Advancing The Cashless Policy: Adoption Of The eNaira As A Mode Of Payment By Government.

In recent times, the Nigerian government has made significant strides towards a cashless society, with the introduction of the eNaira being one of the first developments. The eNaira is a digital currency introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in October 2021. It is a form of electronic payment that allows Nigerians to carry out transactions digitally without the need for physical cash. The eNaira is designed to complement the existing cash-based payment system and facilitate financial inclusion, making it easier for individuals and businesses to transact in a secure and convenient manner. The eNaira can be accessed through a mobile app which allows users to make payments, transfer money, and perform other financial transactions using their smartphones. The eNaira is backed by the Nigerian government and has the same value as the traditional Naira currency. The eNaira is a step towards a more cashless society and it will boost economic growth, reduce the cost of financial transactions and enhance financial inclusion in Nigeria.

The Advantages Of eNaira Include:

1. Convenience: The eNaira provides a more convenient way of making transactions, as it eliminates the need for physical cash, allowing users to make payments and transfer funds easily and quickly.
2. Security: Transactions made with eNaira are more secure than traditional cash-based transactions because the digital platform provides a secure and encrypted channel for transactions.
3. Financial Inclusion: The eNaira has the potential to improve financial inclusion by enabling access to financial services for more people, including those who do not have access to traditional banking services.
4. Reduced Transaction Costs: The eNaira is expected to reduce the cost of financial transactions by eliminating the need for physical cash and reducing the risk of fraud.

In this article, I propose the Federal, State and Local Governments adopt the eNaira as the mode of payment for salaries and allowances from One Million Naira (N1,000,000) and below for civil servants, elected officials, government appointees, local contractors, beneficiaries of all government social intervention schemes and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to further improve payment systems and advance the cashless policy.

One primary benefit of using the eNaira as the mode of payment for civil servants and public office holders is the convenience it provides. With the eNaira, civil servants and public office holders can receive their salaries and other payments directly into their digital wallets without having to visit a bank or use cash. This saves them time and effort, making it easier for them to focus on their jobs. Another is the security that the eNaira offers. Traditional cash-based transactions are prone to theft, loss or fraud, but with the eNaira, payments can be made securely and conveniently without the need for physical cash. This reduces the risk of fraud and ensures that payments are made in a secure and transparent manner. The eNaira also provides a way for civil servants and public office holders to track their payments and financial transactions, allowing them to monitor their spending and budget effectively. This can help to improve financial management and reduce the risk of corruption.

The eNaira can also be a beneficial payment system for beneficiaries of government social intervention schemes, such as the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), Agricultural Credit Guarantee Fund (ACGSF) and others. These programs aim to alleviate poverty, provide assistance to vulnerable groups and boost production in several sectors in the country. The eNaira can help to make payments to beneficiaries more efficient, transparent, and secure. With the eNaira, beneficiaries can receive their payments directly into their digital wallets, eliminating the need for intermediaries or middlemen, who may charge extra fees or embezzle funds. Using the eNaira for payments to beneficiaries of government social intervention schemes can also help to reduce the administrative burden and costs associated with traditional cash-based payments. This can help to ensure that more resources are allocated to the beneficiaries of the programs, and that payments are made on time and in a transparent manner.

Contractors and NYSC members can also benefit from the eNaira as a mode of payment. With the eNaira, contractors can receive payments for their services directly into their digital wallets, without having to visit a bank or handle cash. This can help to streamline the payment process, making it more efficient and secure. NYSC members, who serve in various parts of the country, can also benefit from the eNaira as a mode of payment. With the eNaira, NYSC members can receive their allowances and other payments directly into their digital wallets, regardless of their location.

Here’s A Summary Of The Benefits Of Adopting The eNaira As A Mode Of Payment:

1. Faster and More Efficient Payments: One of the biggest advantages of the eNaira is that it can facilitate faster and more efficient payments. Unlike traditional payment methods, which can be slow and cumbersome, the eNaira can be used to make instant payments with just a few clicks. This can help to reduce the time it takes for payments to be processed, which can be especially beneficial for civil servants, public office holders and local contractors who often need to receive payments quickly to meet their financial obligations.
2. Increased Transparency and Accountability: The eNaira can also help to increase transparency and accountability in the payment system. With digital payments, it is easier to track and monitor payments, which can help to reduce the risk of fraud and corruption. This can be especially important for public office holders and elected officials, who are responsible for managing public funds.
3. Improved Financial Inclusion: The adoption of eNaira can help to promote financial inclusion by providing access to digital financial services to those who are unbanked or underbanked. This can be especially important for beneficiaries of government social intervention schemes and NYSC members, who may not have access to traditional banking services. With the eNaira, they can receive payments directly into their digital wallets, which can be accessed via their mobile phones.
4. Enhanced Security: Digital payments are more secure than traditional payment methods as they incorporate features such as encryption and two-factor authentication. This can help to reduce the risk of fraud and cybercrime, which can be especially important for government payments that involve large sums of money.
5. Cost Savings: By adopting the eNaira, the government can save costs associated with printing and distributing cash. This can help to reduce the government’s expenses and enable it to allocate funds to other important projects and initiatives.
6. Reduced Environmental Impact: The eNaira can also help to reduce the environmental impact of traditional payment methods. With digital payments, there is no need to print and transport physical currency, which can help to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable development.

There are some challenges with the eNaira but they can be adequately handled using the right approach. These challenges include:

1. Cybersecurity Risks: The eNaira is vulnerable to cyber threats, such as hacking and identity theft, which could lead to the loss of funds and personal information.
2. Technological Limitations: The eNaira requires a stable internet connection and access to a compatible mobile device to function. This can limit the use of the eNaira in areas with poor internet connectivity or where people do not have access to smartphones.
3. Adoption Challenges: The adoption of the eNaira may be slow, as many people in Nigeria may be hesitant to switch from traditional cash-based transactions to digital transactions.
4. Regulatory Challenges: The introduction of the eNaira may face regulatory challenges, such as ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering and cybersecurity regulations.

The eNaira has the potential to bring significant benefits to Nigeria, but its success will depend on addressing the above challenges and ensuring a smooth transition to a digital payment system. It can be a beneficial payment system for the government and even the private sector because it provides a convenient, secure, and transparent way of making payments, and can help to advance the cashless policy of the Nigerian government. However, the successful adoption of the eNaira will require significant investments in digital infrastructure such as expanding broadband access and ensuring that mobile networks are reliable and fast. This can help to ensure that people have access to the digital platforms and services needed to use the eNaira effectively.

Education and awareness campaigns will also help to ensure that people are aware of the benefits of using the eNaira and are comfortable with digital payments. To achieve this, the government can partner with financial institutions and other stakeholders to roll out awareness campaigns and training programs to educate the public on the benefits of the eNaira and how to use it. These programs can be targeted at public servants in the different levels of government, the private sector and the general public. The government can also provide incentives for people to adopt the eNaira, such as waiving fees or offering cashback rewards for using the digital payment system. This can encourage more people to switch to the eNaira and help to build a strong and robust digital payment ecosystem.

Dovish Okojie, an Entrepreneur and Public Affairs Analyst can be reached through dovishokojie@gmail.com.