STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria Local government administration has undertaken many vicissitudes and restructuring which were solely aimed towards creating a favourable environment for effective service delivery at the local government level. However, notwithstanding these reforms and amendments of Nigeria Constitutions in order to enhance service delivery in our local governments, the local governments still perform below the expectations of the expectant Nigerians. Service delivery at the local government level is still less than satisfactory, even with relatively high capacity and trained personnel at that level. This paper x-rayed the challenges that currently face Nigeria local governments. It identified infrastructure backlog, revenue and cost pressures, unmet community expectations, etc., as pointers to poor service delivery. It is therefore in view of the glitches of poor and ineffective service delivery that this paper tries to suggest some salient strategic options towards ameliorating this menace. Consequent upon the investigation, the paper suggested some strategic options including institutionalization of SWOT
analysis, conducting environmental scanning, espousing strategic planning options, establishing short-term objectives and developing an appropriate set of performance measurement in the local government system.