COMMERCIAL BANK LENDING TO SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES (A CASE STUDY OF UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC, ENUGU)

CHAPTER ONE

1. 1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDYSo much had been said and written about commercial bank lending to small and medium scale enterprises.  One still wonders why the small and medium scale enterprises are ever faced with the age-old syndrome of inadequate funds.  The presence of the small and medium scale industries are not found in large numbers in very city, towns and villages as one would have thought, at least judging by the preponderance of attention it had been enjoying for long time now.  Yet the problem is regarded as an ever-flagged issue even with out any real practical solution in sight.Due to the relevance of the small and medium scale enterprises to the rapid economic development of the country, I consider any research into how to proliferate the economy with relevant small and medium scale enterprises very essential to our survival and growth; hence the promoting of this research work.

1. 1. STATEMENT OF PROBLEMThe federal and state government has recognized the importance of small and medium scale enterprises (SME) in accelerating the economic development of the nation.  As a result the monetary and fiscal policy guidelines since 1990 had directed commercial and merchant banks to increase their minimum lending limit to the small and medium scale enterprises to 20 percent of their total credit outstanding.  The loan shall be strictly for activities in the industrial sector.  Prior to 2004 the prescribed minimum was 16 percent.Commercial banks have been complying fully with this laudable objective of funding small and medium scale enterprises adequately as directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.  Consequently, many of these small and medium scale enterprises (SME) get “choked” “die” because of inadequate financial support from the commercial banks.

1. 1. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDYThe relevance of the small and medium scale enterprises to the rapid economic development of the country is very fundamental to our survival as a people.  The commercial banks which number up to 120 in the country with branches spread all over the country do not provide adequate credit to the small and medium scale enterprises despite government stipulation requiring to commercial banks to increase credit facilities to the sub-sector.The research aims at identifying the major factors responsible for the inadequate financial support of the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).  It is the researchers desire to come up with recommendation that will help solve the problem of inadequate funds to the small and medium scale enterprises and to stimulate the interest of the commercial banks in increasing credit facilities to the sub-sector.

Consequently, the rate of unemployment in the country will reduce, as more and more people will be employed in small and medium scale enterprises that will be set up.  This will lead to increased savings, increased investments and growth of the economy.  The standard of living of the people eventually will rise as a result.

In addition, it is aimed at facilitating the flow of funds for the establishment of new SMI/SME projects, reactivations, expansion and modernization or restructuring of on-going projects.  And also, to stimulate economic growth, develop local technology and generate employment

1. 1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDYThe result of the study can help in the reduction of high unemployment rate in the country and its attendant social ills like armed robber, harlotry, cultism etc.The welfare prosperity and happiness of the citizens of a country are very essential to achieving peace and progress in the economy.  Increase in national productions and family income levels will lead to higher standard of living.  Thee could be made possible through the encouragement of the establishment of more and more industries.

1. 1. HYPOTHESIS1. Commercial banks credit to the small and medium scale enterprises is grossly inadequate

1. The risk inherent in the rural sector inhibits the commercial banks lending to the small and medium scale enterprises.

1. 1. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDYThe research covers the commercial banks leading to the small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria from 2000 – 2004.  But since the researcher could not collect materials (data) from every commercial bank in all the nook and corner of the country, the researcher concentrated in Enugu metropolis and the union bank.  The choosing of this bank is not encountered with the fact that materials can be gathered easily there, bank services are homogenous and the similarity among the elements that make up the population.A lot of factors inhibit the smooth carry out of this project among which are time constraint, illiteracy of the small and medium scale enterprises, financial constraints and bureaucratic nature of the banks in releasing vital information for the research.

1. 1. ORGANISATION OF WORKThis work is divided into (5) five chapters.  Chapter (1) one, which deals with the introductory analysis, is the core chapter from which all the other chapters follows, it deals with problem definition, method of analysis and other related matters.  The second chapter deals with the review of literature.In the third chapter, research design and methodology is discussed where the sources of data is ex-rayed.  Chapter four deals with the analysis and interpretation of data where the questionnaire were looked into and the hypothesis tried.

Finally, chapter five sums up the research work with the finding, recommendations and conclusion.  The bibliography comes immediately with the questionnaire as appendix I.

1. 1. DEFINITION OF TERMSSMI:     Any enterprises with a maximum asset base of N200 million, excluding land and working capital, with the number of staff employed by the enterprise not being less than 10 and not more than 300.Fiscal Policy Guidelines:  This has to do with the control of cash through taxation and other tariffs as may be applied by the CBN.

Monetary Policy Guidelines:  Control of the availability of money in the economy through the sale of Treasury bill, treasury certificate, cash reserve requirements, liquidity ratio etc.

Commercial Bank(s):  This is the bank that engages in retail banking, they operate deposit and saving account for small time bankers i.e. individual etc.

CBN - Central Bank of Nigeria: This is the apex bank of the nation.  This bank regulates all the commercial banks of the nation and serves as the banker’s bank.  It is also the government’s bank, it also regulates the money in circulation through OMO, treasury bills etc.