Local Government Elected Officers and Career Officers Dichotomy in Nigeria: How to Resolve the Imbroglio

Abstract

The local government system in Nigeria has the mandate to perform major functions which the higher tiers of government may not perform. To ensure that the development goals of the local government is achieved, it requires efficient manpower. The local government manpower includes the career civil servants and political office holders. How the two work in harmony has become a herculean task. Therefore the paper critically examined the roles of the career civil servants and politicians, and how the two can work to achieve the goals of the local government. The paper adopted documentaryresearch methodology, and content analysis technique was used. Team work was emphasized as a veritable tool to be used to foster grassroots development. Dichotomy between political office holders and local government career officers was critically interrogated. It is the position of the paper that politics and administration cannot be separated. Ultimately the paper is of the view that local government officers should eschew politics and mind their statutory duty of providing administrative services and guiding the political office holders on the nitty-gritty of local government administration and policy formulation. Therefore the two should work as partners in progress.