LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN IHIALA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined effects of local government autonomy on rural development in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to ascertain the effect of local government administrative autonomy on administration of primary education in Ihiala local government council of Anambra state, Nigeria. Flowing from the specific objectives of the study, three research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study was anchored on the theory of decentralization. The researcher adopted descriptive survey research design. Structured questionnaire was used for collection of primary data and data collected were presented and analyzed using tables and percentages. Findings revealed that local government administrative autonomy has a significant effect on administration of primary education in Ihiala local government council of Anambra state, Nigeria. It was also discovered, among other, that there is a significant relationship between local government political autonomy and provision of health centers in Ihiala local government area of Anambra state, Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommended that local council authorities should be allowed greater flexibility to recruit and manage their personnel in line with their peculiar needs, challenges and resources