LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND TAXATION IN AFRICA: THE CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDED APPROACHES

The part expected to be played   by local governments in promoting efficient mobilization of domestic asset is becoming more conspicuous as a result of the lingering economic effect of some global disease outbreaks which have interrupted countries’ traditional financial inflows. However, the local governments, particularly those in developing nations, do not seem to be meeting this expectation. With exploratory research design, this study has reviewed the literature on how the local government taxation and financial management are carried out in Africa. The cardinal aim was to highlight   some important issues   surrounding the mobilization of financial resource in the local governments, identify the major challenges and suggest the way forward. The findings of the research indicated that most local authorities in Africa do not collect sufficient taxes and other revenues necessary for executing their constitutional responsibilities. The reason for this is partly the absence of efficient fiscal decentralization in majority of African nations. In addition, the study observed that local governments in some African nations   apparently raise whatever taxes, fees, and charges within their reach, often without being much perturbed concerning the economic distortions and distribution effects that those instruments might create.This work perceivesthe heightened   necessity to improve tax administration and financial management practice in African   sub-national   governments through some relevant reforms.