Abstract
The paper examined the effect of CBN’S cashless policy on the growth and development of Nigeria economy. Given the policy’s objectives, the paper x-rayed the associated benefits of the policy; discussed the various aspects of cashless banking channels; and dissected the attendant challenges that may encumber its successful implementation. We adopted a descriptive research design; and the collected data were analyzed using content analysis. Four hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study discovered that when fully implemented; the policy will help in reduction of money laundering; act as a check on terrorist financing; ensure effectiveness of monetary policy; create more employment opportunities in the financial sector; provide evidence against bribe givers and takers especially among the civil servants and politicians; lead to growth in the real sector of the economy and impact positively on Nigeria economy. The paper made some suggestions that will make the policy to succeed. They include periodic review of the policy by the CBN to iron out grey areas; embarking on intensive awareness campaign and sensitization of the citizenry by the CBN; putting adequate security mechanisms in place to forestall Fraudulent practices; making power supply work efficiently and exempting cash lodgements on public holidays from cash management charges.
Keywords: Cashless policy; CBN, Effects, Nigerian economy, POS, Prerequisite.
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
A cashless economy is an environment in which money is spent without being physically carried from one place to another. Electronic devices as means of information that reveal how much a person has deposited and has spent are needed. Information technology plays an important role in bringing about sustainable development in every nation. Without an optimal use of information technology, no country can attain a speedy social- economic growth and development. The future of all business particularly those in the services industry lies in information technology, in fact, information technology has been changing the ways companies and banks compete. Information technology is more than computers, it encompasses the data a business creates and uses as well as a wide spectrum of increasing convergent and linked technologies that process such data. Information technology thus relates to the application of technical processes in the communication of data. It is no doubt that information technology can help to reduce transaction costs for banks, which will translate to lower prices for services to customers. Information technology for banks takes different forms which include: computerization of customers’ accounts and information storage and retrieval, deposit and withdrawal through Automated Teller Machine and networking to facilitate access to accounts from any branch of the bank. Other forms include bio-metrics used in finger- printing and identification which should dispense the use of passwords or personal identification by customers. The use of internet and websites to bundle a host of services that go beyond transactional financial services which is increasing among banks.
- Background to the study
One of the prerequisite for the development of national economy according to Ajayi and Ojo (2006) is to encourage a payment system that is secure, convenient, and affordable. In this regard, developed countries of the world, to a large extent, are moving away from paper payment instruments toward electronic ones, especially payment cards (Humphrey, 2004). In these countries, for instance, it is possible to pay for a vending machine snack by simply dialling a number on one‘s phone bill. In recent times, the mobile phone is increasingly used to purchase digital contents (e.g. ringtones, music or games, tickets, parking fees and transport fees) just by flashing the mobile phone in front of the scanner at either manned‘ or unmanned point of sales (POS). In Nigeria, as it is in many developing countries, cash is the main mode of payment and a large percentage of the populations are unbanked (Ajayi and Ojo (2006). This makes the country to be heavily cash-based economy.
