Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice- Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will deliver the keynote speech at the Business Journal 2nd Annual Lecture/Awards 2019 scheduled for Friday, September 20, 2019 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Lecture which has DIGITAL NIGERIA: The Path to Sustainable Economic Growth as theme.
will examine the impact (opportunities & challenges) of digital disruption on various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The event would be chaired by Mr. Tope Smart, Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) and also Group Managing Director/CEO, NEM Insurance Plc.
The panel includes Mrs. Kola Oladejo, former Head of Research & Development, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS); Aare Ganiyu Koledoye, immediate past President/Chairman of Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria; Mr. Chuddy Oduenyi, Managing Director/CEO, Compact Communications Limited; Ms. Tola Adegbayi, Executive Director, Leadway Assurance Company Limited and Mr. Jide Akintunde, Publisher, Financial Nigeria.
Commenting on the 2019 Annual Lecture, Prince Cookey, Publisher/CEO of Business Journal said:
“The Business Journal 2nd Annual Lecture/Award 2019 is indeed a rare opportunity for stakeholders and professionals to critically evaluate the opportunities and challenges of digital disruption on the various segments of the Nigerian economy ranging from banking, aviation, insurance and on such professions as marketing, PR and media. It would also offer a roadmap on how Nigeria could reap bountifully from the digital transformation era to achieve sustainable economic growth.”
Explaining the objective of the Business Journal Annual Lecture Series, Cookey added:
“The Business Journal Annual Lecture Series is a platform to examine emerging issues in the Nigerian and global economy and generate workable solutions going forward. It brings stakeholders across sectors together to review the state-of-affairs in the economy through robust conversation. This year, the focus is on digital disruption in terms of opportunities and challenges it presents to various sectors and professional groups. This is the second in the lecture series and we hope to continue to provide such platform for annual conversation on factors changing the business dynamics in our country.”
(L-R): Angela Omo - Dare, Head, Country Legal Services, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC; Hon. Alamu Airat Mojirade, Education Secretary, Alimosho LGEA; Mrs. Oluwabunmi Morenikeji Oteju, Director, State Universal Basic Education Board, Lagos State and Mrs. Elizabeth Adebola Ogunmola, Head Teacher, Abaranje Primary School, Abaranje, Lagos State; at the handover ceremony of built modern toilets, septic tank, borehole and water head tank, at Abaranje Primary School II, Abaranje, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State, on Monday, August 26, 2019.
(L-R): Angela Omo – Dare, Head, Country Legal Services, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC; Hon. Alamu Airat Mojirade, Education Secretary, Alimosho LGEA; Mrs. Oluwabunmi Morenikeji Oteju, Director, State Universal Basic Education Board, Lagos State and Mrs. Elizabeth Adebola Ogunmola, Head Teacher, Abaranje Primary School, Abaranje, Lagos State; at the handover ceremony of built modern toilets, septic tank, borehole and water head tank, at Abaranje Primary School II, Abaranje, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State, on Monday, August 26, 2019.
(L-R): Mrs. Oluwabunmi Morenikeji Oteju, Director, State Universal Basic Education Board, Lagos State; Mrs. Elizabeth Adebola Ogunmola, Head Teacher, Abaranje Primary School, Abaranje, Lagos State; Mrs. Angela Omo – Dare, Head, Country Legal Services, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC and Hon. Alamu Airat Mojirade, Education Secretary, Alimosho LGEA, Lagos State; at the handover ceremony of built modern toilets, septic tank, borehole and water head tank at Abaranje Primary School II, Abaranje, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State, on Monday, August 26, 2019.
Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a member of Standard Bank Group, has donated an ultra-modern lavatory to Abaranje Primary School, located in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The facility donated by Stanbic IBTC consists of a block of 12 modern toilets – 10 for the use of students and two for their teachers’ use. It also includes a septic tank, borehole and overhead water tank.
Speaking during the hand-over ceremony at the school premises, Angela Omo-Dare, Head, Legal Services of Stanbic IBTC, said that the donation was in line with the company’s Corporate Social Initiatives.
