WOMEN IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION: THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN BUILDING RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The marginal representation of women in local government administration is the missing link between building resilience and sustainable local government development. The role of women in local government development is vital for the achievement of UN sustainable development (SDGs) and the AU Agenda 2063.  Women occupy a very critical position in society right from their family levels. At the family, their role in the transmission of cultural values, and formation of the character and personality of the children cannot be over-emphasized.  Women and development are two things that go hand in hand.  However, the position and vital role of women have long been neglected by development partners and stakeholders. No society can develop fully while ignoring any of the sexes, especially women. The continued marginal representation of women is argued to be the bane of local government development in Nigeria.  Women are important partners in development; nations cannot continue to bear the high cost of not involving them in development planning. Methodologically, the paper Applied the Marxist feminist theory and qualitatively gathered data through a literature review and used other digital sources to answer questions such as What is women’s importance in Local Government development in Nigeria? To what extent are women excluded from local government administration in Nigeria? What is the role of Women in Local Government Development? The paper found that mainstreaming women in local government governance and administration is a sure answer to building resilience and sustainable development and that women should be placed on the frontline in contemporary national and international sustainable development planning.