Empirical Investigation of the Relationship Between Utility Service Quality and Organizational Performance of Small Business Enterprises in Niger State

Public utilities like electricity and water-supply services constitute the basic inputs of Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), and when provided in the required quantity and quality by the government could reduce the operating cost of business enterprises and also boost their overall performance. Based on this theoretical assumption, the study empirically examined the relationship between Utility Service Quality (USQ) and Organizational Performance of Small Business Enterprises in Niger State, Nigeria. Primary data was obtained from 501 SBE operators who were randomly sampled from a total population of 859 SBEs in Niger State. The research data was subsequently analyzed using Pearson's Correlation statistical tool. The study found that there is significant positive correlation between electricity service quality and organizational performance of SBEs. It was further established that water-supply service quality and organizational performance of SBEs are positively associated. The study, therefore, recommends that the Nigerian government and other stakeholders involved in the business of electricity and water-supply generation should put their hands on deck to improve the quality of these utilities in order to bring about the general performance of SBEs in the State, and in Nigeria at large