In what way can the local government system assist in national development? By

Analyze the question: It asks how local government can assist national development. We need the option that describes a positive, productive contribution of local government to the nation as a whole.

Concept: Local government is the third tier of government in Nigeria (under the 1999 Constitution). Its key purposes include:

• Bringing government closer to the grassroots
• Providing basic services (markets, primary health care, roads, sanitation)
• Mobilising local human and material resources
• Implementing national policies at the grassroots level

By doing these things, local government links community needs and efforts to the national development plan.

Evaluating the options:

• A. Aligning local efforts with broader national goals. Correct. When local projects such as primary health care, rural roads, and agricultural support are coordinated with national objectives, development is consistent and balanced across the country.
• B. Depending on the central government for basic needs and development. Wrong. Dependence is a weakness, not a contribution. It shows a failure to mobilise local resources.
• C. Encouraging youth movement to the industrial centres. Wrong. This encourages rural-urban migration, which drains rural areas of labour and puts pressure on cities. Good local government tries to reduce it.
• D. Ensuring only top-bottom policies of government are supported. Wrong. Development needs both top-down and bottom-up input. Local government should also pass community needs upward, not only accept orders from above.

Tip: In Government questions on "how can X assist national development," choose the option showing cooperation, mobilisation, or coordination. Eliminate options with words like "depending on," "only," or anything that causes rural drift or weakens local initiative.