CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

              The concept of business social responsibility has continued to evolve and expand today. Traditionally, business has been viewed as an economic institution and profit-maximization as its sole objectives. This represents the classical view advocated by economist and Noble Laureate, Milton Friedman. Today, business manager are expected to serve as trustees of various stakeholders groups such as inventor, customers, employees, government and it community. This represents the socio-economic views which say that management’s social responsibility goes well beyond the making of profit to include protecting and improving society welfare (Njoku and Nwosu, 2010).

The idea of corporate social responsibility began in the earlier part of the twentieth century, interesting enough, corporate social responsibility comes from business executive who believed that corporation has an obligation to use its sources in ways that could benefit the entire society Sama(1994). Although, the role of business firms is that of producing goods and services as profit, social expectations of business have increase dramatically since 1960. So, there is a need for social response, in other to bridge the gap between expectations and response, and keep business in tune with society, while an organization is busy establishing its goal and objectives, developing and executing strategies for achieving its stated purpose. Epstein (2006) succinctly points out, business enterprises gives adequate attention to the issue of social responsibility because they want to achieved social harmony between themselves and their environment and companies see it expenses associated with social responsibility as tax or license fee they paid to society so that the latter can allow them to carry out their every day economic functions. Seittim in Abubakar (2002), says business social responsibility implies bringing about corporate behaviour to a level congruent with the prevailing social norms, values and expectation of performance. Corporate Social Responsibility is the transparent business practices that are based on ethical values, compliance with legal requirements and respect for people – communities and the environment.