Public Accountability and Transparency in Local Government Councils: A Study of Kano Municipal Local Government Area

This study investigates the state of public accountability and transparency in the administration of Kano Municipal Local Government Area in Kano State, located in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Growing public concern over mismanagement of local government funds, procurement irregularities, and limited access to government information has intensified demand for stronger accountability mechanisms at the grassroots level. This research adopts a survey design and collects primary data through structured questionnaires administered to 200 respondents including residents, civil society actors, and local government employees. The study is anchored on the Principal-Agent Theory and the Good Governance Framework, which emphasize the obligation of public officials to justify their decisions to the citizenry. Secondary data includes audit reports from the Kano State Auditor General, recent academic literature on public financial management, and reports from the Nigerian Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre. Both descriptive statistics and simple regression analysis are used to examine the relationship between transparency practices and public trust in local government. The study anticipates finding that limited budget disclosure, weak audit enforcement, and poor citizen feedback mechanisms undermine accountability. Recommendations include mandatory public presentation of local government budgets, strengthening internal audit departments, and establishing community-based oversight committees. Keywords: Public accountability, transparency, local government, Kano, governance.