Posted by Chester Morton / Friday, 23 December 2016 / No comments
The demerits of a decentralized system of Government
Definition of decentralization
Decentralization can be defined as that system of government
in which some administrative powers of the central government is knowingly
transferred from a higher level of authority to a lower level of authority. In
other words, power could be transferred from the central government to regional
or district units.
THE DEMERITS
Difficulty in getting qualified personnel
One of the disadvantages of decentralization is that it is
difficult to get qualified personnel who would accept posting to the towns and
villages. This is especially so in developing countries where there is the lack
of some very important social amenities in some districts. Everybody highly
qualified person wants to remain in the big cities.
May lead to inefficiency
Where there is the absence of qualified personnel, the
government is compelled to hire anybody who is willing to be posted to the
hinterlands. The result is that the output of such people does not measure up
to what is required for optimum success.
Stifles uniform development
Another disadvantage of decentralization is that some
districts that are motivated tend to develop faster than others. Apart from
that some districts get highly qualified people to work there so they are able
to come up with policies that inure to the benefit of the locality and those
with lowly qualified personnel suffer. In the end, the pattern of development
is not uniform.
It is expensive
The institutions of state that help in the running of the
country need to be deployed in all parts of the country to render similar
services to the people at the grassroots. This calls for the building of
structures and the hiring of personnel to man them. These personnel have to be remunerated
appropriately. This makes the practice of decentralization a very expensive
venture.
Divide loyalty
Though decentralization brings government to the doorstep of
the people, what happens is that the people begin to see the government close
to them as the only government to relate to. For this reason, their loyalties
are to the government close to them and drop. their level of loyalty to the
central government.
May lead to secession
Where there is too much decentralization, the governments at
the regional and districts may feel too independent and may begin to think they
could stand on their own. This may lead to the tendency to break away from the
centre and if care is not taken, it may lead to all out war.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. a. What is decentralization?
b. Highlight five
disadvantages of decentralization.
2. Advance six reasons why some countries do not practice
decentralization.
