Abstract
Housing problems in Nigeria are multi-dimensional. They occur both in the
urban and rural areas. They are qualitative, quantitative, psychological and
socio-cultural in nature. These problems are consequences of the inability and
ineffectiveness of both the public and private sectors to meet the housing
needs of the populace. As a result of this, any lasting solution to the
Nigerian housing problem requires a multi- faceted approach.
Various policies aimed at alleviating these housing problems have been
formulated and implemented. They have met with varying degrees of success.
After identifying the main causes of housing problems in Nigeria, this
research examines the Cooperative housing Societies concept and its impact to
the growth of the economy. The essential features of the concept are discussed
and an evaluation is made of its impact on the housing sector in selected area
of study based on various criteria. Some of these are: aims and objectives,
modalities for funding, peculiarities of implementation, planning imperatives
and levels of success. The research concludes by relating the experiences of
these countries to the contemporary Nigerian housing situation and determining
the applicability of the cooperative housing concept given the nation’s
socio-economic environment.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study
Kinnis (2002) defined, co-operative housing as a society that co-operatively
owns a group of houses or flats in. which each member participates actively in
all matters concerning the estate. Sazama (2000) observes that, cooperative
housing is a society where members/residents jointly own their buildings,
democratically control them and receive social and economic benefits accruable
from living in and owing them co-operatively. Housing co-operative is a
pragmatic and cost effective means of home ownership. Victor and Bilyaminu (2002)
said that, co-operative housing has been tested in many nations where it has
been used, to varying degrees of success and to address housing problems,
therefore modifying this concept to suit Nigerians socio-cultural and socio-
economic peculiarities will result in renewed hope for the average Nigerian in
his quest to attain home ownership as well as reliving him from his poverty
trap.
A housing cooperative, is a legal entity, usually a corporation, which owns
real estate, consisting of one or more residential buildings; it is one type of
housing tenure. Housing cooperatives are a distinctive form of home ownership
that have many characteristics that differ from other residential arrangements
such as single family home ownership, condominiums and renting.[ Retrieved 2
May 2015]
The corporation is membership-based, with membership granted by way of a share
purchase in the cooperative. Each shareholder in the legal entity is granted
the right to occupy one housing unit. A primary advantage of the housing
cooperative is the pooling of the members’ resources so that their buying power
is leveraged, thus lowering the cost per member in all the services and
products associated with home ownership.
Another key element is that the members, through their elected representatives,
screen and select who may live in the cooperative, unlike any other form of
home ownership. Housing cooperatives fall into two general tenure categories:
non-ownership (referred to as non-equity or continuing) and ownership (referred
to as equity or strata). In non-equity cooperatives, occupancy rights are
sometimes granted subject to an occupancy agreement, which is similar to a
lease. In equity cooperatives, occupancy rights are sometimes granted by way of
the purchase agreements and legal instruments registered on the title. The
corporation's articles of incorporation and bylaws as well as occupancy
agreement specifies the cooperative's rules.
The word cooperative is also used to describe a non-share capital co-op model
in which fee-paying members obtain the right to occupy a bedroom and share the
communal resources of a house that is owned by a cooperative organization.
1.2 Statement
of Problem
Due to the significance of cooperative society, the international labour
organization has to show the fact that; "in current National Development
Plan, various measures are adopted to broaden the productive base of the
economy as a strategy to achieving a strong and virile economy, enhance
availability of improved technology and extensive services through cooperative
society activities.
The above policy statement clearly shows that the status and prominence given
currently achieve and enjoyed by this relatively organization in our society is
agent of change in the nation economy.
This understanding is therefore, aimed at obtaining and observing the
activities of cooperative society in Jeromi Ifelodun Local Government Lagos
State through federal agencies to alleviate poverty, create wealth and ensure
food security through cooperative society's scheme, the problem of ignorance,
the formation of cooperative societies in Jeromi Ifelodun Local Government
Lagos prevails hence, the need to research on".
In the light of these problems, the researcher is therefore boarded and wants
to probe into the activities of housing co-operative societies to know whether
they are contributing towards the economic development and growth of the
country.
The researcher also intends to investigate the impact of housing co-operative
societies on economic growth by identifying the above mentioned phenomenon and
to know the prospect and problems encounted by housing co-operative so cities
in their attempt to develop an improve the economy.
