Political and Administrative Dichotomy in the Local Government System in Nigeria: The Way Forward
Keywords:
Politics, administration, dichotomy, local governmentAbstract
This study attempts to espouse and further brings into focus the age long conflict between political executives and administrative executives in the local government system in Nigeria. In an attempt to make public administration an independent branch of knowledge, this work contends that a sharp distinction be made between politics and administration in the local government system. It goes further to declare that politics must not interfere with administration and the latter should not meddle with the functions of the former. Using the Alienation Theory as postulated by Karl Marx, this study posits that this conflict is central to all other issues plaguing the local government system in Nigeria. It therefore asserts that this has adversely affected its service delivery to the populace. Hence, it recommends that the seniority conflict between political executives (Politicians) and administrative executives (Civil Servants) should be well understood between the actors; the political executives should understand that they are the political masters in comparison with the administrative executives; and their success to a large extent is dependent on the degree of the administrative executives’ advice. This will enable the local government to deliver the dividend sof democratic culture to the people.
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