State’s Local Government Joint Account and Portable Water Provision in Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study examined the effect of the State–Local Government Joint Account (SLGJA) on the provision of portable drinking water in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Despite substantial statutory allocations to local governments through the SLGJA framework, access to potable water across many rural and semi-urban communities remains inadequate. The study adopted a mixed-method research design that combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. Primary data were obtained through questionnaires administered to respondents across Igabi, Zaria, and Kauru LGAs, while qualitative data were generated through semi-structured interviews with local government officials, community leaders, and stakeholders. A total of 347 valid questionnaires were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression with the aid of SPSS version 26. Findings revealed that SLGJA has a statistically significant effect on the provision of portable drinking water (β = 0.127, p < 0.05), although the explanatory power of the relationship was weak (R² = 0.061). Interview findings further revealed that delayed disbursement of funds, excessive state interference, bureaucratic bottlenecks, poor maintenance culture, and lack of transparency undermine effective water service delivery at the grassroots. The study concludes that while the SLGJA contributes to water provision, the current structure of fiscal control weakens local government responsiveness and service delivery efficiency. The study recommends greater financial autonomy for local governments, improved transparency in joint account operations, and the establishment of dedicated funding mechanisms for rural water infrastructure.