FACTORS AFFECTING RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS (A STUDY OF BIDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE)

ABSTRACT Rural development is a critical aspect of sustainable national development in Nigeria, as it seeks to improve the living standards and socio economic well-being of rural communities. Bida Local Government, situated in Nigeria state, represents a microcosm of challenges and opportunities that rural areas face in Nigeria. This abstract provides a glimpse into the factors influencing rural development in Bida Local Government, serving as foundation for a more comprehensive study. The work looked critically (in question) towards rural development within its area of jurisdiction. In doing this, the researcher based his study on the provision of the 10976 local government reform in Nigeria which made rural development one of the explicit functions of the local government councils. The total population for the study is 720 staff of Bida local government of Niger state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up heads of department, counselors, senior staff and junior staff was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies. The researcher also recommended that government should invest in the improvement of road networks, electricity supply and water and sanitation facilities. These infrastructure upgrades are critical for enhancing connectivity, supporting economic activities, and improving the quality of life in rural communities.