Assessing the Effects of Poor Revenue Generation on Development at the Grassroots: a Study of Sokoto North Local Government Area

The study assessed the effects of poor revenue generation on development at the grassroots in Sokoto North local government area with a view to examine the effects of poor revenue generation on ensuring development in Sokoto North Local Government Area, to ascertain the effects of poor revenue generation on achieving development goals in Sokoto North Local Government Area, and to evaluate the effects of poor revenue generation on development activities in Sokoto North Local Government Area. The study used Democratic-Participatory Theory as theoretical framework that guided the study. The sample size for the study was 346 and the study was purely quantitative. The study found that insufficient local revenue restricts essential infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic activities critical to local development, the study found local government revenue generation is critical in implementing policies that support agriculture, and social welfare, the study found education and health services are foundational to human capital development and are primarily the responsibility of local governments at the grassroots; the study found poor revenue limits investment in these areas, reducing the potential for community members to attain higher education or access quality healthcare. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the local government should implement efficient and transparent tax systems, including property and business taxes, to increase local revenue, both the Federal and the State governments should grant local governments more authority to manage their revenue independently which reducing reliance on central funding and encourage local governments to generate income through public services, fees, and community enterprises. The study further recommended that local government should engage private sector partners in infrastructure projects to share costs and improve local services, and the local government should regularly audit local finances to prevent misuse and boost community trust and train local officials in financial management and revenue collection techniques to improve efficiency.