IMPACT OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETY IN REDUCING POVERTY IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF NUBA TCCS ZARIA

ABSTRACT The study focused on the Role of Cooperative Society on Poverty Reduction The study was limited to NUBA TCCS Zaria. Using descriptive survey research design, the study stated four research objectives with four correspondent research questions and one null hypothesis A sample of 45 was selected using simple sampling technique. The instrument used for collecting data for the study was fourteen (14) items questionnaire. Data collected were statistically analyzed using percentages frequency and tables, while Chi Square was used to test the mill hypothesis at 0.10 level of significance The findings revealed that, civil society organizations, (CSOs), no doubt, have been critical agents of change and participants in the liberalization and democratization process, in all of their main areas of work such as humanitarian relief, long- term development, policy formation and political advocacy as well as organizing human empowerment programmes at the local level. However, despite the strategies and activities by civil societies in Zaria, no impact has been made as residence still wallow in poverty, unemployment, and hunger. It can be concluded that, the activities of Civil Societies in the study area is still a deficient, fragile and fledging with enormous gaps and loopholes because of factors which include inadequate funding, lack of cooperation of community members, staff management problem, Government patronage, lack of internal democracy, lack of skills for CSOs, corruption, personal enrichment, lack of partnership and the way politics and governance is being done. The study recommends that, there should be an increase and focus networking among civil society groups to aid grassroots mobilization and advocacy. Keywords: Civil Society, Poverty, Local Government, Development.