A Comparative Study of Local Government and Community-Based Organisations in the Delivery of Social Services in Selected States of Southwestern Nigeria (1997-2005)

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2015-05-18
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This study examined and compared the delivery of social services by Local Government and Community-based Organizations (CBOs) in selected states of Ekiti, Ogun and Osun of Southwestern Nigeria between 1997 and 2005. The social services which the study focused on were: road, water, electricity, health care and education. This was with a view to ascertaining the usefulness of co-production strategy to the delivery of social services. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. Primary data were obtained through the use of structured questionnaires, oral interviews and observation techniques. Four hundred and forty questionnaires were administered on the leaders (Chairmen, Secretaries and Treasurers) of Community Development Councils (CDCs) using stratified sampling technique. Also, five hundred and eighty two questionnaires were administered on the senior staffs of local government that were directly involved in the delivery of social services using stratified sampling technique. The questionnaires assessed respondents' opinions not only on the performance of local government and CBOs in the delivery of social services, but also on local government delivery vis-a-vis community delivery. The questionnaires also assessed respondents' views on the relevance and usefulness of co-production strategy in social service delivery. Out of a total of one thousand and twenty two questionnaires administered to the two categories of respondents, nine hundred and twenty (90 percent) were retrieved. To complement the data extracted from questionnaires, interviews were also conducted with eighteen CDC leaders and nine local government senior staff. The interviews focused, not only on how local government and CBOs delivered social services, but also on the need for collaboration between local government and CBOs in the delivery of social services. With the use of observation techniques, some projects on road, water, electricity, health care and education were surveyed and photographs of some of them were taken. Secondary data were collected from relevant textbooks, government documents and records of social services delivered. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that the performance of local government (according to the perception of the CDC leaders) in the delivery of social services had been unsatisfactory (χ2= 236.57, P < 0.01). Similarly, according to the perception of the LGSS, the performance of local government had been unsatisfactory (χ2= 327.56, P < 0.01). The results also showed that the performance of CBOs (according to the CDC leaders) in the delivery of social services had not been satisfactory (χ2= 207.68, P < 0.01). In the same vein, according to the perception of LGSS, the performance of CBOs in the delivery of social services had not been satisfactory ( χ2= 244.88, P < 0.01). Furthermore, it was also revealed (according to the perception of CDC leaders) that there was no significant difference between local government and CBOs in terms of which institution delivered more social services than the other ( χ2 = 73.18, P < 0.01). Similarly, according to the perception of LGSS, there was no significant difference between local government and CBOs in terms of which institution delivered more social services than the other ( χ2 = 61.49, P < 0.01). Lastly, it was revealed (according to the perception of CDC leaders) that adoption of co-production strategy between local government and community-based organizations led to a more effective approach in the delivery of social services (χ2 = 604.14, P < 0.01). Similarly, according to the perception of LGSS, adoption of co-production strategy between local government and community-based organization led to a more effective approach in the delivery of social services ( χ2 = 571.49, P < 0.01). The study also identified inadequate funding, misappropriation of fund, wastage of fund, lack of accountability and transparency, lack of co-ordination, politicization of social services delivery and cumbersome administrative process of social service delivery in local governments as major impediments hindering effective delivery of social services. The study concluded that the performances of Local Government and CBOs in the delivery of social services in selected states of Southwestern Nigeria (Ekiti, Ogun and Osun) between 1997 and 2005 were unsatisfactory.
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Social services, Performance of local government, Delivery of social services, Performance of Community-based Organizations
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