The Economy of Financial Inclusion in Nigeria: Theory, Practice and Policy

Abstract

A large number of adults in developing countries lack access to formal financial services but there are many things that are required to reduce the number across nations. This study investigates through the use of questionnaire, the extent to which adults in Nigeria participate in financial inclusion measures as access to and use of bank accounts, mobile money and insurance services. The benefits and barriers to the use of these services were also identified. We found that though access to bank accounts is high, a majority of the respondents operate savings accounts. However, bank account ownership penetration ratio of 1.4 accounts to an adult including inactive accounts is very low. The use of bank accounts in receiving money from, and sending money to family members living far away helps to service and maintain good family bond typical of Africans where family ties are held in high esteem. Most adults use their accounts between one and five times in a month but 24.01% of the accounts are inactive in receiving deposits while 6.91% are inactive for withdrawal in a month. The most popular non-cash payment methods are ATM/Debit card and wire transfer/on-line payment. 59.58% of those who save used a bank account, 32.5% save with cooperative societies while 26.25% used daily contributors and rotational savings scheme. The use of mobile money and insurance services is very small among account holders. The highest self reported barrier to the use of bank account is lack of necessary documents. Account opening conditions and documentations need to be reduced while the KYC requirements should be tailored to take care of the realities in some areas. Increase in public enlightenment campaigns is required to low income earners, emphasising the benefits of financial inclusion to everybody using different languages, rather than just the middle class and the elite as it is currently done. There is need for stable electricity supply to drive the infrastructural facilities provided by banks, telecommunication companies and other related service providers such that fluctuation in internet and other network communication is reduced to the barest minimum if not fully eliminated, this also include ATMs and point of sales terminals. This will ensure stability and wider network coverage of these services as more ATM, POS, mobile money etc are deployed to areas not yet covered.