Impact of Local Government Autonomy on Service Delivery in Nigeria’s Grassroots Communities

This study examines the impact of local government autonomy on service delivery in Nigeria’s grassroots communities, with a focus on selected Local Government Areas in Enugu State. Using a survey of 333 respondents, the research explores the extent of political and fiscal autonomy and its effect on service outcomes. The results indicate that local governments in Enugu State generally operate with limited autonomy, as 42% and 45% of respondents reported restricted political and fiscal control, respectively. While 60% of respondents believe that increased autonomy somewhat or significantly improves service quality, 40% reported no change or worsening conditions. Key barriers to effective autonomy were identified as political interference (40.5%), inadequate financial resources (27%), and weak administrative capacity (21%). To address these challenges, respondents recommend enhancing fiscal decentralization (34.5%), strengthening administrative capacity (28.5%), and improving legal frameworks (22.5%). These findings highlight the need for comprehensive decentralization reforms to empower local governments and improve service delivery at the grassroots level.