AN APPRAISAL OF URBAN GOVERNANCE PRACTICES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN ZARIA
AN APPRAISAL OF URBAN GOVERNANCE PRACTICES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN ZARIA
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Date
2012-08
Authors
Joseph, Sunday OLADIMEJI
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Abstract
This research considered how the practices of selected institutions of urban governance in
Zaria, affect the development of informal economic activities in the study area. Literature on the
informal economy, and urban governance were studied to elaborate on concepts, characteristics,
arguments and explanations. Policy responses on the informal economy in Nigeria and other
country case studies were also considered. Five (5) institutions of urban governance which have
bearing on informal economic activities were selected for the study. Also, two hundred (200)
informal enterprise operators from the three main subsectors of informal economic activities,
were selected from a stratified sample frame using systematic random sampling. This sample
was used to gain insight into the characteristics of enterprises, and their opinions and perceptions
on the practices of governance institutions. The survey covered the five main urban quarters in
Zaria. The general spatial and structural characteristics of informal economic activities were
examined, and the study also attempted an assessment of institutions of urban governance, using
indicators of Good Urban Governance adapted from the Global Development Research Centre
(GDRC). The spatial characteristics of the three subsectors of informal economic activities in
Zaria was also looked into and it was found that retailing was the predominant activity in the
study area. It was also found that a higher percentage of operators were utilizing public space
without formal authorization. The proliferation of these economic activities in public space also
did not promote environmental aesthetics. The governance assessment process of the institutions
under appraisal revealed a very low average score of 25.13%, this implied that the governance
structure and process in the study area was very poor and required urgent intervention if the
climate for healthy enterprise development is to be achieved. Other problems identified in the
course of the study include, poor information dissemination, lack of micro-credit facility,
inadequate business space, inadequate skills development outlets, poor infrastructural provision,
poor interaction between institutions that have bearing on informal enterprises and so on.
Recommendations were made at the end covering the following areas; the need for cooperation
and collaboration between urban governance institutions, encouragement of town hall meetings,
capacity building for officials of governance institutions, facilitation of micro-credit for informal
enterprise development and provision of more serviced business space. It is hoped that the
institutions of governance in the study area will consider the findings of this study and evolve the
will to implement the recommendations.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the Post Graduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In partial
fulfillment of the award of a Master of Science Degree in Urban Management.
DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, FACULTY OF
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA.
AUGUST 2012
Keywords
APPRAISAL,, URBAN,, GOVERNANCE,, PRACTICES,, DEVELOPMENT,, INFORMAL,, ECONOMIC,, ACTIVITIES,, ZARIA.