ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN RURAL INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SELF-HELP APPROACH IN VANDEIKYA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed community participation in rural infrastructural development through self- help approach in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 150 respondents for the study. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, four (4) point Likert scale and logit regression model. Results from the study showed that majority (81%) of the respondents were male and were 43 years on average. 93% of the respondents were married with majority (67%) having secondary education. The respondents had an average household size of 7 persons and about 79.0% were in the informal sector like farming, trading and artisans. The average monthly income of the respondents was N31716. Schools (65%), roads (58%), health care centers (44%), local bridges /culverts (33%), boreholes (18%), local markets (13%) and electricity transformers (4%) were the infrastructures that were initiated and implemented by community self-help approaches in the study area. Community members exhibited high level participation in the areas of cash contribution (x̅=3.2), maintenance and sustainability of projects (x̅=31.1), participation in meetings for planning/decision making (x̅=2.8) and provision of physical labour on site (x̅=2.7). Educational status, major occupation, membership of community based organizations and monthly income were significant factors that influenced participation of respondents in community self-help projects. Major constraints to participation in community self-help projects in the study area were financial constraints (57%), lack of government support (47%), inefficient community leadership (37%), mismanagement of projects funds (27%), sentiments on project location and lack of interest by some community members. Government is admonished to support community development efforts inform of counterpart funding or provision of inputs. Participatory leadership, transparency and accountability in leadership should be encouraged at all the levels where possible as it encourages the community members from participating in community development projects.