Abstract:
This study entitled "A Critical Evaluation of Business Social Responsibilities by manufacturers in Enugu state: A survey of selected Manufacturing Enterprises in Enugu Metropolis" x-rayed the extent of awareness and responsiveness of manufacturers in Enugu State to their social obligations. Ten (10) manufacturing enterprises were selected and used for this study. In order to accomplish the objective of this research, five (5) research questions and three (3) hypotheses were postulated and attempts were made to ascertain their reliability. Questionnaires complemented with oral interviews were used to obtain the necessary primary data which were analyzed using tabular and textual techniques. The chi-square test statistic (X2) was used to test the hypothesis. The research revealed that although these manufacturers are aware of their social obligations as one of their fundamental duties, they are yet to tackle them. They however recognized that carying out social responsibility will improve their business performance in the long-run. It also found out that many variables including our low levels of economic development and standard of living made Enugu less aware of what they should demand from business organizations as social responsibilities. Other factors include our low UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA ethical standard, low profits made by these organizations and inability of the government to enforce legislations on social responsibilities. Based on the above, it was founded that the low level of attention given to business social responsibility by these manufacturers was partly because of our low ethical standard. Recommendation was made that there be a public campaign to re-orientate the ethical beliefs of our managers in respect of this concept. This can be achieved through organization of seminars, symposia etc, by groups like the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Universities, other institutions of higher learning and the various levels of government. The government should set up a social welfare agency to co-ordinate social responsibilities of manufacturers and also commence without further delay a strict enforcement of the legislations of business social responsibilities.
