Challenges and Benefits of the Cash-less policy Implementation in the Nigerian Economy

Abstract

Recently in Nigeria, issues on the CBN cash-less policy have constituted the themes and subject matters of many workshops, conferences and symposia. They have also made headlines on pages of the national dailies and periodicals and have become subjects of discussions in learned circles. The considerations range from the constitutionality of the policy to its economic advantage/disadvantage and criticisms. The robust interest which the policy has generated is hardly surprising considering the enormous implications its applicability will have on the lives of ordinary Nigerians and the business environment. Against this background, this study examines the adoption of cash-less banking, with a view to x-raying the possible challenges and benefits it poses to the Nigerian economy whilst employing an integrated approach. Analytically, this study employed descriptive statistics with experimental research design where questionnaires were administered to a sample size of 120 randomly selected respondents. The data collected were tabulated, analyzed using simple percentages and tested using chi-square. From the findings it was revealed that there are significant benefits in the implementation of cash-less policy in Nigeria despite the plethora of challenges daunting its take-off in the Nigerian economy. From the findings it was recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the CBN should synchronize their efforts in ensuring cyber-safety which is a major threat of the e-payment system in order to fully harness the smiles of cash-less policy in the Nigerian nation.

Keywords: cash-less policy, cyber-safety, e-payment, POS Terminals.