DEMOCRACY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND INFRASTRACTURAL DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF ZARIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LG) IN KADUNA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

A growing body of scholarship explores correlation between Democracy and Development. The majority of the scholarship focuses on certain indices of Development especially in developed democracies. We know little on the influence of democratic governance on grassroots communities particularly in terms of provision of physical infrastructural facilities. Local Governments are positioned to improve development at the local level and bring rural communities closer to the government. But studies show the contrary, grassroots communities in Nigeria are the most downtrodden citizens with difficult access to physical infrastructural facilities. This study examines the influence of democratic governance on infrastructural development at the grassroots level. The scope of the study is limited to Zaria Local Government in Kaduna state, Nigeria between 2000 and 2017. Both primary and secondary sources of data were utilized. In the case of primary data, interviews were conducted; questionnaires were randomly administered to members of the public in six wards across Zaria LG.  Data gathered were subjected to Spearman correlation analysis. Findings of the study indicated that democratic governance in Nigeria has improved infrastructural development in certain areas of Zaria Local Government. The study concludes that for infrastructures to be adequately provided at the grassroots level, democratic ideals, accountability and prudent management of public resources must be improved.