The Influence of Local Government Autonomy on Effective Service Delivery in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Local government autonomy remains a critical factor in ensuring effective service delivery and sustainable grassroots development in Nigeria. This study examined the influence of local government autonomy on service delivery in Benue State, focusing on administrative, fiscal, and political dimensions. Specifically, it assessed the level of autonomy exercised by local governments, examined the effect of limited autonomy on service delivery, and identified strategies for strengthening local governance. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, with a population of 1,250 comprising local government employees and residents across Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo local government areas. A sample of 300 respondents was selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation and regression analysis) at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that administrative and political autonomy were moderate, while fiscal autonomy was low to moderate. Regression results indicated that fiscal autonomy had the strongest positive effect on service delivery (β = 0.41, p = 0.000), followed by administrative (β = 0.32, p = 0.001) and political autonomy (β = 0.27, p = 0.002). Overall, higher levels of autonomy significantly enhanced the efficiency, responsiveness, and quality of services such as education, healthcare, sanitation, and infrastructure. The study concludes that enhancing administrative, fiscal, and political autonomy is essential for improving local government performance and citizen satisfaction. Recommendations include empowering councils to make independent administrative decisions, granting greater control over revenue generation and expenditure, and promoting policy-making freedom while encouraging citizen engagement. Implementing these strategies is expected to strengthen local governance and ensure sustainable service delivery in Benue State.