Significance of fiscal decentralisation: The Gambia at a glance

Abstract

The effectiveness of fiscal decentralisation is assumed not guaranteed in The Gambia even though there are the enactment of the different legal instruments and other efforts from 2002 to date. This may be attributed to limited financial resources for providing quality public services among the Local Government Councils and other Actors, and unavailability of adequate sources of revenues and limited powers to the disposal of the Local Councils for making decisions on financial expenditures and borrowing. The objective of this study is to establish the level of effectiveness of fiscal decentralisation in The Gambia. Primary data was collected by administering questionnaires, interview guide and observation. The questionnaire used structured questions and both open-ended and close-ended questions were also utilised and the data analysed using Comparison, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Excel. However, secondary data was also collected to augment the studies. A non-probability sampling known as purposive sampling was used to elicit data from 38 respondents. As regards to the effectiveness of fiscal decentralisation in The Gambia, the findings revealed that only 2.6 per cent of the respondents said is very effective while 23.7 per cent and 73.7 per cent have the opinion that fiscal decentralisation is moderate and weak, respectively. For fiscal decentralisation to be effective in The Gambia, there is need for more resource mobilisation and Councils need to identify and diversify their revenue sources, improve revenue collection and management, and it is crucial for the Central Government to make available adequate allocation of revenue sources to the Councils and fulfilment of Central Governments financial commitments.

Keywords: Area councils, citizens, decentralisation, democratisation, decision-making, effectiveness, fiscal, good governance, management, resources, service delivery, sustainable development.