THE IMPACT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NASARAWA STATE (A CASE STUDY OF KOSHINSHA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.)

ABSTRACT This study examined The Impact of Local Government Autonomy on Rural Development in Nasarawa State with focus on Koshinsha Local Government Area.The major objectives of the study were to ascertain the problems that confronts Koshinsha local government area's administration in utilizing revenue for their services,to find out whether or not the revenue is adequate for the council's expenditure,and to investigate the systems of financial control measures in local government area.The study employed the Classical Administrative Theory.to justify the work.Data the study were obtained from mostly the primary sources using the questionnaire instrument.These data were thereafter analyzed quantitatively using statistical analysis for the purpose of drawing conclusions.Findings revealed that inadequacy of skilled personnel, poor leadership,inadequate internally generated revenue,unsatisfactory systems offinancial control measures,and internal factors such as the general laxity of the council's finance department have been found to be the major challenges to the effective utilization of Koshinsha local government revemue. From our findings,we recommend that effective and transparent systems of financial control measures should be put in place in Koshinsha local government area and the local government should partner with anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)to address the low rate of accountability,unnecessarily excessive rate of corruption and primitive accumulation among its staff