CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1          BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY.

It has been said that government is the largest single industry in every country. This is because, it covers a wide range of human activity. The main purpose of government everywhere in the world is to give some services to prepare who live and work in the state. How well a government serves its citizens determines the degree of the acceptability and continuity of it. This quest ion of being responsive to the needs and requirements of the governed can be assessed by the degree of honesty backed by a tested practice of public accountability and prudence in the management of public funds. In a nutshell, it is the government responsibility to see that the publics money is not wasted; that it is used with the greatest efficiency and is applied only to the purpose which are authorized by law; to achieve this is to b e cost conscious. Strict control over spending of public money should be emphasized if the need is achieved.

This situation in Nigeria has been reported non-handy as regards the management of public funds. Observation an d news of misdirected resources an d misplaced abounded uncompleted profects and the manageably surviving ones may be destined to some awful as a consequence of corruption and Inefficiency in the public sector.

Opere (1986:5) Explained that corruption in Nigeria is a way  to life with most  people pregnant with the spur to get rich quicker. This issue of corruption and inefficiency acceptable is complex.

When one has arisen to position of eminence, there is notably and usually a long line of people looking up to him for assistance. In large part however, the one’s high principle will be subject to radical should he turn his back.

Consequently, since Nigeria Independence in 1960, many government and their agencies have shaven and failed many because of outright squandermania in the systems. Unfortunately, however, financial regulations and economic policies do not only fail to meet the requirement of the modern economy, but also are poorly and Unfidiciously Implemented – resulting in hug e amount of financial loss in the system m. in fact it is apparent from the available data that Nigeria is not under developed but under managed.

From the above, numerous indicators point at  the need to secure the public funds and  judiciously administered to them for possible greatest benefit of the society at large.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

          The popularity of and ability to attract the allegiance of the governed in our in our modern society is a function of how much of the spirits of stewardship, accountability and prudence with which the authorities look after the resources of the nation.

          Achieving cost consciousness in the management of public funds is not only desirable and embraced, but also an area that deserves the best of possible available implemented technologies. This considering the above mentioned evaluation of the public sector performance, which indicates poor performance and wastefulness of the approaches by government or their agencies, this research work had its major problem as the acceptability of the concept of cost consciousness to ensuring account ability and prudence in the management of public funds. However, the minor problem wass an assessment of the degree of cost consciousness in government expenditure, but with particular reference to the Enugu State Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

1.3     RESEARCH QUESTION

          The researcher sought to provide answer to the following questions as to be able to form an opinion on the level of cost consciousness in the government and of course facilitates the making of recommendations for improvement or otherwise appreciate its state of performance.

(1)What are the implications of cost consciousness in the government establishments?

(2)What are the components of Institutional framework of government establishment vis-à-vis the management of public funds?

(3)What is the nature and adequate of this framework?

(4)What are the hindrances to achieving cost consciousness in government?

(5)What are the consequences of lack of cost consciousness in government establishment?

(6)Are the possible solution and strategies in the public sector?

1.4SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

          The increase in the challenges facing the governments of the nation is a function of the citizenry. In the exercise of this stewardship, certain sacrifices will go with it. The extent to sum total of these sacrifices brought down to an acceptable level, to at least the great and efficiency of the governing authority.

          Hence, this research work which was intended to address this all important concept of cost consciousness, to the research, will go a long way to benefit a lot of people especially the following groups:

(1)The Board and management of government parastatals, corporations and ministries.

(2)The average tax-payer who may need to understand the working of government spending.

(3)The lots of students and academics of business administration and social services especially in the field of Accountancy, Finance, Public administration etc.

(4)Businessmen involved in government profects, in forms of contractors etc.

(5)The legislature at all level of government on issue of spending the national resources in the public best interest of the cutive nation.

(6)Resources in this or related area(s).

1.5OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objective of this research work comprised

(1)To have an understanding of cost consciousness in the management of public fund.

(2)To ascertain the possible hindrance of achieving this virtue of public fund management in government quarters.

(3)To seek areas where improvement or amendment may be required in future.

(4)To provide a base future research into this or related areas of life endeavour.