Giving a background to the project, Angela stated that the Legal Services Department of Stanbic IBTC decided to undertake a CSI initiative that would benefit a public primary school and also address a health challenge.
Angela said: “Some members of the team were charged with finding a suitable project. When they returned, they spoke of a school where 800 children were sharing two pit latrines. The team was unanimous in its belief that this project was the most deserving of all the interventionist measures we considered. The team was determined that the children of Abaranje Primary School II, should have access to modern toilets.”
She stated that the CSI project was funded by staff of the Legal Services Department of Stanbic IBTC, with contributions from their friends and family members. She added that Stanbic IBTC matched the funds raised by the Legal Services Department, which enabled the completion of the project.
Urging other corporate organisations to emulate Stanbic IBTC’s initiative, Angela stated: “We are grateful that we have been given the opportunity to contribute towards the comfort and health of young Nigerians. We received much joy from the evolution of this project and a sense of pride from its completion. It emphasizes Stanbic IBTC’s core value of Teamwork.”
In her welcome remarks, Mrs. Oluwabunmi Morenikeji Oteju, a Director in the State Universal Basic Education Board of Lagos State, thanked Stanbic IBTC for donating the toilet facilities and for initiating similar CSI initiatives across primary schools in Lagos State.
She said: “I want to say a very big thank you for building this befitting structure for the children because they are the future leaders. I am also aware that you have several projects relating to provision of benches and tables for children in our primary schools, building/ renovating of libraries and so much more. There are over 1,016 primary schools in Lagos and the government alone cannot cater to all their needs. A lot of stakeholders have to come in to support and Stanbic IBTC is part of the organisations offering support. Projects like these make the learning environment more conducive and the students can learn better under such conditions.”
She further pledged that the facilities provided by Stanbic IBTC would be put to effective use, assuring that the infrastructure would be properly maintained.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ogunmola Adebola, the Head Teacher,Abaranje Primary School II, expressed gratitude to the management of Stanbic IBTC. She disclosed that the school had been sharing a block of two toilets with another school when its pit toilet got destroyed three years ago.
She said: “We thank the Legal Department of Stanbic IBTC Holdings for bringing this project to this school. In fact, we were at a point where we didn’t know what to do any longer. When members of the Legal Services Department of Stanbic IBTC came, we were very happy when they said that they wanted to build a block of toilets for us. We are thankful for this beautiful toilet facility that has been provided for our pupils so that they can have a taste of good living.”
Stanbic IBTC is a Nigerian company which had its roots in Investment Banking & Trust Company PLC, formed on February 2, 1989 with Atedo Peterside as the first Chief Executive.
The company has since evolved into a full-service financial institution with 9 subsidiaries all headed by Nigerians.
Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC has estimated staff strength of approximately 5,000, 99.9% of whom are Nigerians. Additionally, eight of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC’s ten-member board are Nigerians.
Access Bank PLC recently released audited H1-19 numbers. The result was impressive as the bank recorded strong growth in both gross earnings and profitability.
The strong performance was underpinned by funded income growth, with non-funded income underperforming the prior year. Consequently, the bank recorded a strong PBT growth of 61.7% y/y. Finally, the bank proposed an interim dividend of NGN0.25/share, which translates to a yield of 3.9% based on the closing price on the 5th of September 2019 (NGN6.45).
According to Cordros Capital, the bank recorded interest income growth of 46.4% y/y to NGN226.1 billion in the period, which was underpinned by the strong growth recorded in gross loans and advances of 30.6% y/y to NGN2.72 trillion.
On the other hand, non-interest income declined by 28.7% y/y to NGN47.15 billion, as trading income on investment securities declined by 93.0% y/y to NGN4.15 billion.
Also, interest expense increased by 16.1% y/y to NGN117.75 billion, significantly below the growth rate in income, resulting in a significant growth in net interest income of 81.9% y/y. Consequently, the bank’s net interest margin expanded by 2.0ppts to 7.6% from the prior year, reflecting the benefits of the bank’s increased pool of low-cost liabilities.
