Business
Association Charges MFBs On Uniform Software
Chairman of the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) in the South-west zone, Mr Olufemi Babajide, has urged members to look forward to the proposed uniform software system.
Babajide said Monday in Lagos that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was working on the modality to ensure the reality of the software system.
He said the apex bank recently invited some operators of micro-finance banks to make enquiries on some of the requirements.
“CBN has invited some micro-finance banks to make enquiries about the requirements that we need. That one is ongoing. They are working on that in about five centres including Lagos and Abuja,” he said.
The CBN in 2012 proposed a uniform software platform for operators of micro-finance banks to make the sub-sector vibrant.
Babajide said that the aim of the software was to help micro-finance operators maximise costs of operation. He said that it would enhance uniformity in the operation of the sub-sector.
He said: “It’s to ensure that we have uniformity so that when the regulators and donor agencies come, if they say they want information, they can get it. All we have presently is over 500 software.
“That one is confusing; quite a number of them can’t prepare ordinary basic report that the regulator needs and instead of us going to spend money, they want to make sure that we have what is called economies of scale whereby if we adopt same software, the cost will be better for the micro-finance banks, and for the providers too. About 1000 micro-finance banks can sign into one software, that’s beautiful, and the cost would be very low for all of us.