Graba, Daniel Vinking2023-12-142023-12-142019-06-19BEING A M.SC DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.SC) DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGYhttps://keffi.nsuk.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14448/7305ThesisThe high rate of unemployment has continued to rise and this has been heightened by the failure of the formal sector to provide jobs for our teaming youthful population and also exacerbated by increasing job losses across the country. This ugly scenario had given prominence to the activities of the informal sector especially commercial motorcyclists in providing succor to the youth. This study focuses on commercial motorcycle transportation and income generation in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The study determines the reasons why people engage in commercial motorcycle transportation, find out how much commercial motorcyclists earn monthly, and the amount paid as tax monthly, ascertain if commercial motorcyclists income meet their basic needs as well ascertain the challenges / hindrances being faced by commercial motorcyclists in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The study adopts Dual Economy Model which explain economic activity in developing nations by looking at two operating economic systems in any economy; formal and informal sector. The study employs survey research design, Watson statistical formula and scale, and accidental sampling technique. 286 respondents were selected from a total population of 1,508 registered commercial motorcyclists in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The instrument of data collection was questionnaire. The data collected were analysed using frequencies and percentages, and Chi square was used to test the hypothesis. The study found out that there is significant relationship between commercial motorcycle transportation income and meeting basic needs. The study concludes that commercial motorcycle transportation has reduced poverty by securing a minimum level of income to commercial motorcyclists to meet basic needs of shelter, feeding, clothing and payment of school fee, thus moving away from absolute poverty. Commercial motorcyclists pay tax and are able to realise their dream of owning a house, buying land, owning a car and motorcycles, and also have a saving culture. The study recommends that since commercial motorcycle transportation is a source of livelihood to the poor, unskilled and socially marginalized in the society, government should create a data base for commercial motorcyclists and appoint a supervisory ministry to work with the union to oversee the affairs of commercial motorcyclists in order to ensure that programmed and policies targeted at the commercial motorcyclists are not hijack and diverted by the “big and mighty” in the society..enThesis