Assessment of the Effect of Political Participation on Service Delivery in Selected Local Governments

Assessment of the Effect of Political Participation on Service Delivery in Selected Local Governments.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effect of political participation on the development of basic education and primary health care in Bindawa, Danja, and Dutsin-ma Local Government Areas in Katsina State. After a prolonged spell of military administration Nigeria is at last back to a democracy.

An ideal democracy is one that recognizes and encourages political participation yet there is a wide gap between political participation and the development of basic education and primary health care in Bindawa, Danja, and Dutsin-ma Local Government Areas.

This study sought to examine the level of people’s political participation and the adequacy of basic education and primary health care facilities and personnel in the selected Local Government Areas of Katsina State.Both primary and secondary sources of data were explored. Questionnaire was administered to generate primary data.

Secondary data was sourced from records from Katsina state Ministry of finance, education, and health, and from the three Local Governments’ Secretariats.

Data was collected and analyzed using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Chi-Square.Participatory Democracy, and Efficiency Services schools of thought were employed as theoretical framework for the study.

The research found out that people participate  in multiple political activities but have little or no say in the development of basic education and primary healthcare in the three selected Local Governments.

Unfortunately however, as much as the people desire to be involved in matters affecting them, the situation is not so, as in most cases their participation is mostly only valued at the ballot box. Therefore, development of basic education and primary health care is low.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page………………………. i

Declaration………………. iii

Certification……………… iv

Dedication………………… v

Acknowledgements………………… vi

Abstract………….. vii

Table of Contents………………. viii

CHAPTER ONE:INTRODUCTION

• Background to the Study……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
• Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
• Research Questions………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
• Aim and objectives of the Study……………………………………………………………………………………… 3
• Hypotheses………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
• Scope and Limitation of the Study…………………………………………………………………………………… 4
• Significance of the Study………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
• Operational Definition of Concepts…………………………………………………………………………………. 6

CHAPTER TWO:LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

• Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
  • The Concept of Local Government……………………………………………………………………………….. 8
  • The Concept of Political Participation……………………………………………………………………………. 11
• Theoretical Framework………………………………………………………………………………………………… 25
  • Democratic Participatory School………………………………………………………………………………….. 25
  • Efficiency-Services School………………………………………………………………………………………….. 27
  • Blend of the two Schools of Thought……………………………………………………………………………. 30

CHAPTER THREE:RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32
• Research Design………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32
• Population and Sample Size of the Study…………………………………………………………………………. 32
• Sources of Data…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 36
• Administration of Data Collection Instrument………………………………………………………………….. 37
• Method of Data Presentation and Analysis………………………………………………………………………. 38
• Decision Rule…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 38

CHAPTER FOUR:OVERVIEW OF BASIC EDUCATION AND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE IN NIGERIA

• Minimum Standards for Basic Education in Nigeria……………………………………………………………. 39
• Minimum Standards for Primary Healthcare in Nigeria………………………………………………………. 40
• Profile of the Study Areas……………………………………………………………………………………………. 43
  • Education and Social Welfare Department……………………………………………………………………. 43
  • Primary Healthcare Department………………………………………………………………………………… 44
• Brief Historical Evolution of the Selected Local Government Areas………………………………………. 45
  • Danja Local Government Area……………………………………………………………………………………. 45
  • Dutsin-ma Local Government Area……………………………………………………………………………… 46
  • Bindawa Local Government Area………………………………………………………………………………… 47

CHAPTER FIVE:DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

• Data Presentation……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 49

5.1.2 Primary Data…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 49

• Secondary Data………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 92
• Test of Hypotheses…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 101
• Major Findings………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 105

CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 108
• Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 109
• Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 109

BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 112

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Political participation is a necessary ingredient of every political system. All political systems encourage political participation through varying degrees.

By involving the people in the matters of state, political participation fosters stability and order by reinforcing the legitimacy of political authority.

People living in a particular society participate in the political system which they develop. There are many forms of participation and democracy in the form of government that encourages maximum participation in governmental processes.

Participation does not mean more exercise of political rights like franchise, by the people, it means their active involvement, which in a real manner influences the decision making activity of the government.

The current manifestation of democracy as espoused, interpreted and introduced by the Western practitioners of democracy, which is adopted by African countries, does not have efficient structures and capable institutions to ensure that the entire population is able to participate beyond the level of the ballot box.

At the level of the local government, it is not whether or not the general populace gets to vote at regular intervals, but rather, whether or not, their interests are being taken care of,

and whether their votes grants them sufficient power and representation in the relevant institutions for them to have their concerns taken care of in a manner that they deemed most appropriate, and improving their quality of life.

REFERENCES

Adoyi, J. (2015). Democracy and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria‘s 4^th Republic. A Study of Katsina State Local Governments [M. Sc. Thesis, Political Science Unpublished]. University of Nigeria Nsukka.

Beuno de, M. et al. (2003). In Abubakar, U. Local Government and Decentralization in Nigeria: An Examination of Citizen Participation in Selected Local Governments. [Unpublished PhD dissertation 2008].

Bilance. (1997). ―A world in balance – Bilance stands for Social Development: Policy paper‖. Oegstgeest.

Dahrendorf, R. (2003). The Challenges for Democracy. Journal of Democracy. No.14 (4) 107. Dreze, J. and Sen, A. (1995) ―INDIA Economic Development and Social Opportunity‖. Oxford: University Press.

Evans, P. (1996a) Introduction: Development Strategies across the public private Divide. World Development Vol. 24, No. 6.

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