Beyond Palliative Governance: Assessing the Transition to Curative Governance and its Implications for Local Government Service Delivery in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Local government councils (LGCs) in Lagos State, Nigeria, are constitutionally mandated to drive grassroots development and deliver essential public services. However, persistent reliance on palliative governance approaches has raised concerns about service delivery effectiveness and citizen satisfaction. This study examined whether the transition from palliative to curative policies predicts service delivery effectiveness and how the execution of local governments’ mandated roles and functions influences public satisfaction. Anchored on Systems Theory, the study adopted the pragmatist paradigm and a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 400 respondents across the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs in Lagos State using a structured questionnaire. Instrument validity and reliability were established through content validity assessment, factor analyses, Cronbach’s alpha, and composite reliability. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Findings revealed that the transition to curative policies significantly predicts service delivery effectiveness (β = .48, p < .001), while effective execution of mandated roles and functions significantly predicts public satisfaction (β = .59, p < .001). The study concludes that sustainable governance and effective discharge of constitutional responsibilities are critical drivers of local government performance. It recommends strengthening fiscal autonomy, institutionalising curative governance frameworks, enhancing performance monitoring, and promoting community participation to improve service delivery and citizen satisfaction.