Local Government Administration and Essential Services Provisioning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Lagos State, Nigeria
In Proceedings of International Student Conference on Social Science and Humanities 2022
30 Pages Posted: 21 Dec 2023 Last revised: 9 Dec 2024
Date Written: May 19, 2022
Abstract
Local governments are the third tier of government in Nigeria, thus, to be the closest to the people. Local governments in Lagos, the largest city of Nigeria, which is also the largest city in Sub-Saharan Africa could not provide essential services to its residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper investigates the extent to which local governments were involved in essential services provisioning during the pandemic in Lagos, Nigeria. To know if people were able to access (in term of availability) local government officials during the COVID-19 pandemic? What approaches were used to handle the provisioning of essential services? What constraints and challenges, if any, did local government officials encounter during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Is there any change in relations with local government administrations after the COVID-19 pandemic? The method of data collection are primary data which is questionnaire at one local government area in each of the three Senatorial Districts in Lagos. Also, secondary data which are journal articles, books, and online resources are utilized. Local governments in Lagos, Nigeria, were not available during the pandemic. This is shown in the increase of non-availability (never) of the local government from 35% before the COVID-19 pandemic to 44.2% during the pandemic from respondents. Also, 21.8% respondents had knowledge of COVID-19 testing and isolation centers in the local governments. 73.6% of the respondents see corruption as the major problem/challenge in the affairs of local government. Furthermore,18.1% respondents found local government to be significant during the pandemic. This study contributes to the development of developing countries. The development of every local government is simultaneous to national development which can be achieved through the provisioning of essential services. Also, to prepare for public health issues.
Keywords: Local Government, Administration, Essentials Services, COVID-19
JEL Classification: I18
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation