CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The church and the modern
technologies seem to be ever more connected as we move further into the
twenty-first century” (Hoover 2006). This assertion clearly defines the link
between religious belief and the new information and communication technologies
which are the most defining media instruments of the twenty-first century. ICT
driven technologies can be applied in virtually all areas of the church
activities including the payment system (Ovia, 2005). However, different types
of payment are done by members in the church. Examples of common payments done
during church service includes tithe, general offering, special offering,
thanksgiving, harvest, covenant offering, offering for the less
privileged/needy, building construction donations etc.
The role and importance of
efficient payment systems has been closely monitored and promoted by monetary
authorities in all countries. However, the Nigerian payment system that is
cash-driven cannot and has not guaranteed the much needed efficient and
effective transactions required for a sustainable economic development. Among
the problems often associated with cash transactions are armed robberies, use
of counterfeit bank notes, frauds, inconveniences of carrying large quantities
of currency notes, long period of waiting in bank halls, frequent trips to
banks, frequent printing of bank notes (Nnanna and Ajayi, 2005). However,
churches in Nigeria are beginning to key in into this cashless system of
payment byincorporating modern and cashless method of payment especially the
use of PoS.
Point-of-sale
(PoS) systems have always been around in many forms for a number of years now. Many
businesses use these systems not only to accept payment, but to provide other
operational information such as accounting, sales tracking, and inventory
management. Thus far, this system has gone a long way in improving customer’s
experience through customer loyalty programs and suggestions in businesses
(Ojo, 2004). Nowadays, the use of POS system is not only available in business
set ups but also in churches which have gone a long way in impacting churches.Though
for a number of reasons in Nigeria, there has been various arguments and
criticismsamong Christians that the use of POSsystem in church is ungodly and
this has been one of the major challenges faced by the use of this system in
Nigerian churches.
Some church executives in Nigeria has come to say
that the banks offered it to the church and since the world was going digital,
the members should try and also fit in. They also say it would ease the stress
of looking for change every Sunday and for those who forget to bring money to
church. So all that is needed to be done is when you get to church is to use
your ATM card at the designated points, and collect your receipts! It’s these
receipts that you present at the altar as offering to promote efficient and
accountability.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM
Reliance on cash based system of donation and
offering in churches has however been found to be risky and cumbersome because
money outside the banks cannot be subjected to regulatory and operational
procedures, and the ability of monetary policy to achieve set objectives in the
presence of sizeable currency out of Bank (COB) is therefore limited. Hence,
many churches make use of POS for offering and donation collection from members
to prevent the risks involved in carrying cash about. This cash carrying character
of Nigerians is also responsible for large pool of money in the hands of the
unbanked citizens. No research has been carried on the impact of POS on
churches. However, the researcher is examining the impact of POS on churches.
1.3 OBJECTIVES
OF STUDY
The
following are the objectives of this study:
1. To examine the impact of POS on
churches.
2. To examine the existing payment
method/system in churches.
3. To examine the limitations of POS on
church payment system
1.4 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
1. What is the impact of POS on churches?
2.
What
are the existing payment methods/systems in churches?
3.
What
are the limitations of POS on church payment system?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H0:
the use of POS in churches does not promote efficiency and
accountability
H1:
the use of POS in churches promotes efficiency and
accountability
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE
OF STUDY
The
following are the significance of this study:
1. Findings from this study will educate
church authorities and executives and the general public in Nigeria on how they
can key in to the CBN cashless policy to promote efficiency in the churches.
2. This research will also serve as a
resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out
further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to
provide new explanation to the topic.
1.6 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS
OF STUDY
This study
will cover the existing payment structures in churches with comparison to the
modern payment system of POS considering the benefits of POS in the collection
of offering and donations in churches.
Limitations
of study
1.
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the
efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature
or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire
and interview).
2.
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously
engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down
on the time devoted for the research work.