ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONALITY OF SELECTED PUBLIC UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE LIVELIHOODS OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper assessed the functionality of public utility infrastructure and its effect on the livelihoods of rural households in southeast, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 324 respondents from three states (Abia, Enugu, and Ebonyi) for the study. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The functionality of public utility gave a grand mean of ­= 1.9 indicating relatively poor functional conditions of the infrastructure. The result on the perceived effect of public utility on the livelihood of the rural households showed a grand mean of 3.3 implying a positive effect of public utilities on the livelihood of rural households in the study area.  Age, level of education, and household size were significant at a 1% level and were positively related to the level of utilization of public utility, while access to credit was significant at a 5% level and was directly related to the level of utilization of public utility infrastructure. The regression result on the functionality of public utility infrastructure showed that the coefficient of access to the market was significant at a 5% level and was directly related to the functionality of public utilities. The functionality of public utility has a positive effect on livelihoods of the rural households in the Southeast. Therefore, government, private sectors, and NGOs should assist the rural communities by building new and functional public utilities and/or revitalizing the existing ones.