Against these backdrops, the CBN introduced the cashless policy in April 2011 with the objective of promoting the use of electronic payment channels instead of cash. The introduction of electronic banking, online transactions and mobile banking in Nigeria has paved way for a new era of development where the use and demand for physical cash is gradually declining. These recent evolution of technology in the Nigerian financial institutions possess interesting questions for economist, financial institutions, business analyst and the government regarding the current economic status, logistics, and availability of instruments to guarantee economic growth and stability, efficiency and effectiveness of the cashless policy. Since the inception of humanity, various payment methods have been used to purchase goods and services starting with the trade by barter. The trade by barter method of transaction has been the foundation for the introduction of money and coins to solve the problem of double coincidence of wants and divisibility faced by trade by barter. The use of money/coins was introduced after the use of trade by barter method, and it has solved various challenges associated with trade by barter, but the use of money as an exchange medium has its own challenges and dis-advantages and can still be replaced with a better payment system-the cashless policy. Various advantages enjoyed by more developed nations such as the US has prompted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to adopt the cashless policy. At the end of the 1980s the use of cash for purchasing consumption goods in the US has constantly dropped with inflation (Humphrey, 2004). Nigerian’s aim to be among the biggest economy by 2020 has driven her to gradually move from a pure cash economy to a cashless policy. Since Nigeria gained her independence in1960, there have been different constitutional reforms, change in economic and banking policies mainly aimed at stabilizing the economy, enhancing social welfare and enhancing economic growth and development. In view of being one of the best and biggest economies in 2020, the CBN started implementing the cashless policy/banking in some major states/cities in Nigeria such as Lagos, Kano, Port-Harcourt and Onitsha early in 2011. The CBN and Pro cashless policy activists have asserted reduction in crime rates, minimized risk associated with carrying huge sums of money, reduction in political corruption, reduction in banking cost, improvement on monetary policy in management of inflation and the overall growth and development of the economy of Nigeria as advantages associated with the financial system of any economy is responsible for mobilizing savings for productiveinvestments and ensuring efficient resource allocation. Banks have traditionally played an activerole in this regard. A large volume of literatures such as those of Ajayi (2006), Adegbaju andOlokoyo (2008), and Babalola (2008) have documented the contribution of banks to socioeconomicdevelopment of nations. In recognition of this, various financial policy reformstargeting the banking sector have been pursued in Nigeria. The recent of such policies within thelast decade are: the recapitalization of banks initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) inJuly, 2004 and concluded in December 31, 2005, formalisation of adoption of electronicbanking, and transition from cash based to cash-less financial arrangement in Implementation of the cashless policy. A cash based economy is a setting where retail and commercial payments are primarily madein cash. The statistical evidence provided by Central Bank of Nigeria (2012) revealed that, cashrelated transactions accounted for 99% of customers’ activities in Nigeria banks as at December,2011. It estimated the total cash transaction volume through the conventional five paymentchannels to be 215,015,005 (two hundred and fifteen million, and fifteen thousand and five). Ofthis figure, ATM withdrawal accounted for 50.9%, over-the-counter (OTC) withdrawal, 33.72%
and cheques 13.56%. Point of sales (POS) and web channels accounted respectively for 0.49%and 1.26%. Obviously, the combination of ATM and OTC withdrawals amounting to 84.96%justifies the claim of the CBN that the Nigerian economy is heavily cash-based and theimperative for cash-less economy.
Furthermore, a cash based economy also imposes some costs on the banking system,individuals, and the government. The higher the velocity of cash usage, the higher the processingcost borne by those in the value chain. There is, for instance, the cost of printing new notes toreplace the ones that are torn or worn out due to frequent handling. Central Bank of Nigeria(2011) states that this cost is high and also on the increase hence the attempted redenominationof the currency. It puts the direct cost of cash to the Nigerian financial system as at 2009 at acolossal amount of N114.5 billion. The figure is based on actual data from the CBN and 17banks in the FSI. It excludes bank cash infrastructure cost and employee costs attributable tocash logistics. This amount is broken down into: cash in transit cost N27.3 billion (24%), cashprocessing cost N89.1billion (67%), and vault management cost N18.1 billion (9%). Theestimated cost of cash by the end of 2012 was put at N192billion. Clearly, this evidence providesa platform for migration to cash-less economy.
Cash-less banking is that banking system which aims at reducing, but not eliminating, thevolume of physical cash circulating in the economy whilst encouraging more electronic basedtransactions. In other words, it is a combination of e-banking and cash-based system. It is essentially a mobile payment system which allows users to make payment through GSM phones with or without internet facilities (Odior and Banuso, 2012; Akhalumeh and Ohiokha, 2012). In2011, it was estimated that 99% of over 215 million customer transactions in Nigeria banks werethrough ATM and over-the-counter, and this was valued at about N2.1 trillion. It is estimatedthat an average Nigerian transacts about N65 in cash out of N100 income earned (Princewell andAnuforo, 2013)
The operation of the cash based system has been at a significant cost to the Nigerianeconomy. The estimate shows that cash distribution cost accounts for 60% overheads in thebanking industry while cash management operations require up to 80% of the industry’sinfrastructure base and staff strength (CBN, 2012). Furthermore, the direct cost of transporting,processing and storing (vault) huge volume of cash borne by the financial system was valued atN114.5 billion in 2009 and it was estimated to rise to N192 billion by the end of 2012. Again,heavy cash users (i.e. those with transaction value above N150, 000) account for only 10% oftransaction volume but 71% of the transaction value. It appears therefore, that implicit cashholding costs for the minority class of cash users are being subsidized by the majority (Nweke,2012).