Also, the bank’s operating expenses increased substantially during the period by 28.9% y/y to NGN123.30 billion. This was driven by a combination of increases in (1) AMCON levy (+29.4% y/y) given the expansion in the bank’s assets base (+31.0% y/y to NGN6.49 trillion), (2) Professional fees (+325.1% y/y to NGN4.84 billion) related to the business consolidation with Diamond, (3) Personnel expenses (+19.8% y/y to NGN31.5 billion) also related to the larger entity, as well as other ancillary costs. However, despite the expansion in operating expenses, the bank’s cost-to-income ratio (after accounting for LLEs) moderated to 62.5% from 68.2% in the corresponding period of the prior year.
Consequent on the growth in income relative to expenses, the bank recorded a profit before tax growth of 61.7% to NGN74.12 billion, while PAT settled 59.1% higher y/y at NGN63.02 billion. At the current run-rate the bank’s PAT for FY-19 will settle 56.1% higher, while annualized RoAE would settle at 23.5% relative to 19.0% in the prior year.
The macro-prudential ratios remained strong, save for the bank’s NPL of 6.4% which remains above the statutory level but has trended downward from the 10.0% recorded in Q1-19.
The bank’s capital adequacy ratio of 20.8% remains well above the statutory limit for D-SIBs (16.0%), while the bank’s liquidity level of 49.7% also remains well above the limit. While the bank has significant headroom to drive growth given the macro-prudential ratios, we expect more focus on the remediation to bring NPLs downwards.
Tanta Secure Limited, an indigenous device protection and information technology (IT) firm in Lagos recently unveiled their flagship products termed Corporate and Individual Plans known as the first extended device and smartphone protection solution in the country.
As Nigerians get busier by the day and also embracing sophisticated technology, the need to maintain these technologies and complicated devices becomes imperative and imminent. With the TantaSecure™ plan, the company bridges those needs. Offering convenience and confidence, the TantaSecure™ Corporate and Individual plans bring respite to Nigerians. Addressing the critical questions on who would fix these smartphones and devices when they get damaged? How to get reputable technicians and how fast can services be delivered?
Speaking to the media, the Chairman and Founder of TantaSecure, Abraham Tanta said “TantaSecure™ protects all devices, appliances, electronics and gadgets, makes and models no matter where or when they were purchased—as long as they are working, in good condition, and you have proof of purchase. If you currently have device insurance through other agencies, you can easily switch to TantaSecure™ (and save up to 50%) no matter what type of device you have.”
Africa’s pace of economic growth is set to pick up this year but the recovery remains patchy and debt levels are soaring, adding urgency to the continent’s drive to boost trade, experts told the World Economic Forum on Africa.
There are clear bright spots. Five of the world’s fastest-growing economies – Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda – are in sub-Saharan Africa, said Albert Zeufack, Chief Economist for Africa at the World Bank.
Still, the macroeconomic threats to the region are growing as escalating trade tensions between China and the United States threaten a global slowdown.
“The risks to the macro outlook are mostly on the downside,” Zeufack said. “The recovery on the continent will remain fragile.”
Rising debt levels are fuelling vulnerabilities, especially as external debt is shifting from the public to the private sector, making it imperative to keep Africa’s growth engine humming smoothly. “For as long as you have improving growth prospects and for as long as you are able to contain deficits, then the debt situation can be contained,” said Lesetja Kganyago, Governor of the South African Reserve Bank.
The African Development Bank forecasts the continent’s GDP will increase by 4.0% this year, up from 3.5% in 2018, putting its growth rate ahead of the global average. But the World Bank has a more cautious view for sub-Saharan Africa, where growth is expected to increase to 2.8% from 2.3% in 2018.
Worryingly, growth in Africa’s two largest economies and its biggest democracies, South Africa and Nigeria, is holding the continent back. Kganyago said stripping out these two from the calculation leaves the rest of Africa with a much more respectable growth rate above 5%.
