CHAPTER ONE
1.1    INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
Revenue according to Buchanan, Flowes (1975:70) is defined as the money generated by the Government or any public sector to carry out its functions.  It is the amount of income received or total receipts. The main source of Government revenue generation is through taxes. It therefore has great impact on revenue base of the nation, state or even the Local Government Area. The 1976 Local Government Reform goes forth to apply that, which ever institution or Arm of Government is entrusted with the task of collection or generation and disbursement of public funds must do so in absolute respect to the laid down rules and regulations. These Local Government Reform Guidelines has guaranteed self sustained sources of revenue to the Local Government and it is captured in the forth schedule of 1999 constitution and the Joint Tax Board (JTB) harmonization of the taxes and levies schedule for the three tiers of Government (1997).  Local government as an institution is designed to provide a wide range of services; citizens and indeed all stakeholders feel that their achievement of social, economic and political aspirations depends on their involvement in the affairs of the Local Government.
Consequence to this, Local Government as preferred by Gorvine (1965), consists of those institutions of Government which are closed to the people constitutionally, legally and physically whether the Area is rural or urban. Although it is can carryout a lot of functions since it is closer to the people, only what the National or State Government permits. Local Governments and their Administration are therefore strategic in the overall macro-economic growth and development of the Nigerian economy.  Even though the National Government in the nature of things sets limit to Local Government, the functions of macro- economic growth and development, effectively and positively altering of the socio political conditions of the people at the grassroots’ are still met as the result of these third-tier of Government being nearer to the people of the grassroots’.
It is in recognition of the important role of local government administration that this project will focused on which is revenue generation, utilization, grassroots information and accountability in Uyo Local Government Council of Akwa Ibom State.
1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The main purpose of revenue generation from the point of view of any government organization is to raise funds to provide essential, social and economic amenities.  As money is the life wire of all types of development, fiscal management which in those operators designed to make funds available to officials and to cause lawful and efficient use becomes a problem. The principal fiscal functions connected with the receipts and disbursement of public funds includes budgeting, safeguarding and disbursing of funds in line with goals and various constraints and problems which coupled with failure to comply with regulation governing the collection, accountability of public funds by Uyo Local Government Council.
1.3    RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The Reform Local Government System in Nigeria is relatively new and has been done to study its lapses and problems in the area of revenue generation, utilization and accountability. Therefore, objectives of the study are were as follows;
1.      To identify the sources of revenue as approved by the statutes and other Instruments in Uyo Local Government.
2.      To Find out how revenue is being generated and controlled in Uyo Local Government Council.
3.      To determine the extend to which the generated revenue has been utilized to meet its respective purposes.
4.      To pin-point potential problems limiting effective revenue generation and accountability and to make recommendations on how to control these problems.