EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ON THE EASE OF RUNNING SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA (2010-2020)

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of government regulations on the ease of running small and medium scale enterprises in North Central Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; examine the relationship between paying of income tax and quality of service; evaluate the relationship between workplace safety and employee retention. The population of the study was one thousand six hundred and seven (1607) which consists of management and senior staff of small and medium scale enterprises understudy. The study used the survey approach and stratified random sampling. The primary source was the administration of questionnaire.  The adequate sample size of three hundred and ten(310) was determined using Freund and William's statistic formula. Two hundred and eighty nine (289) staff returned the questionnaire and accurately filled. Data was presented and analyzed by mean score (3.0 and above agreed while below 3.0 disagreed) and standard deviation using Sprint Likert Scale. The hypotheses were analyzed using F- statistics tool. The findings indicated that Paying of income tax had significant relationship with quality of service of small and medium scale enterprises in North Central Nigeria, F (95, n = 289) = 2433. 553, p < 0.05. Workplace safety had significant relationship with employee retention of small and medium scale enterprises in North Central Nigeria, F (95, n = 289) = 1581. 594, p < 0.05. The study concluded that Payments of income tax and workplace safety regulations had significant relationship with quality of service and employee retention in small and medium scale enterprises in North Central Nigeria. The study recommended that Government should help the SMEs to grow through allowing them paying taxes that will not affect their businesses and for them to comply with regulations that are effective and necessary.