Accountability Culture and Public Acceptability of Local Government System for Enhanced Grassroot Development in Nigeria: the Role of Public Relations

Abstract

In this study the correlation between accountability culture in the administration of local governments in Nigeria and the recent public outcry for the proscription of that tier of government is examined, as it affects development in the country’s grassroot areas. It was motivated by the call for the abrogation of the local government system due to alleged poor performance. The objectives sought were to: ascertain the level of correlation accountability practices or lack of it has in the public demands for the proscription of local government system in Nigeria and determine the effect of the local governments’ accountability standards on project development at the grassroots’ levels. The research methodology adopted survey design technique, with structured questionnaire as the main instrument for primary data collection. The data were analyzed with the statistical tools of Likert’s 5-points scale and Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The results obtained show that there is a strong correlation between poor accountability by local government administrations in Nigeria and the public outcry for the disbandment of that tier of government. There was also significant correlation between the lack of accountability culture in local government administrations in Nigeria and the poor development at the grassroots’ levels of the country. Based on this outcome, the applications of public relations attitudinal-change strategies from negative practices to positive practices in fund management by local government chairmen in Nigeria was proffered for enhanced development at the grassroots’ levels of the country.

Keywords: Accountability, Local Government’s administration, grassroots’ development, public relations, public perceptions.