Business
Banks Reap N16.5bn From COT
Stark realities have indicated that Nigerian banks reap an average of N16.5 billion from Commission on Turnover (COT) annually through hidden charges which most of their customers are unaware of, The Tide source disclosed.
Further findings indicate that there is hardly any transaction that customers undertake without the banks making some profit, a situation which is heightened by the fact that over 60 per cent of the banking public do not request for a statement of their account.
For instance, one of the old generation banks which scaled the CBN audit exercise disclosed in its annual report for 2009 that income from commission and charges amounted to N28.13 billion, while gross earnings stood at nearly N190 billion. This means that income from commissions and charges accounted for over 15 per cent of its income for that year.
Similarly, another new generation bank which also passed the apex bank’s audit raked in a total of N4.81 billion as income from commission and charges, while a total of N104.5 billion was gross revenue in the 2009 financial year. The average earnings from COT for banks in Nigeria, based on the income from small banks and big banks is thus in the neighbourhood of N16.5 billion.
But what is even more alarming about the COT issue is that most banks hardly bother to include that part in their annual report, but simply refer to such incomes as ‘other incomes’.
Meanwhile, The Tide investigations also revealed that the situation is steadily getting worse this year, as more and more banks are beginning to add further charges to their transactions with customers. The trend, however, is not tied to those banks under the CBN-appointed management alone, but also includes almost every other bank looking for extra means of raising income.
A particular bank, rated among the top five in the country, in the midst of all this, has come up with charges which were not demanded last year. Okoli Dan, a customer, for instance, withdrew N20,000 from his account, but was surprised to receive an e-mail alert indicating he had been charged N147 as withholding tax.
It was a similar experience for Umukoro Blessing, another customer, who was equally dismayed after withdrawing same amount from the bank, and received two text messages from the bank’s alert services instead of one. According to him, the first one read: “Transaction notification: N20,000 debit, cash on self withdrawal,” while the second stated thus: “Transaction withdrawal notification: N100 debit as cash withdrawal commission.”
Their complaint was that the banks should have had the courtesy of apprising them of any impending charges, instead of simply going ahead to impose these charges arbitrarily.
In the estimation of Sonnie Okoro, yet another customer, the banks, particularly those that scaled the CBN audit exercise, may have become arrogant, feeling that there are little or no options for customers with eight of the hammered.
MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.
Corlins Walter
In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.
In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.
Corlins Walter
