Roles of Local Government in Rural Development of Benue State

The paper examines the role of local government in the rural development of Benue State. In the attempt to do this, clarification of concepts like rural area and rural development were carried out which formed the theoretical basis of the analysis. Primary and secondary data formed the sources of data collection for the study. The primary data were obtained via questionnaire, oral interview and observation. However, textbook, internet and government documents formed secondary source of information of the study. It was discovered that efforts made through several strategies adopted over the years in the nation did not bring about meaningful rural development. It was also discovered that a number of issues such as under-funding, incessant conflict, corruption and top-bottom, rather than bottom-up approach, among others led to the failure of rural development efforts. The study therefore concludes among other things that for rural development to take place bottom-up approach to rural development be adopted. The local governments should look inward for internally generated revenue, corruption and mismanagement should be checked through anti-corruption agencies. Above all, local government staff should be well supervised, coordinated, motivated and encouraged for better performance; and finally, local government should be given political financial and administrative authority