Impacts of Cooperative Thrift and Credit Facilities on Members’ Business Output in Ogun State, Nigeria

Cooperatives play an important role in facilitating access to credit, procurement and storage distribution of input and marketing of products. They create employment opportunities particularly in the rural areas and allow disadvantaged groups to be organized for social and economic benefit. This study was conducted in Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria. Both primary data and secondary data were used for the study. Multi–stage random sample was used to sample 108 cooperative members. Data collected were analysed using descriptive tools, budgetary analysis, logit and multiple regression model. The findings shows that majority (50.9 percent) of the cooperators are male, 77.8 percent were married, 59.3 percent were Christians while 98.1 percent were educated. Majority (87.9 percent) had experience ranging from 1 – 10 which is good in business. The total variables cost from business was estimated at N70,983.47, total fixed cost was N276,271 and this accounted for only 79.56 percent of the total cost. Returns on Investment (RRI), Profitability Index (PI), Return on Variable Cost (RRVC) and Operation Ratio (OR) were 181.62%, 0.63, 173.42% and 0.21 respectively. Also some (48.1 percent) of the respondents enjoyed loan benefit, while 40.7 percent enjoyed business improvement benefit. The results showed that start up capital, labour and credit obtained were significant to cooperative members’access to credit. The result revealed that majority (72.2 percent) of the respondents suffered from non-remittance of deduction by the government as their own challenges. The study concluded that cooperative credit societies is very productive and effective in helping members achieving their goals and also improve their standard of living. Cooperatives societies should encourage members in quick accessibility to loan.