CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Before the emergence of
modern banking system, banking operation was manually done which lead to a slow
down in settlement of transactions. This manual system involves posting
transactions from one ledger to another which human handles. Figures or
counting of money which should be done through computers or electronic machine
were computed and counted manually which were not 100% accurate thereby
resulting to human errors. Most bank then use only one computer in carrying out
transactions which ameliorate the sluggish nature of banking transaction.
Nigeria do not
embrace electronic banking early compared to developed countries. Nigeria
adopted electronic banking system in the early 2000s. During the introduction of electronic banking
system, the use of raw cash was said to have bred corruption through the “cash
and carry syndrome” usually linked with the swift movement of Ghana-must go”
bags by some politicians. Such bags as some analyst say, are a major source of
corrupt practices as dubious persons seeks to bribe their way to avoid been
checked in some sensitive areas or places in a corrupt society.
Since
electronic banking started in all Nigeria banks, it has been a woe for civil
servants; checks show that some staff in establishments such as the national
boundary commission for instance, are yet to receive their salaries for the
previous months as efforts to electrically transfer salaries into their account
have failed according to Ibrahim, D. (2009).
“One
bank will tell you it has transferred your salaries but the supposed recipient
bank will tell you it has not received anything leaving you even more
confused”, says John, I. (2009). Olekah, J.
(2009) while acknowledging the initial hiccups that dogged the system, advises
stakeholders against being discouraged as such “teething problems” are normal.
James,
A. (2009) a banker reported to vanguard annual report that “we should not
destroy electronic-banking by looking at the negative aspects, we must strive
towards perfecting it”. James, A. (2009) also says that the volume of data
generated by the Government ministry Agencies is much making it a bit difficult
for banks to cope, Mathew S. (2009) a worker says in his report to vanguard
annual report on banks and cards that government should have done its home work
“very well” before introducing the system, “they plugged us into a system they
were not prepared for and the result is untold hardship visited on innocent people”.
At this juncture, is good to know what e-banking is all
about.
According
to Anyawaokoro, M. (1999). Electronic banking is defined as the application of
computer technology to banking especially the payment (deposit transfer)
aspects of banking. He also defined electronic banking as a system of banking
with an electronic communication network which permits on-line processing of
the same day credit and debit transfers of funds between member institutions of
a clearing system.
According
to Clive, W. (2007) in his Academic dictionary of banking, electronic banking
is defined as a form of banking in which funds are transferred through an
exchange of electronic signals between financial institutions, rather than an
exchange of cash, cheques or other negotiable instruments.
According
to Omotayo, G. (2007) defines electronic banking as a system in which funds are
moved between different accounts using computerized on line/real time systems
without the use of written cheques.
According
to Edit, O. (2008) in international Journal of investment and finance,
electronic banking is defined as a system by which transactions are settled
electronically with the use of electronic gadgets such as ATMs, POS terminals,
GSM phones, and V-cards e.t.c. handled by e-holders, bank customers, and stake
holders.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
As earlier pointed out,
there is delay in payment of cheques which lead to the adoption of electronic
banking system. Adoption of electronic banking which suppose to ease banking transactions
rather resulted to woes to customer. Most people complain of time wasted in
banks. This occurs when there is power failure in banks resulting to slow down
in operation.
Another
problem that emerged was that banks do not have information backup to fall back
on should there be any computer break down.
In
investing in electronic banking, the country will need a large amount of
financial resources in computer technology, obviously, the resource is in short
supply in Nigeria, couple with high level of poverty. For an efficient
functioning of electronic payment system, there must be availability of
infrastructural facilities such as electricity and telecommunication network, however,
power supply fluctuates and there is still constant failure links in networks.
Since
early 2000s banks have been developing and introducing payment cards for their
customers as well as deploy ATM’s cards. Usage was however low due to lack of
interconnectivity i.e. switching platform to interconnect the ATM’s for card holders.
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