Devolution of Power and Revenue Mobilization: Imperative for Effective Public Service Delivery in Nigeria

Abstract

The question of distribution of power and responsibilities among the tiers of government
has generated heated debate for years in Nigeria’s development narrative. The discussion
has been able to gather more proponents than opponents especially as it relates to the
economic viability of sub-national governments and effective service delivery. As
convincing as the arguments for the devolution of powers and resources to governments
are, this debate has not been successfully translated into effective provision of public
goods and services. This paper therefore, without reawakening the whole debate
(because the discourse is still ongoing in the literature), addresses the paradigmatic
effect of devolution of power and revenue mobilization on effectively alleviating the
socio-economic deprivations of the Nigerian people. Thus, the paper relies on existing
literature (mainly secondary sources of data) in order to successfully argue its points.
Devolution of power, if well-articulated and practised, can promote effective service
delivery, reduce poverty, and at the same time increase the people’s capacity to pay taxes
and levies. The study recommends that the concept of devolution of power should go
beyond mere political and administrative decentralization, to address public
participation in revenue mobilization for effective delivery of socio-economic services by
government.