Non-State Actors, Service Delivery Complementarity, and Local Governance in Northwest Nigeria: Evidence from Sokoto and Kebbi States

This study empirically examines how non-state actors, including faith-based organizations, community associations, informal service providers, and development NGOs, complement or substitute for local government service delivery in Northwest Nigeria, with primary evidence from Sokoto and Kebbi States. In communities where local government service delivery is chronically inadequate, non-state actors fill critical service gaps in education, health, water supply, and social welfare. However, the governance implications of this complementarity, including accountability diffusion, duplication of effort, and coordination failures, remain poorly analyzed in the Nigerian academic literature. Grounded in the Multi-Actor Governance Framework and the Complementarity Theory of Public Services, this research collects primary data from 260 respondents including local government officials, leaders of non-state service providers, and community beneficiaries across twelve local government areas. Secondary data includes state ministry reports, NGO sector registrations, and academic literature on hybrid service delivery in West Africa. Structural equation modeling and qualitative comparative analysis are employed. The study fills a gap by empirically mapping and evaluating the service complementarity landscape in two major Northwest states. Findings are expected to demonstrate that non-state actors significantly expand service reach but create coordination and accountability gaps that undermine long-term service quality. Recommendations include formal non-state actor registration with local government councils, joint planning mechanisms, and sector-based coordination protocols. Keywords: Non-state actors, service delivery, complementarity, local governance, Sokoto, Kebbi.