Background of the study
Fiscal decentralization involves devolving fiscal responsibilities from central to local governments, thereby enabling tailored policy responses that meet regional needs. In Oyo State, fiscal decentralization initiatives introduced between 2000 and 2020 have aimed to empower local governments to invest in innovation and stimulate economic growth. By providing local authorities with greater control over budgets and resource allocation, these policies have fostered an environment conducive to local innovation, leading to improvements in technology adoption, service delivery, and entrepreneurial activities (Ibrahim, 2023). Empirical evidence suggests that decentralization can promote innovation by reducing bureaucratic delays and enabling targeted investments that address specific local challenges (Oluwaseun, 2023). However, the success of fiscal decentralization is contingent on local administrative capacity and effective governance structures. Challenges such as uneven resource distribution, corruption, and political interference continue to impede the full realization of these benefits (Chinwe, 2024). This study evaluates how fiscal decentralization has contributed to local innovation in Oyo State and provides policy recommendations to optimize its impact.
Statement of the problem
Despite efforts toward fiscal decentralization, local innovation in Oyo State remains uneven due to challenges such as administrative inefficiencies, corruption, and uneven resource allocation (Ibrahim, 2023; Chinwe, 2024). These issues hinder the intended benefits of devolved fiscal authority, resulting in suboptimal local innovation and economic growth. The study aims to identify the barriers to effective fiscal decentralization and propose measures to enhance local innovation, thereby promoting sustainable development in the state.
Objectives of the study:
Research questions:
Research Hypotheses:
Significance of the study
This study is significant as it examines the role of fiscal decentralization in fostering local innovation in Oyo State. The findings will provide policymakers with insights into overcoming administrative challenges and optimizing resource allocation, thereby promoting a more dynamic and innovative local economy that contributes to broader economic growth (Ibrahim, 2025).
Scope and limitations of the study:
This study is limited to evaluating fiscal decentralization and its impact on local innovation in Oyo State, focusing on administrative and governance factors.
Definitions of terms:
Background of the Study
Vocational training programs are critical for equipping individuals with practical skills that promote employment, e...
Background of the Study
Obesity has been recognized as a major public health issue worldwide due to its as...
Background of the Study
Respect for elders is a fundamental value that underpins social harmony and intergenerational solidarity in many...
Nursing in the intensive care unit (ICU) is inherently demanding, requiring h...
ABSTRACT
This research work presents a scheme that identifies line outage and generator outage using contigency analysis and effectively...
ABSTRACT
The research topic of this study is the impact of change management in Nigerian Banking Industry, A study of United Bank for Afr...
Background Of The Study
Higher institution is the institution which one attends to after his secondary...
Background of the Study:
Trade policy reforms in Nigeria have been implemented with the objective of fostering domestic production and re...
ABSTRACT
Conflict is a fact of life, it is found among the religious groups and it can never be completely eradicated. The dream of any n...
Background of the Study
Public debt sustainability is a critical issue for economies that rely heavily on volatile revenue sources. In Ni...