Federal vs. State Roads: Assessing the Influence of Intergovernmental Relations Models on Road Maintenance in Nigeria
The study examined the influence of inter-governmental relations, specifically, in terms of relations between the federal and state governments on road maintenance in Nigeria. The motivation for the study was the deplorable condition of several Nigerian roads which has been largely attributed to role conflicts between the two tiers of government. The influence of three types of inter-governmental relation (Partnership, Principal/Agent and Dual Functionalism models) on road maintenance was examined. The study conveniently drew its sample from staffs of federal and state ministry of works as well as staffs of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in Enugu State. Data were collected using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained by means of Cronbach Alpha which gave a coefficient of 72 percent. The data obtained were analyzed using frequency, percentages and multiple linear regression analysis. The findings revealed that the partnership model and functional dualism model of intergovernmental relations significantly influence road maintenance in Nigeria. It was recommended that all levels of government should strive to adopt the partnership or functional dualism model of intergovernmental relations. This would enable them to cooperate rather than compete, knowing that they are all partners in national progress.