Emmanuel Okon’s auto spare parts shop is less than 200 metres from the Badagry Local Government secretariat in Ajara Okoh, Badagry, Lagos State.
He however, does not know the councillor representing his constituency. Honour Atika is a young teacher in the town of his birth: Oghara, a small town about 40 kilometres from Warri in Delta State.
He has never been invited to give his input in the budget of his local council, Ethiope-West Local Government. These are some of the answers respondents gave researchers in the on-going “Making Local Governance Work” survey organised by the Orderly Society Trust.
The group , a civil liberties group, is collaborating with the Human Development Initiative, a research-based NGO, which is providing the work force for the field work.
The survey, which aims to examine how to make local governments work in Nigeria, started on April 14, 2009 and will last for eight days in 13 states around the country.
RESEARCH TOOLS
The researchers have employed three research tools in their survey. The national head of the researchers, Olayinka Akanle, explained their uses and importance.
“The questionnaires are for respondents in the local community,” he said. “The questions are a result of years of research. They are made to generate the right responses.
“The IDIs (In-depth Interviews) are for the senior local government officials. The FGDs (Focus Group Discussions) are to guide the debate session that we have in each of the local government areas.” Asked what documents were used in preparing the questionnaire, Mr. Akanle said, “We studied the constitution and excluded the things that were on the exclusive list.
"We went for those that are their (local council) responsibility in the constitution, like the collection of rates and taxes, construction of market shops, maintenance of their roads, and building of public toilets.”
He also said the tools were pre-tested in Ibadan-North and Ido local government areas of Oyo State, where the reactions helped in fine-tuning the material. Respondents are not required to provide their names in this study.
“In social research, we have confidentiality. When respondents know their names are not needed, they talk.”
UNIMPRESSIVE ASSESSMENTS
In Badagry local council, the group discussion was held on the 14th, with 10 men in attendance. They collectively agreed that access to information about the activities of the elected council leaders is, at best, difficult. They said the only programme targeted at the poor in the community was the provision of borehole water.
Although, road lanes have been constructed under the present administration, they said many more would need to be made available. They claimed the council was “excellent” at the collection of rates, but was “poor” at the provision of public toilets.
One of the respondents, who has seen six successions of local governments said, “We all know the council spends money, but nobody has ever asked them how they spend it. Nobody.”
In Oghara, a debate started when the issue of asset declaration was raised. Clifford Okeh, an ex-councillor, was the only man who was “sure” that the public office holders declared their assets before getting into office. Others said the election promises were quickly forgotten after the elections.
“As far as promises are concerned, that one is zero,” a respondent said. They called the election itself a “selection process, where the godfathers just imposed people on us."
On whether they concern themselves with money spent by the council, a man said, “When I don’t know how the person got there, how would I go and ask him questions? There is no avenue to say what you want to say.”
The nine men at the April 15 meeting agreed that finacial information on the local government activities is inaccessible.
Mr. Atika summed up the mood of the respondents, when he said, “They (the council leadership) are not a true representation of the people, so we don’t expect anything from them.”
RESEARCHERS’ CHALLENGE
There are five researchers, and a supervisor coordinating the work in each state. They are expected to talk to 20 respondents each, and organise at least one Focal Discussion Group, per council. The team is to spend two days in one area, then move to the next.
The survey coordinator for Lagos State, Benjamin Adeeyo, said while the residents are happy to participate, apathy is recorded on the part of the public officials.
“It is not easy to track (Nigerian) government officials anywhere especially when it has to do with trying to get information or with accountability, transparency, public service,” he said. “They are not easily accessible as members of the public.”
Mr. Akanle agreed with the assertion. “Access to public information in Nigeria is a challenge; it is nearly impossible.”
WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT
The respondents said the electoral process must be made better to guarantee that they have government at the grass roots that carry them along.
“The federal government must ensure that the electoral process is one that is free and fair, where the people can express their choice. The people must be made to select their leaders themselves,” a respondent in Oghara said.
Another man wanted the energy of the youth diverted into sports. “Some of them can go into boxing and swimming. They just need somebody to discover their talent and they will bring joy to the community.”
Mr. Akila said the media have a duty to tell the story of corruption at the third tier of governance. “Journalism is the eyes of the masses,” he said. “We can’t go there and make noise. Go into local governments and ask questions.”