In response to this trend, the Central Bank of Nigeria by its legal mandate initiated thepolicy shift from cash-based system to cash-less one. In 2005, the CBN initiated the NationalPayment Systems (NPS) specifically to achieve the objectives of promoting efficiency andeffectiveness of payment system, promoting safe and sound banking practices and protectionagainst systemic risks. It also set the objective of migrating to cash-less mode of payment, suchas electronic debit/credit instruments, credit/debit cards, ATM – sharing Electronic FundTransfer at Point of Sales and Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS). Other objectives ofNPS include; to ensure payment system audit transparency and full transaction reporting and toachieve acceptance and confidence through information dissemination, customer convenienceand total quality delivery (Princewell and Anuforo, 2013). Eventually, the NPS initiativemetamorphosed into the cash-less policy in April 20, 2011.
According to CBN, the cash-less policy aims at reducing the amount of physical cash incirculation and to encourage more electronic based transactions. The policy came into effect inJanuary 1, 2012 with partial implementation in Lagos State and later moved into full execution inthat State in April 1, 2012. Thereafter, the policy was extended to five states (Kano, Ogun,Rivers, Anambra, and Abia) and Abuja on October 1, 2013 and to the entire country in July 1,2014. The cardinal objectives of the policy are: (i) to drive development and modernization ofNigeria payment system in line with vision 2020 goal of Nigeria becoming one of the top twentyeconomies of the world by year 2020, (ii) to reduce the cost of banking services (including thecost of credit) and drive financial inclusion by providing more efficient transaction options andgreater reach, (iii) to limit high cash usage outside the formal sector and thereby improve theeffectiveness of monetary policy in managing inflation and encouraging economic growth, and(iv) to curb some of the negative consequences associated with high physical cash usage,
including high cost of cash: robberies, corruption and leakages through money laundering, fraudand cash-related crimes (Central Bank of Nigeria, 2011; Odior and Banuso, 2012; Shonubi,2012).
However, the following are vital issues of the cash-less policy. First, there is a thresholdof daily cumulative cash of N500, 000 and N3 million on cash withdrawals and lodgements byindividual and corporate bodies respectively free of processing fees. At the conception of thepolicy in 2011, these were pegged at N150, 000 and N1 million but were later reviewed. Thislimit applies to all account so far as it involves cash, irrespective of the channel used. Secondthere are processing fees for withdrawals above the limit, and it is 3% for individual and 5% for corporate bodies. Lodgement above the limit attracts 2% and 3% processing fee for individual andcorporate bodies respectively. These processing fees are subject to review every six months.
Thirdly, these fees do not apply to accounts operated by Ministries, Departments and Agenciesof the Federal and State Governments, solely meant for the purpose of revenue collections.Exemptions are also extended to Embassies, Diplomatic Missions and Multi-lateral and AiddonorAgencies, as well as Micro Finance Banks and Primary Mortgage Institutions (CBN,2012)
Reducing the huge population of Nigerians who do not have access to financial services isone of the major targets of the CBN. A survey on enhancing financial innovation and access in2010, revealed a marginal increase of those served by formal financial market from 35% in 2005to 36.3% in 2010; five years after the launch of Micro finance policy which was thought couldmassively mobilize rural Nigerians into formal financial services (Onyinye, 2012). The surveyattributed the reasons why most Nigerians do not have or maintain a bank account to unsteadyincome, unemployment and distance to bank branches. Accordingly, the CBN targeted toincrease the number of Nigerians in the formal sector from its figure of 36.3% in 2010 to above70% by 2020 (The Nigerian Voice, 2013; The Nation, 2013).