Visa is launching She’s Next, Empowered by Visa, in Africa, to encourage female micro-and small-business owners as they fund, run and grow their businesses across the continent.
The global expansion of this program, announced today at the 28th World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, is part of Visa’s on-going commitment to support female entrepreneurs.
Visa and the International Trade Centre (ITC) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding launching a new partnership to increase the financial inclusion of small businesses and women-owned small businesses globally by helping empower them to participate in international digital trade economy.
The number of women entrepreneurs is growing around the world, with 163 million starting businesses since 2014 alone.Additionally, the highest percentage of these women are in Africa, where 26% of women start or manage a business.She’s Next in Africa will harness the power of Visa’s global brand and network to build awareness of these women entrepreneurs and invest in them to provide them with tools to build their businesses.
“Women entrepreneurs are the backbone of local economies, and the need for support is real. Closing the gender gap requires persistent hard work and support,” said Aida Diarra, senior vice president and group country manager, Visa Sub Saharan Africa. “That is why Visa is using its voice to shine a light on the contributions and economic potential of female-owned micro-and small-businesses around the world.”
Women typically reinvest up to 90% of their income in the education, health and nutrition of their families and communities – compared to up to 40% for men – which makes investing in women’s businesses one way that Visa can help transform societies.
As another school year beckons, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, has introduced a suite of educational payment products that will ease the burden of school fees which parents and guardians have to bear.
Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, being a Nigerian bank, specifically developed the educational products, taking cognisance of the country’s cultural nuances.
The first of the solutions is the EZ cash loan/advance. Parents and wards who are strapped for cash at the point when school fees payment are due, can take advantage of the EZ cash loan which gives access to loans, in less than a minute, to pre-approved customers.
Salaried employees can also take advantage of Salary Advance (SALAD), another of the bank’s short term loans that are quick and easy to get. Another of Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC’s educational products is an international money transfer solution for payment of school fees and allowances abroad.
Added to that are prepaid cards which can be preloaded with pocket money for children/wards, while the credit cards, which currently offer a 55-day interest moratorium, can be used to seamlessly pay school fees.
Dr. DemolaSogunle, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, said that the bank attaches a high premium to learning, hence the need to develop solutions which parents and guardians can take advantage of to ensure that their wards get the desired level of education.
He said: “We are a Nigerian bank and we realise that whilst parents and guardians may have desired levels of education for their children, funding may be a deterrent in the pursuit of these dreams. We have hence developed these products which will ease the burden of school fees payment while also providing satisfaction to the parents and guardians that their wards are getting good education.”
Dr. Sogunle identified a deep understanding of Nigeria and developing tailor-made solutions as factors that distinguishes Stanbic IBTC Bank as a leading Nigerian financial institution.
He added that the bank’s loan products offerfast, simple and convenient ways by which customers can meet their short term financial obligations to educate their wards, with very convenient repayment terms.
Other benefits of the school fees loans are: access to a revolving line of credit, flexible repayment terms, and the opportunity to access credit up to 100% of the customer’s income. With schools resuming for a new term, the school fees loans will help to alleviate the financial burden parents and guardians may face in paying school fees.
According to the Stanbic IBTC Bank Chief Executive, the conditions for accessing the loan products are having a salary account with the bank or having investments with any of the Stanbic IBTC group subsidiaries.
Loan applicants can walk into any branch of the bank and apply for any of the education loans in a few easy steps.
The application is then processed and the customer is contacted with feedback.
Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC is a Nigerian financial institution with eight subsidiaries and an estimated staff strength of 5,000 Nigerians. Furthermore, 80% of the Stanbic IBTC board members are Nigerian.
The Board of MTN Nigeria wishes to add its unequivocal condemnation of the xenophobia and violence against Nigerians and other nationalities in South Africa over the recent days, as well as the violent response to it in Nigeria. Violence cannot and must never be acceptable and we must reject it in the strongest terms possible.
We offer our profound sympathies to all those affected and urge all stakeholders and communities in Nigeria, South Africa and other countries, to act with restraint, and to work collaboratively to address these issues. Our future as a continent will be built on enhanced connections and greater integration economically, culturally and politically. It is in all of our interests to work together.
Ken Aghoghovbia, Deputy Managing Director/COO, African Reinsurance Corporation (centre) receiving award of the 2018 NAIPCO Insurance Development Promoter Award from Mohammad Ahmad, Chairman of the NAIPCO 2019 National Conference (left) while Mrs. Omobola Tolu-Kusimo, President of NAIPCO (right) looks on.
Ken Aghoghovbia, Deputy Managing Director/COO, African Reinsurance Corporation (centre) receiving award of the 2018 NAIPCO Insurance Development Promoter Award from Mohammad Ahmad, Chairman of the NAIPCO 2019 National Conference (left) while Mrs. Omobola Tolu-Kusimo, President of NAIPCO (right) looks on.
In order to respond to West African market requests, Cabo Verde Airlines has decided to include one piece of baggage into its Promo fares from flights originating in Dakar (Senegal), Lagos (Nigeria) and Luanda (Angola).
With the added baggage, Promo fares starting in Dakar, Lagos, and Luanda will now work with one piece of baggage allowed for outbound and inbound flights for all Cabo Verde Airlines’ destinations, except for flights between Dakar and Cabo Verde, and Luanda and Cabo Verde, which remain with a two piece policy for all fares.
The campaign is already active and it’s only valid for routes starting in these three cities.
The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Gill Atkinson says she is elated at the level of work done so far in the on-going clean of Ogoniland in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP Report on the Ogoni environment.
Gill stated this when she led some officials of the High Commission on a working visit to some sites in Ogoniland being remediated by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP.
“It is really good to see some strong progress happening here and genuine implementation of the project which has taken time to plan, but as we can see, there is a real productive work going on now. Congratulations to them for work well done”.
She gave assurance of Britain’s support politically and also offering long term expert support for the project through the Department for International Development (DFID).
The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Dr. Marvin Barinem Dekil while briefing the British Deputy High Commissioner on the progress of work, reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to implementing the recommendations in the United Nations Environment Project (UNEP) Report to the letter in the Ogoni clean-up project.
He said HYPREP has carried out several engagements with various stakeholders at the community level to get their buy-in to enable them take ownership of the project. He added that the sensitization provided a platform for HYPREP to harvest ideas and suggestions from the people which have yielded positive results.
“The project is enjoying full support from the traditional rulers, youth groups and women groups in all the communities that the clean-up is currently taking place.”
He explained that the bio-remediation option adopted by HYPREP for the clean-up is a slow process but the most effective. He informed the Deputy High Commissioner that a total of 21 contractors are currently at different levels of remediation works on 21 lots across the 4 Local Government Areas of Ogoni.
The HYPREP Coordinator also said that the Project has provided huge employment opportunities for youths of Ogoni while business opportunities have also sprung up as a result of the ripple effect of activities in the communities.
He disclosed that HYPREP had gone into partnerships with the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources to be able to provide water to more communities in Ogoniland; Rivers State Ministry of Health to carry out assessment of all medical facilities in Ogoniland; the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) to provide training to Ogoni youths under the Sustainable Livelihood Program.
The Deputy High Commissioner and her team were later led by Dr. Dekil to pay a courtesy visit to the King of Eleme Kingdom, Emere Philip Obele in his palace where she was decorated and conferred with the title of Egbere Owa Ekoo, Eko of Eleme (Big woman and friend of Eleme Kingdom).
“MTN Nigeria strongly condemns hate, prejudice and xenophobia and reiterates our unequivocal condemnation of all violence.
We seek to connect people, bring people together and provide a platform for everyone’s voice to be heard. We are against all forms of bigotry and discrimination; they should have no place in society.
Everyone has the right to a world where their rights and freedoms are respected — the right to live and earn a living, freely, safely and protected by the law.”
