THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EXPENDITURES AND INCOME OF NIGERIANS IN RELATION TO POVERTY. (A CASE STUDY OF NSIT-IBOM LGA AKWA-IBOM STATE)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Income and expenditures are the foundation of any viable business or economy, as the economy of the nation is a direct replica of the economies of its citizens. The concept of expenditure and income in Nigeria has to be clearly understood. We all know that in a developing country like ours, there is need for a concrete study of how Nigerians expend vis a vis their level of income in relation to their poverty level seeing that a vast majority of Nigerians live below the poverty line of less than one dollar per day (Okonkwo 2007). Aside knowing this, there is also need to understand the pattern of spending of the general Nigeria populace especially as regards their saving habit. The definition of income and expenditures encompasses different areas and types of transactions,
as different professional disciplines see them in ways relevant to their specific situations. Understanding the different types, especially expenditures, enables companies, economies or families to record financial data more accurately with a view to reducing the poverty level in Nigeria.
Income has different definitions depending upon the specified area of business. General income is cash or an equivalent that results from wages or salaries, rent from land or a building or interest, dividends or profit from an investment (Mohammed 2005). Economists and statisticians view revenue as the maximum amount of money a person spends during any given period without becoming worse o. In economic terms, income is the real driver of the economy, whether at the family or national level, since buyers’ demand for goods and services can only exist if buyers have income to spend. Expenditure is cash or a cash equivalent paid in exchange for goods and services. An expense may also be a charge against available revenue, as in the case of an invoice awaiting payment. Revenue expenditure pays for goods and services that the family uses within a short time frame, such as one year or less. If a family or nation makes expenditure for fixed assets like machinery or large equipment that lasts for longer than one year, this qualifies as a capital expenditure. Businesses, families, nations etc attempt to keep costs as low as possible without sacrificing revenue. This comes with accurate recording and controlling of income and expenditures.
1.1 STATEMENT OF GENERAL PROBLEM
Generally in Nigeria, expending without recourse to income has been a major problem. This problem has done more harm than good to our economy at large seeing that when expenditures are made without consideration to the income or amount earned it helps to increase the poverty level in Nigeria.
Nigeria, being a developing country has had its fair share of criticism of being a country with a very high level of poverty with almost half of its citizens living on less than a US dollar per day. It is being said that Nigerians spend extravagantly, if this claim is anything to go by then the reason of our dwindling economy isn’t far fetched.
