BUSINESS OPERATION AND WORK FORCE IN NIGERIA DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: DOES GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 BUSINESS STIMULUS MEASURE IN NIGERIA MATTER FOR BUSINESS?

Abstract

Purpose: Does COVID-19 pandemic affect business operation in Nigeria? What is the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic and workforce in Nigeria? What is the impact of government COVID-19 business stimulus on businesses in Nigeria? Through these questions, the objective of this research was to identify how COVID-19 pandemic affected business operation and workforce, as well as identifying how business collapse caused by the pandemic can be reduced via stimulus measure and putting good policies in place to actualise it.
 Methodology: For the research design, this study adopted quantitative method with large sample size and utilized regression analysis. The study has a sample size of 150 businesses using a structured questionnaire with random sampling technique to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on business operation and workforce, as well as the effect of government COVID-19 business stimulus on businesses in Nigeria. This study used logistic regression analysis as the method of data analysis. 
 Findings: The logistic regression result computed from the survey data from the respondent businesses revealed that COVID-19 exerted negative impact on both the business operation and workforce in Nigeria. Furthermore, result indicated that government COVID-19 business stimulus exerted positive impact on businesses, thereby reduced business collapse.
 Unique contribution to practice and policy: Its unique contribution to practice and policy is that policy makers will shift in line with the findings. Policy makers should ensure that policies that mitigate business collapse in the advent of a pandemic are put in place and adhered to help check business failure associated with the pandemic.