ADMINISTRATION OF URBAN AREAS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF NIGERIA
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/j.1099-162X.1954.tb00052.x |
| Published date | 01 April 1954 |
| Author | |
| Date | 01 April 1954 |
94 JOURNAL OF AFRICAN ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATION OF URBAN AREAS IN
THE
NORTHERN REGION OF NIGERIA
By African Studies Branch
T
HE
Government of the Northern Region of Nigeria has announced its
policy for the development of local administration in the urban areas.'
There
are in the region four townships, Kaduna, Jos, Kano and Zaria, which
are directly administered by the Government. Many of the major commercial
firms have invested much capital on the strength of the security provided by
the Government under the Townships Ordinance, and no change in status is
proposed for the time being.
Other agglomerations vary in character from outsize rural villages to proper
towns.
The
Native Authority is to decide in each case which agglomerations
are to be treated as towns for the purposes of local government.
The
stages of
development in such towns are to be:
(a)
The
native authority will establish a town council and delegate financial
responsibility.
(b)
The
town council will become a subordinate native authority, preparing
its own budget, which will however be incorporated in the native authority
estimates.
(c)
The
town council will have its own separate estimates.
In other words at stage (a), the town council will be like a committee of the
native authority: at stage (b) it will be given a slightly more independent con-
stitutional status: at stage (c) it will be given a separate financial status.
A final stage, envisaged
but
not considered practical yet, is the possible amal-
gamation of the townships (other than Kaduna which as the Regional capital
will require special treatment) with the surrounding towns subordinate to the
native authority.
The
native authority is to decide in each case whether representation on town
councils is to be on a geographical ward or tribal basis.
The
native authority
will nominate the president who will usually be the district head or corresponding
senior official.
The
vice-president will be elected by the council.
The
president will also be the executive officer and must carry out the
decisions of
the
council, subject to his right to apply to the native authority for
a veto on any decision of the council with which he disagrees.
Electors and candidates must be over 21 years of age, resident or born in the
particular town, and must have paid tax in the town.
Town
councillors are not to receive any remuneration. Native authority staff
employed in the town will come under
the.
supervision of the president, in
accordance with the decision of the council which will, however, have no control
over appointments, promotions or dismissals.
A list is given of 19 services which town councils should be expected to
provide.
-------------------------------
1
Report
of
the
Committee
on the Future Administration of Urban Areas. Gaskiya
Corporation.
Zaria, pp. 6.
Unpriced.
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