Assessing the Importance of Local Government Functions in a Country
Author: Martha Fanta Mansaray & Eric Komba Mani Foyoh
Abstract: The Local government of any country is a form or a system of public administration that exists as the lowest rank of administration with a state. The term is used to differentiate between state-level offices which are referred to as the central government, national government, federal government, and also governments that deal with governing institutions between states. Local governments are bodies that act generally within powers that are being delegated to them by the legislation or directives from the higher level of government. In Federal states, the local government usually occupies the second or third rank of government but with even greater powers than other higher administrative divisions of government. Local government was established in 1909 when the four former colonies became provinces. All of these provinces were governed by a white elected provincial council with limited legislative powers. All administrators for each of the provinces were appointed by the central government. They were presided over by an executive committee that represented the majority party in the council. Local government determines and executes measures within a restricted and smaller area than a whole state or country. Some element of local government is common to every country in the world. There are basically four types of local government which include country, city, village, and township, and no matter what city, town, village, or country you live in, the three forms of government are present and functional. It is only the forms of government that differ from country to country, for example, some countries have a government of Monarchy that is ruled by one person, Oligarchy rule by a small handful of people, Democracy rule by the majority of people, Republic rule by law and Anarch where there is no government. The local government units are the main point of contact for the delivery of services and for the delivery of national programs to the citizens—community.