Effect of Government Policies on the Growth of Micro-Enterprises in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effect of government policies on the Growth of Micro-Enterprises in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria. The study focused on owners of Micro-enterprises in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State. The study specifically examined the effect of government taxation, licensing, training, and capital financing policies on the growth of micro-enterprises in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State. The survey design was adopted for the study and questionnaire was used for data collection. The population consists of 117 selected owners of micro-enterprises in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria and a census sampling was adopted for the study. Simple percentages, mean ad standard deviation were used for data presentation and analysis while regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed that taxation, licensing, training and capital financing all have a positive significant effect on the growth of micro-enterprises in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State. The study concludes that government policies significantly affect the growth of micro-enterprises in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State of Nigeria. Recommendations were made among others that the Benue State government should develop a system for tax payment so as to enhance efficiency in tax collection and payment.

Keywords: Government, Growth, SMEs, Policies, Benue, Nigeria.