1.3
Objectives of Study
This research
work has the following objectives which will be achieved by the research in
accomplishing the study;
1. To evaluate the impact of cooperative housing and
assess its significance to the economic growth of the nation.
2. Make possible suggestion to the policy of the
housing cooperative societies.
3. To highlight the importance and the role cooperate
housing has brought to the people and to the economy.
1.4 Research
Questions
The following
research questions shall guide the study;
1. What is the cost of accumulating a residential
building here in this estate in Lagos?
2. Comparing this residential structure and the cost
with other one non-cooperative, which is preferable in cost and avoidable?
3. What are the privileges given to you as a member and
owner of a residents within the cooperative housing?
4. What is your view to the program and the policy of
the housing cooperative society of Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Lagos?
1.5 Research
hypotheses
The following
hypotheses will be tested in the study;
Ho: There
is no relationship between housing cooperative societies to the economic growth
off the nation.
Hi: There
is a relationship between housing cooperative societies to the economic growth
off the nation
Ho: Housing
cooperative societies has made the standard of living high for the poor masse
in Lagos
Hi; Housing
cooperative societies have reduce the standard of living high for the poor
masse in Lagos
1.6
Significance of the Study
Robust
economic growth cannot be achieved without putting in place well focused
programmes to reduce poverty through empowering the people by increasing their
access to factors such as housing. The latent capacity of the poor
entrepreneurs would be significantly enhanced through the provision of housing
cooperative societies to enable them own a place of there’s.
However, the
lack of required benefits from the housing cooperative societies in Lagos state
has become a major concern in Nigeria. Hence, this study shall be relevant to
policy makers in the areas of housing cooperative societies in Lagos. Also,
this study shall enhance further research in the subject area.
1.7 Scope and
Limitations of the Study
The scope of
the study shall cover Lagos state housing cooperative societies using Ajeromi
Ifelodun Local Government Lagos. However, this research will be carried out
using five cooperative housing in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Lagos which
had a total number of 234 respondents.
1.8 Research
Methodology
The study relied on secondary data relating to the concept and implementation
of Cooperative Housing in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Lagos. Data was
from both published and unpublished sources. Considerable materials were gotten
from Internet sources. Non-statistical methods were employed in analyzing the
systems. A comparative analysis was done based on some parameters including
modalities for funding, peculiarities of Implementation, planning Imperatives
and levels of success
Population of
Study
The
population of study shall comprise all the house owners in the five selected
estate in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Lagos. The population size is at
about 234 owners.
Sample
Size
A sample size
of 200 respondents was drawn from the study population. The constitution of the
sample was as follows;
Sampling
Technique
The study
shall adopt the stratified random sampling technique. The method entails
grouping respondents into strata on the bases of common characteristics which
in this case is the house owners. After the grouping, the simple random
sampling technique is then applied to select the required sample size of 40
from each estate.
Data
Collection Instrument
Data
collection will be done through the questionnaire method. The questionnaire was
structured into section A and B with close ended questions. Section A shall
generate information on respondents’ bio-data while, section B, will elicits
information on respondents perception of the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government
Lagos.
The
questionnaire is in a close ended format which allowed the respondents to offer
their views according to the Lickert scale of responses as follows;
SA – Strongly
Agreed
A - Agreed
U - Undecided
D -disagreed
SD – Strongly
Disagreed
Administration
of the Instrument
To foster
quick response to the questionnaire, the researcher will personally
administered the questionnaires to the respondents. The effort enable the
researcher to clear some of the items contain in the instrument with the
respondents while, at the same time, respondent attention were drawn to some
items yet to be filled.
Method of
Data Analysis
All data
collected shall be analysed using statistical tools such as frequency
distribution table, percentages, and chi-square analysis for testing the
formulated hypotheses.
Chi-square
formula;
Chi-square
formula;
X2
= ∑(O-E)2
E
df (degree of
freedom)= N-1
Where;
X2 =
Chi-square calculated value.
O = Observed
frequency
E = Expected
frequency which is derived by
While,
df
= Degree of freedom
N
= Number of Observation
∞
= level of significant (5%)
1.9
Definition of Key Terms
Economic
growth: this is an increase in the welfare of the citizens and a general growth
to the development and ownership of house among the people.
Cooperative
housing: is a legal entity, like a corporation, which owns real estate,
consisting of one or more residential buildings; it is one type
of housing tenure..
Co-operatives:
As association of persons usually of limited means who have come together to
achieve a common economic goal through equitable contribution.