Abstract:
The aim of this thesis is to assess the leadership and human resource development with a focus on Okrika Local Government Area (LGA). Interestingly, despite the numerous reforms, which had granted autonomy to the local governments for good performance, not much success has been achieved by the local governmTent. The study highlighted the importance of human resource development in building the leadership capacity of local governments in Nigeria using Okrika Local Government of Rivers State. The background of Okrika Local Government was examined. Survey research method, questionnaire, observation and interview, were used to collect data from the junior/senior employees of Okrika Local Government to actualize the objective of the study. The collected data were presented and analyzed in tabular form, frequency distribution and percentages. From the analysis of data, the study revealed the following findings:
i. That poor leadership in the Nigerian local government system is responsible for the ineffectiveness in achieving policy objectives for establishment of local governments in Nigeria.
ii. That leadership in local government system has not been able to achieve participatory democracy.
iii. Ineffective leadership ineffective is also responsible for poor service delivery at the local government level.
iv. Administrative inefficiency of local governments in Nigeria is caused by poor human resource development and capacity building at local level.
Conclusively, some useful recommendations were made to support the objectives of the study for example it was suggested that there should be an increase in the number of qualified personnel in the local government system as well as dedicated and responsive leadership in the local government level.
