Local Government Autonomy and Grassroots Development in Enugu East Local Government Area

The debate around local government autonomy in Nigeria has intensified in recent years, with reformists arguing that greater independence from state government control is essential for effective grassroots development administration. This study examines the relationship between local government autonomy and grassroots development outcomes in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. The study is grounded in the Theory of Decentralisation, which postulates that devolution of political, administrative, and fiscal authority to sub-national units enhances governance responsiveness, local accountability, and development efficiency. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population included LGA council officials, community leaders, and residents of selected communities, from which 240 respondents were drawn through stratified random sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and supplemented with secondary analysis of LGA budget documents. Responses were analysed using regression analysis and descriptive statistics. Findings reveal that state government interference in LGA finances, including the withholding of council allocations through joint accounts, significantly undermines the council's capacity to execute development projects independently. Communities with stronger traditional governance structures recorded slightly better project outcomes. The study concludes that limited autonomy is a structural constraint on grassroots development. It is recommended that the state government implement constitutional provisions guaranteeing LGA financial autonomy and establish an independent auditing mechanism to ensure that council funds are released directly to LGA accounts.

Keywords: Local Government Autonomy, Grassroots Development, Decentralisation, Fiscal Federalism, Enugu State