Nigeria might be facing another financial crisis as a result of government failing revenues, BudgIT has warned.
In an analysis of the federal government 2018 budget performance, released on September 2, 2019, the civic-tech organization points out that the government spent a sum of N7.51tn based on total revenue of N3.86tn, creating a deficit of N3.64tn. It also noted that while FG planned to earn N7.16tn in 2018, it was only able to reach N3.85tn, which represents 54% revenue performance.
According to BudgIT’s examination, the government is also spending more on debt servicing at the same time its debt profile is growing astronomically. Although it recorded a revenue of N3.86tn, FG spent N5.86tn on recurrent expenditure, meaning that N2tn was borrowed to fund recurrent expenses.
“In 2018, FG spent N2.09tn on servicing public debts, a figure that grew from N1.63tn in 2017. As it is, FG is spending so much on servicing debt while it plans to even borrow more. The government borrowed a total of N1.74tn in 2018, yet, the sources for additional deficit (borrowing) of N1.90tn was not stated in its report” says BudgIT analysis.
However, oil accounts for 51% of 2018 public revenues, while independent revenue from government agencies grew from N295bn to N395bn. CIT also had an impressive 21% growth, reaching N660bn.
We have seen the growth in oil revenue (due to higher prices and more stable production) that shot up from N1.12tn in 2017 to N1.96tn in 2018, FG’s revenue grew from N2.66tn in 2017 to N3.86tn in 2018. Worthy of note, however, is the fact that the federal government did not record any earned income from recovered assets or sales of oil and gas assets in this year.
According to the document released by the Federal Government, the revenue breakdown goes thusly: Oil Revenue: N1.96tn; Non-Oil Revenue: N1.12tn; FG Independent Revenues: N395bn; Other Financing Sources: N385bn; Special Accounts: N306bn; and Exchange Rate Differential: N79bn.
On further details, BudgIT analysis reads:
“The total recurrent expenditure shot up to N5.39tn in 2018, a N800bn growth in one year without new minimum wage implementation.
The government spent N5.86tn on recurrent expenditure and statutory transfers (78% of the total expenditure), while 22% of total expenditure was spent on capital expenditure.
A sum of N329bn was utilized for power, works and housing projects, N139bn for transport projects, N52bn for health projects, N47bn for education projects, N71bn for water resources and N135bn for agriculture projects respectively. Health and education are still poorly invested in.
FG personnel costs rose from N1.8tn in 2017 to N2.1tn in 2018, without the full implementation of the new minimum wage plan.”
The government claims that it spent N1.65tn on capital expenditure in 2018. In his reaction, Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT Principal Lead, said that BudgIT will ask for details of these expenditures for proper verification and public accountability.
“While we wonder why other financing sources are not explained by the government, it is clear that Nigeria has a huge revenue problem and the current pace of recurrent expenditure growth (mainly salaries and debt servicing) is not sustainable,” Okeowo submits.
Dr Pius Apere (PhD/FCII)
(Actuarial Scientist and Chartered Insurer)
Introduction
There is no universally accepted definition of financial inclusion (FI) and thus, each country has its unique way of interpreting financial inclusion depending upon the stage of its development. In Nigeria, CBN’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) launched in October 2012definedfinancial inclusion as being“ achieved when adult Nigerians have easy access to a broad range of formal financial services that meet their needs at affordable costs”. The overall target of NFIS is 80% financial inclusion (FI) for adult Nigerians by 2020.
For pension as a financial product, the NFIS targets 40% financial inclusion (FI) for adult Nigerians by 2020. However, the 2018 FI report by EFInA revealed that only 8% FI has been achieved inthe pension sector. Furthermore, the pension penetration rate (PPR), the ratio of pension assets to GDP, is 6.69% in 2018.
The micro-pension plan launched in March 2019 is expected to cater for the informal sector workers thereby achieving the pension industry’s strategic objective of covering 30% of the working population in Nigeria by 2024. Thus, this paper critically examines the opportunities and challenges in implementation of the regulatory Guidelines for Micro-pension Plan designed by PENCOM to achieve the industry’s objectives.