In pursuant of the foregoing, the CBN has undertaken a number of strategic initiatives,including a commitment at the 2011 Alliance for Financial Inclusion Global Forum held inMexico to reduce Nigeria’s financial exclusion from 46.3% to 20% by 2020. One of the ways ofrealizing this is to facilitate access to the otherwise disadvantaged groups like the farmers, agedcitizens, self-employed, jobless school leavers and SMEs considered by banks a costly, riskyand unviable bankable population (Onyinye, 2012). Also, the introduction of mobile moneyservices by the CBN is seen as a veritable tool to create payment access to those unbankedNigerians in the rural areas, and also help drive financial inclusion in the country. Financialanalysts are of the view that the high level of mobile telecommunications usage in the country isexpected to translate into increase in bankable Nigerians if perfectly harnessed (Amaka, 2012). It on this that this study investigates the impact CBN cashless policy on the development of financial sector of Nigeria
1.2 SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY
The study will be of benefit to financial institutions, the government, Nigerian citizens and to fellow researchers. For financial institutions like bank, the study will enable them see the value of cashless policy and the easy to practice the policy. For the government, the study will enable see where to adjust the policy in order enable efficient growth in the financial institutions like banks.The study will enable Nigerian citizens see the benefit of cashless policy in ensuringsafety transaction and less arm robbery attack. It will also help Nigerian to welcome this new development as it creates adequate convenience for the citizens. For fellow researchers, the findings of the study will serve as a source of information and reference for more study.
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Monetary policy as a technique of economic management to bring about sustainable economic growth and development through cashless policy and banking introduced by the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) is not fully operational due to high rate of illiteracy, in-adequate sensitization/education of the benefits of the cashless policy, and in-adequate logistics (such as the provision of internet connections in commercial areas, computers and Point on Sale (POS) machines at all point of business transaction.Apart from the physical challenges, economic data and indicators are not fully available and reliable. There is a great challenge in attempting to analyse the true impact of the cashless policy on the economy of Nigeria as only few monetary and macroeconomic indicators can be traced with relation to the subject matter. Several scholars have attempted to analyse the cashless system or e-banking. However, it becomes clear that few studies present a comprehensive evaluation of cash-less banking implications in developing countries economy. Most ignore its economic benefits of the equation while some do incomplete examination of its negative implications. This is often due to unreliable panel data for monetary and macroeconomic indicators. Although, this study focuses on Nigeria, it is difficult to translate cashless studies from one country to another. Even payments instruments that look similar across countries on the surface may be different due to historical and legal variations (Daniel et al, 2004). Due to this observations in the study tries to examine the impact CBN cashless policy on the development of financial sector of Nigeria.
- RESEARCH QUESTION
The following research questions were posed to guide the study.
- To what extent has the CBN cashless policy impacted on the growth and development of Nigerianeconomy?
- To what extent has cashless policy of the CBN contributes to the efficiency in financial system in Nigeria?
- What are the various challenges associated with the implementation of the cashless policy?
- How can cashless policy and other monetary policies be managed for better contribution to the economic growth and development of Nigeria.
- OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to examine the impact of the cashless policy on the economy of Nigeria and how it affects economic growth. Specific objectives of the study include:
- To examine the impact of the cashless policy on the growth and development of Nigerian economy.
- To what extent has cashless policy of the CBN contributes to the efficiency in financial system in Nigeria?
- What are the various challenges associated with the implementation of the cashless policy?
- To proffer suggestions on how cashless policy and other monetary policies can be managed for better contribution to the economic growth and development of Nigeria.
- RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following hypotheses will be used to test the questions posed.
H01: There is no significant impact of cashless policy on economic growth of Nigeria.
H02: There is no significant contribution of cashless policy of the in financial system in Nigeria.
H03: There is no significant challenge associated with the implementation of the cashless policy.
H04:There is nosignificant proffered suggestions on how cashless policy and other monetary policies can be managed for better contribution to the economic growth and development of Nigeria.
1.7 scope of the study
The scope of the study covers the impact of CBN cashless policy on the growth and Development ofNigerian economy.
1.8 Limitation of the study
The study will be limited to only Awka South and North local government area of Anambra state and will only be limited to cashless policy in Nigeria.
1.9 Definition of Terms
For the purpose of clarity in terms used, the following terms are defined in the contest in which there are used in the study.
Cashless policy: it a monitory regulationwhich enable individual to transect without having to carry cash on hand.
POS:This simple means point of sale (it is an electronic machine used for cash transfer from one account to other account)
Prerequisite:Requirement
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