Decentralization of Local Government and Rural Development in Rivers State, Nigeria

Decentralization of Local Government and Rural Development in Rivers State, Nigeria by Eddy B. Kaka MS, DePaul University, 2006 BA, DePaul University, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University February 2018 Abstract Rural communities in Rivers State, Nigeria are fraught with underdevelopment crises despite the accrual of wealth from oil and gas. Community Development Committees (CDCs) are established by the Rivers State government in each town and village to facilitate community development. However, the CDCs have failed to generateRural communities in Rivers State, Nigeria are fraught with underdevelopment crises despite the accrual of wealth from oil and gas. Community Development Committees (CDCs) are established by the Rivers State government in each town and village to facilitate community development. However, the CDCs have failed to generate substantive development in rural communities. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the perceptions of local stakeholders as to the factors that have contributed to this policy failure. Benet’s theory of polarities of democracy was used in this study. Twenty-two participants in the Khana region of Rivers State were interviewed regarding why the CDCs have failed to promote rural development in the Khana Local Government Area in Rivers State, Nigeria. Saldana’s method of coding and content analysis were used for data analysis. The results from the analysis revealed that CDCs protected personal and political interests of the elites, excluded the voice of the local citizens, lacked representation from the minority, and CDC officials mismanaged funds and resources. To improve the lives of the rural people in Rivers State, Nigeria, it was recommended that CDCs become more inclusive. Also, CDC leaders need to work closely with all local stakeholders so that each stakeholder and not just the elites of the community will benefit from CDC policies or programs. Implementation of these recommendations might bring about more social justice and equity in the local communities served by CDCs. They might also help to promote reasonable distribution of government wealth through the provision of viable projects in the rural communities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Decentralization of Local Government and Rural Development in Rivers State, Nigeria by Eddy B. Kaka MS, DePaul University, 2006 BA, DePaul University, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University February 2018

《尼日利亚河流州地方政府分权与农村发展》 作者：埃迪·B·卡卡 2006年获德保罗大学硕士学位，2004年获德保罗大学学士学位 2018年2月提交的博士学位论文部分内容，满足公共政策与管理专业哲学博士学位要求 摘要：尽管尼日利亚河流州因石油和天然气积累了财富，但该州农村社区仍充满发展不足的危机。河流州政府在每个城镇和村庄都设立了社区发展委员会（CDCs）以促进社区发展。然而，这些社区发展委员会未能在农村社区实现实质性发展。本定性案例研究的目的是调查当地利益相关者对导致这一政策失败的因素的看法。本研究采用了贝内特的民主两极理论。对河流州卡纳地区的22名参与者就社区发展委员会为何未能促进尼日利亚河流州卡纳地方政府区的农村发展进行了访谈。采用萨尔达纳的编码和内容分析方法进行数据分析。分析结果显示，社区发展委员会保护精英的个人和政治利益，排斥当地公民的声音，少数群体缺乏代表，社区发展委员会官员对资金和资源管理不善。为了改善尼日利亚河流州农村居民的生活，建议社区发展委员会更具包容性。此外，社区发展委员会的领导人需要与所有当地利益相关者密切合作，以便每个利益相关者而不仅仅是社区精英能从社区发展委员会的政策或项目中受益。实施这些建议可能会在社区发展委员会服务的当地社区带来更多的社会公正和平等。它们也可能有助于通过在尼日利亚河流州农村社区提供可行的项目来促进政府财富的合理分配。 《尼日利亚河流州地方政府分权与农村发展》 作者：埃迪·B·卡卡 2006年获德保罗大学硕士学位，2004年获德保罗大学学士学位 2018年2月提交的博士学位论文部分内容，满足公共政策与管理专业哲学博士学位要求