ENHANCING THE PERFORMANCE OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF CO-OPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to enhance the performance of co-operative society through the application of co-operative principles.  In pursuance of this, investigation, research objectives were formulated.  Both primary and secondary data were collected and the data were then presented, analyzed interpreted using textual, tables etc.  Base on the above, it was found out that no genuine co-operative would do without the co-operative principles.  The negligence over the principles of co-operative had made the co-operative principles societies no to function the way it ought to in carrying out the performance of co-operative societies. Through the application of the principle, interpretation of the principles should be well known to members.  It should not be ignored.  Members of the co-operative should show concern to the principles of co-operatives. A copy of the co-operatives law should be made open and well understand by the members. Constant supervision is important in order to keep the society going.  There is every tendency to teach and education the members an co-operatives education. With reference to the finding, the researcher recommends the above solution to the applying in co-operative organization and with that there should be increase in quantity in those societies.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER   ONE
1.0    INTRODUCTION                                          
1.1    Background of the Study                                      
1.2    Statement of the Problem                             
1.3    Objective of the Study                                 
1.4    Research Questions                                             
1.5    Significant of the Study                                        
1.6    Delimitation of Study                                    
1.7    Definition of the Terms                                 
CHAPTER   TWO
2.0    Literature Review                                                
2.1    Nature of co-operative Societies                    
2.2    Evolution of Co-operative Principle                 
2.3    Voluntary and Open membership and Democratic     Member Control                                          
2.4    Member Economic Participation                     
2.5    Autonomy and Independence                                
2.6    Education, Training and Information               
2.7    Co-operation among Co-operative                  
2.8    Concern for Community                                        
2.9    Important of Principle                                  
2.10  Problem of Co-operative Principle                  
CHAPTER THREE
3.0    Research Design and Methodology                         
3.1    Research Design                                          
3.2    Area of Study                                                     
3.3    Population of the Study                                        
3.4    Sample Size                                                       
3.5    Sources of Data                                          
3.6    Method of Data Collection                             
3.7    Administration of Instrument                         
3.8    Method of Data Analysis                                       
3.9    Test of Hypothesis                                               
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0    Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data
4.1    Presentation of Data                                    
4.2    Analysis of Data                                          
4.3    Interpretation of Data                                  
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0    Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1    Summary of Findings                                           
5.2    Conclusion                                                          
5.3    Recommendation                                                
Reference
Appendix
CHAPTER   ONE
1.0    INTRODUCTION
1.1    BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
 Co-operative refers to as the autonomous association of persons united voluntary to meet their common economic social and cultural needs and aspiration through jointly owned and democratically. Controlled enterprise is traced cooperative include non-profit community organization and businesses that are owned and managed by the people who use its services such as consumer cooperative by the people who work there (workers cooperative) or by the people who live there that is a housing cooperative.   The various government and cooperative superior have made some series of an attempt to encourage the revisions of co-operative laws and regulations, encouraging the public to form and join co-operative.
A co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operative put their values into values. It is as well referred to the basic truth and general law determining the existence and regulating the conduct of an organization and distinguishing it from other system.  The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) described them as norms that should prevail in the co-operative regardless of what they do and where they exist.
        Meanwhile these are the principles guiding the co-operatives otherwise known as the co-operative principles.
Rochdale Principle In 1944
The organized a successful consumer co-operative society though it was accepted before that of 1966, which was as a result of amendment.
International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)
This is a non-governmental association – whose function is to unite represents and serves co-operatives worldwide.  The ICA purposes were to promote co-operatives and the  Organisation was founded in London in 1885 for twelve countries – Argentina, India, USA and nine European countries.  The headquarters was transferred from London to Geneva, Suitzerland in 1982 to give co-operation a more international partisan image.
The ICA produces a new constitution Tokyo in 1992.  According to article 2 of the constitution (RIC Vol. 852 and 3, 127), the ICA pursue its objective by serving as a forum for exchange of experience and a source of information on co-operatives.
