LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS AN INSTRUMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL

The study examined the local Government as An Instrument of Rural Development, using Abuja Municipal Area Council as a case study. The major objective of the study is to find out how AMAC has stimulated rural development in the area and to determine whether AMAC has the necessary facilities for rural development. Both primary and secondary data were used for the analysis of the study. The theoretical underpinning for this study is system theory. The data were analyzed using simple percentage and tables which generally revealed that corruption was a thorn in the flesh in AMAC and that mismanagement of funds was largely responsible for the likely shortage of funds in the local government. The study recommended that the issue of corruption should be taken seriously There should also be effective monitoring of funds released to local government by the federal government through the state government.