Local Government Administration and Rural Development in Nasarawa state, Nigeria

Abstract

In spite of the huge revenue that accrues to the local government councils in Nigeria, the rural dwellers or communities are still facing the challenges of development. This research work examined the role of local government councils in rural transformation in Nasarawa state of Nigeria between the periods of 2014 – 2020, with specific focus on Agricultural development. The study utilises the qualitative research method where the purposive sampling technique was used and a total of twenty (20) persons were selected as respondents and the ATLAS ti 8 software was used to analyse the data that was collected. The research findings show that the 9 local government councils in Nasarawa state have not really enhanced rural development as expected. The study further indicates that the rural areas of Nasarawa state in Nigeria are faced with the challenges of lack of fertilizer, lack of insecticides, lack of good feeder roads to transport farm produce home and the constant clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and famers among others have hindered the development of the rural areas in the state. Therefore, the study recommended that the local government councils should provide adequate fertilizer to the rural farmers, provide insecticides, construct feeder roads and put in place good measures to prevent the unending conflict between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the state.