Mr. Owen, the Philanthropist, from 1771-1859 treated  his workers with respect and humility.  He paid their wages, reduces their hours of work, kept his factory clean, put a stop to child’s labour, and started school for workers children.  He opened the first Nursery school in Europe.  He allowed his workers leisure hour for games and recreation.  He used part of his welfare for his workers.  In believing that people work best if they are healthy and happy, he was based on capitalist
Willian King (1786 – 1965), he was a medical practitioner in Brighton, an Urdent co-operator and a follower of Robert Owen.  William King made some corrections from Robert Owen’s system.  
Willams advised workers against Owens utopian home colonization schemes, which he considered too big, too capital, intensive, too unmanageable.  People accepted William’s corrections and organized in Britain co-operative shops from William’s idea.  They tried very well before the Rochdale pioneers which came up in 1844, a group of 28 workers.  They opened up a retail co-operative shop based on sound idea and correct business practice.  They adopted the correct principle and omitted the wrong one.  They started with pre-member education based on weekly discussion meetings lasting several months.  Members made some contributions.  The pioneers were men of practical common sense, not idle dreamers.  They had their dreams to become their masters.  They kept strict account of every transaction and declared their balance sheet quarterly.  This method led them to success and they became a model for co-operatives all over the world.  After this, came the ICA principle, which is the latest up to date.  There are some amendments done from Rochdale principle, which was used for the ICA 1995 latest principle, which took place in Vienna Austria.
1.2    THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The major point of this study is to examine the performance of co-operative societies through the application of co-operative principles with the purpose of the following:
-       TO ascertain the co-operative societies that apply the co-operative principles
-       To examine the extent of enhancement the cooperative principles has undergone in different cooperative societies.
Moreover to raise the cooperative awareness on the importance and necessary of the application of cooperative principles.
1.3    OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The researcher intends to find out how the co-operative principles are being applied in co-operative societies and the factors that are militating against the principle.
Specific Objective Include
-   To find out the outcome of the application of the co-operative principles in co-operative societies.
-   To examine the extent of the application of the co-operative principles by sampled societies.
-       Where principles are not applied to find out the reasons.
-   To find out various problems encountered by co-operative societies, which hinders them from applying the co-operative principles.
-   Moreover, to make recommendation on how to enhance the performance of co-operative principle in co-operative societies.
1.4    RESEARCH QUESTIONS
For the purpose of the research, the following questions were used:
i.             Has the co-operative principles have important role to play in co-operative society?
ii.            Has the principles contributed to the growth and development of your co-operative society?
iii.          Does the members of your society practice the principle the way it should?
iv.          As a member of co-operative, does your leaders educate the members on principle of co-operative?
v.           Is there any problem generated in application of the principles?
1.5    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is importance that this study will help in enhancing members and board of Directors of Cooperative societies on cooperative principles.
It is important to institution, researcher scholars and the general public.  Thus, it will be a resource material for further research.
        It will be significant to policy makers who may be interested in formulating policies on co-operative.
        The study will help in development of cooperative societies in local state and federal levels.
        In essence, it is important to the researcher as it is the partial requirement for the award of National Diploma (OND) in cooperative Economics and Management, IMT, Enugu.
The study will help in development of Co-operative Societies in Local, State and International levels
In essence, it is also important to the researcher, as it is partial requirement for the award of (OND) in Co-operative Economics and Management of IMT, Enugu.
1.7    DEFINITION OF THE TERMS
In order to clarify some terms and give understanding concerning this study, the following definition of terms is necessary.
Principle: A principle is a basic truth or general law determining the existence and regulation the conduct of an organisation and distinguishing it from other system.
Co-Operative: It is an autonomous association of persons limited voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspiration through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
Application: It is the use, observation of rules and regulations norms given for guidance in a thing or organization.