Micro-pension Plan (MPP) as Financial Inclusion (FI) Tool
Section 1.2 of micro-pension guidelines defines “micro-pension plan as an arrangement for the provision of pensions to the self-employed and persons operating in the informal sector”.
Opportunities in Micro-pension Plan (MPP)
Measures to encourage participation in MPP
Dr Pius Apere (PhD/FCII) (Actuarial Scientist and Chartered Insurer)
The following measures would encourage a high proportion of the population of informal sector to participate in MPP:
Flexibility of contributions encourages contribution of small but frequent amounts resulting in high transaction costs and low benefit payouts.“Micro-pension Contributors may make contributions daily, weekly, monthly or as may be convenient to them provided that contributions will be made in any given year”, Section 6.3 (a) of MP Guidelines.
Allowing for withdrawals before retirement creates incentives. The MP Contributor may withdraw the total balance of the contingent portion of his/her RSA including all accrued investment income thereto, making the first withdrawal 3 months after the initial contribution and subsequent withdrawals once in a week from the balance of the contingent portion of the RSA, section 6.5.2 (i) – (iii) of MP Guidelines.
Develop vesting policies suitable for retirees.“The Micro-pension (MP) Contributor shall be eligible to access pensions upon retirement and attaining the age of 50 years or on health grounds..”, section 6.5.3(i) of MP Guidelines.
The Government sponsored empowerment programmes should support and/or encourage participants to save for their old age through the Thus, PENCOM needs to liaise with Government Agencies with modalities to ensure that MPP would help maintain the long term sustainability of benefits of the programmes for the participants.
The MP contributor is eligible to convert from MPP to Mandatory Contribution if he secures employment in an organization with three (3) or more employees, section 6.6.1(a) of MP Guidelines. However, can all such eligible MP contributors and their employers afford the mandatory contribution rates?
Prevention of old age poverty
People living in the informal sector have an increased risk of old age poverty and they will need more self-support because the traditional family structures no longer prevail. MPP would therefore create the culture of long term savings to secure financial future towards the prevention of old age poverty.
Impact on nation’s economy
There is no doubt that significant participation in MPP would make the long term investment funds in the private sector available to the government for critical infrastructure development(e.g. infrastructure bonds), diversification of the economy and contributing to the country’s GDP, thereby increasing the pension penetration ratio.
Unique selling proposition (USP)
The entitlement to guaranteed minimum pension (GMP)for Micro-pension (MP) Contributors, see Section 6.5.3 (ix) of MP Guidelines, will create a unique selling proposition (i.e. marketing message) for the PFAs which is likely to increase the number of MP contributors significantly, as they would like to benefit from GMP(a social safety net to enhance decent standard of living in retirement).
On the other hand, the criteria for disqualification from GMP, see section 6.5.3 (x) of MP Guidelines, may not necessarily deter the uptake of the MPP provided the USP is marketed effectively by the PFAs. However, the non-implementation of GMP by PENCOM since the inception of CPS is a major concern likely to affect sales.
Possible Challenges of Micro-pension Plan (MPP)
Alternative ways of meetings retirement needs
One of the major challenges to MPP is that potential MP contributors may already have other ways of meeting their retirement needs:
Self-employed (e.g. women) accumulate small amounts until they buy gold, land and property that they use as collateral for loans or resell them when the need for cash arises.
The culture of reliance on children for old age support is rampant in developing country. However, this has gradually broken down because of economic hardships.
Employees in the informal sector may have other investments generating income over the long term (e.g. dividends).
Consumer education and awareness
There is possible low uptake of MPP because of its voluntary nature, current low public awareness and negative perceptions (lack of confidence) about pension products and fund management resulting in low pension benefits payable(e.g. reasons for payment of enhanced pensions).
