GREEN BUDGETING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the relationship between green budgeting and sustainable development in the Nigerian Local Government. The emphasis of the study relied majorly on the interconnectivity between environmental budget allocation, green public expenditure, environmental accountability and fiscal transparency. The increasing wave of environmental hazards such as incessant flooding, inadequate waste management, rapid environmental degradation and weak sustainability practice were factors that motivated the undertaking of this study. The study adopted survey research designed on a sample of 205respondents selected from budgeting, finance, and treasury, administrative and environmental  department of the selected Local Governments in
Nigeria. The study utilized structured questionnaire administered to the 205 respondents for the purpose of the analysis. The findings from the multiple regression analysis suggested that transparent budgeting system and ac countability mechanisms improve environmental governance in addition to efficient utilization of public funds. Hence, the study recommended that there should be an increased environmental funding, couple with improved fiscal transparency, effective policy implementation, stronger accountability mechanisms, and adoption of digital budgeting system to ensure sustainable development in Nigeria Local Government.