural facilities, in particular local government. One just have to look for such information from various records, hence literature on this topic is limited.

This essay will therefore be another source of information on the effects of infrastructure on the development of education in Egbedore local government area and as such will go a long way to contribute to the existing literature in social service administration in Nigeria.

The term social services, is generally concerned with the welfare of human beings as members of the society. They are services provided for the community to promote good standard of living. Consequently because of the wide scope of this subject, it is difficult to differentiate between infrastructural development and social services which should be run purely as economic services but are being run as social services. Local government and voluntary organizations are involved in the administration of social services in Nigeria. Effects of coordinating to ensure that the activities of these bodies are complementary or supplementary to one another arose. Therefore, there is need for co-ordination to avoid duplication of efforts.

At this juncture it will be relevant to examine some of the effects which are militating against infrastructure policy in Nigeria as identified in the guideline to the Fourth National Development Plan (1981 – 1985). These effects include “lack of clear definition and conception of the real scope and meaning of social welfare, shortage of qualified personnel, instability of institutional arrangements and lack of necessary facilities.

Hence, there is need for the federal, state and local governments in Nigeria to pull their resources together in combating effects of infrastructural development on education which should be conceptualized in such a way as to embrace war against poverty, diseases, social and physical insecurity.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The purpose of writing this essay is to focus attention on the effects of infrastructure on the development of education provided by Egbedore local government to the effect which will be of interest to the government. As we are all aware, the pattern of local government administration in Nigeria since the 1976 Local Government Reform is the same so that by writing on Egbedore local government Osun State, a mirror is surely provided to guide the local government throughout the country.

However, attempt would be made in this work to appraise the performance of Egbedore local government with particular reference to infrastructural development on education. The report will cover the functions of the local government since 1989. The paper will also deal with effects of infrastructure in the local government and some possible solutions made available. Attempt will be made to compare the financial position of the local government for the past two years.

A comparison of allocation received from the federal and state government is also dealt with. I would focus attention on the infrastructural facilities on education provided by Egbedore local government between year 2000 – 2008.

1.3       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

In order to ensure proper and scientific work, the scope of the study is limited to Egbedore Local Government only. This is because of the familiarity with this local government as it is practically impossible to study all local government areas in Osun State. The study will therefore be limited to effects of infrastructure on education in Egbedore Local Government.

1.4       OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main purpose of this research is to explore the effects of infrastructure on the development of education in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State. The specific objectives were to

1. Find out whether the Federal, State and Local Governments have a great contribution to infrastructures in the area
2. Find out whether there is any adequate supply of infrastructures in the area.
3. Find out whether the introduction of G.S.M is a welcome development to the community.
4. Find out whether the government provides science equipment for the schools.
5. Find out whether teachers are qualified for the job.

1.5       JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

This study is significant because it is to see the positive effects of infrastructures on the development of education in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State. The results and information collected from this study will help to contribute to the development of infrastructures and as a result, to the educational development in our community.

1.6       DEFINITION OF TERM

DEFINITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

In the implementation guideline on the application of Civil Service Reform of 1976, Local Government is defined as government at the grass root level exercised through representative councils, established by law to exercise specific powers within defined areas. These powers give the council substantial control over local affairs as well as the staff, institutional and financial powers to initiate and direct the provision of services and to determine and implement projects so as to complement the activities of both the state and federal governments in their areas to ensure through the active participation of the people and their traditional institution through local initiative and response to Local needs.

Local government therefore, is a mechanism for a more effective decentralization of the implementation of policies designed at the headquarters. From the above description of Local Government, the characteristics of modern Local Government could be enunciated as follows:-

• It can enter into contract and agreement
• It has fiscal and administration autonomy
• Local Government is a corporate body that can sue and be sued.

1.7       LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The limitations to this study included time in getting information from the respondents. Few people were sampled from different schools in the Local Government as representative of the population in the study area.

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