There is an urgent need for public enlightenment and sensitization on the immense benefits of MPP by both the PFAs and PENCOM. The impact of the above on micro-pension contributors’ appetite for savings will be adversely affected by the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country.
Thus, the marketing should focus on financial education of old age risks and the distribution model should be very efficient and trustworthy, different from the approach adopted for the mandatory CPS. There is no doubt that the 40% contingent withdrawal option is a good incentive to attract and retain MPP contributors.
Administration
The implementation of MPP requires a high capital investment in IT infrastructure that is supportive of mass registration, contribution collection and database/fund management. In fact, the time limit for IT deployment by PFAs to meet the expected increase in MP contributors in the short term may be a concern.
There isa high tendency for MP contributors to operate RSA as bank savings account due to over flexibility of the contingent withdrawal option, leading to administrative hassle (i.e. high processing time and administrative costs) for the PFAs.To avoid or reduce the administrative hassle, MP contributors should complete a monthly income and expenditure plannerat registration as a guide to how much they can conveniently safe in a month.
Reputational risks
The entitlement to guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) is likely to create a high expectation for all potential MP contributors, as they hope to benefit from GMP at retirement even if their RSA balances will be too low to qualify for GMP, as in section 6.5.3 (x) of MP Guidelines. The above will lead to a reputational risk for the entire pension industry as MP retirees will be aggrieved when their expectations are not met due to frequent use of contingent withdrawal option prior to retirement age.
Strain on pension protection fund (PPF)
There is a possibility of strain on PPF being established to fund the GMP, required by section 82 of PRA 2014, because of the significant number of retirees likely to qualify for GMP than expected due to conversion from MPP to mandatory contribution option available. This may result in additional levy being imposed on both PFAs and the regulator.
Regulation
The regulation for MPP needs to be simple with less documentation. Adequate periodic reviews and monitoring the effective implementation of the MPP will be required. The implementation of GMP will also help to bring confidence in the CPS.
Conclusion
Without MP savings for old age within the informal sector (low-income socio-economic groups)may be quickly lost due to the impact of risk of old age poverty facing them.
Prof. Umar Danbatta
Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will deliver the keynote speech at the Business Journal 2nd Annual Lecture/Awards 2019 scheduled for Friday, September 20, 2019 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Lecture which has DIGITAL NIGERIA: The Path to Sustainable Economic Growth as theme.
will examine the impact (opportunities & challenges) of digital disruption on various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The event would be chaired by Mr. Tope Smart, Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) and also Group Managing Director/CEO, NEM Insurance Plc.
Prof. Umar Danbatta Executive Vice-Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission
The panel includes Mrs. Aituaz Kola-Oladejo, former Head of Research & Development, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS); Aare Ganiyu Koledoye, immediate past President/Chairman of Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria; Mr. Chuddy Oduenyi, Managing Director/CEO, Compact Communications Limited; Ms. Tola Adegbayi, Executive Director, Leadway Assurance Company Limited and Mr. Jide Akintunde, Publisher, Financial Nigeria.
Commenting on the 2019 Annual Lecture, Prince Cookey, Publisher/CEO of Business Journal said:
“The Business Journal 2nd Annual Lecture/Award 2019 is indeed a rare opportunity for stakeholders and professionals to critically evaluate the opportunities and challenges of digital disruption on the various segments of the Nigerian economy ranging from banking, aviation, insurance and on such professions as marketing, PR and media. It would also offer a roadmap on how Nigeria could reap bountifully from the digital transformation era to achieve sustainable economic growth.”
Explaining the objective of the Business Journal Annual Lecture Series, Cookey added:
“The Business Journal Annual Lecture Series is a platform to examine emerging issues in the Nigerian and global economy and generate workable solutions going forward. It brings stakeholders across sectors together to review the state-of-affairs in the economy through robust conversation. This year, the focus is on digital disruption in terms of opportunities and challenges it presents to various sectors and professional groups. This is the second in the lecture series and we hope to continue to provide such platform for annual conversation on factors changing the business dynamics in our country.”
