The Role of Co-operative Societies in the Purchase and Distribution of Consumer Goods
(A Case Study of Senstaf Co-operative Society Ltd., Bida)
1BABALOLA,
A.O., 2ODEBIYI, I.I. AND 3ABDULLAHI, F.H.
1&3Department of Business Administration and Management
2Department of Marketing
The Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
E-mail: ahabibatfunmi@yahoo.com, itunuiyabo@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
A cooperative society is an enterprise in which individuals voluntarily organize to provide themselves with goods and services via democratic control and for mutually shared benefits. This research is designed to unveil the role played by cooperative society in the purchase and distribution of consumer goods. The total population of Senstaf Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited as at the time of conducting this research was five hundred and fifty two (552) while 40% of the population constitutes the sample size i.e.220 members. A total of 220 questionnaires were administered to the respondents but 148 copies were retrieved. Responses of respondents were analyzed and interpreted using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to reflect the views of respondents and Chi-Square used to test the hypotheses. The researcher discovered that the cooperative society has improved economic well being of members by providing goods and services at cheaper rates to improve standard of living of the members and the general public. It is a major vehicle for a nation’s industrial development. However, inadequate financing by members due to management interference and delay in remittance of cooperative deductions by the management of the institution hinder smooth running of the cooperative. It is recommended that sound finance is necessary for the cooperative success, so efforts should be intensified to obtain all remittances due to the union. The paper concludes that necessary measures have to be taken to make the cooperative society function more effectively in all ramifications to improve productivity and the economic well being of the cooperators.