Assessment of the Impact of Cooperative Federation Services on Primary Society Performance in Benue State

Cooperative federations provide secondary-level support services to primary cooperative societies and are expected to strengthen their affiliated members' capacity and performance. This study assessed the impact of cooperative federation services on the performance of primary cooperative societies in Benue State, North Central Nigeria. A professional assessment design was adopted, involving structured questionnaires administered to 220 primary cooperative leaders and a review of federation service delivery records for the period 2020 to 2023. Performance was measured across financial health, governance quality, and member service delivery dimensions using a composite scorecard. Services delivered by the Benue State Cooperative Federation were assessed for reach, frequency, and relevance. Multiple regression was used to assess the contribution of federation services to primary society performance. Results showed that primary societies receiving federation services at least twice annually had composite performance scores 28.6 points higher (out of 100) than those receiving no federation services. Training support was the most impactful service (beta = 0.43; p < 0.001), followed by dispute resolution assistance (beta = 0.31; p < 0.01). Audit and financial review services were provided to only 22.7 percent of primary societies in the three-year period, well below the annual target. The study concludes that federation services significantly improve primary society performance in Benue State but are under-delivered. Recommendations include service delivery targets embedded in the federation's annual operational plan and performance-based funding from the state government. Keywords: cooperative federation, primary cooperatives, performance impact, Benue State, North Central Nigeria