THE IMPACT OF LIQUIDITY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BANK IN NIGERIA PLC

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Introduction

1.1 Background Of The Study

The impact of liquidity position in management of financial institution and other economic unit have remained fascinating and intriguing, though very elusive in the process of in investment analysis visa- visa bank port folio management.

There appears to be an interminable argument in the literature over the years on the roles, meaning and determinants of liquidity and credit management. The Nigeria financial environment has noticed increase in credit which has become a problem to the country.

Credit control described as to maximize the value of the firm by achieving a trade a trade off purpose of credit control is not to maximize sales or to minimize the risk of bad debt.

In fact the firm should manage it credit in such a way that sales are expanded to an extent to which risk remains within an acceptable unit. These costs include the credit administration expenses bad debt, losses and opportunity cost of the fund field up in receivables, the aim of liquidity management should be to regulate and control these cost that cannot be eliminated together.

According to Begg, fisher and Rudiger (1991:130) liquidity refers to the speed and certainty with which an asset can be converted back into money (cash, income) whenever the asset holder desires, money itself is the most liquidity asset o all liquidity management seeks to ensure attainment of the short term objective.

A liquid bank is one that stores enough liquid assets and cash together with the ability to raise funds quickly from other source to enable it meet its payment obligation and financial commitment in a timely manner.

Therefore according to Ngwu (2006:36) liquidity management is the act of storing enough funds and raising funds quickly from the market to satisfy depositor loan customer and other parties with a view to maintain public confidence.

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1.2 Statement Of The Problem

Liquidity is considered as the success of as bank, therefore ay ineffectiveness in its management consuetude’s a huge problem i.e. it encounter a huge problem that affect the affairs of the financial institution. This problems is therefore analyses here as the basis for this research study.

The analysis commence from the era of banking in inception in Nigeria through it growth stages and till what is it today. The initial bank failures recorded were principal dues to inefficiencies in the management of the
liquidity of such bank which in one way or the other had something to do with either liquidity inadequacy and the relative inefficiency in their management.

As an institutional problem, it has persisted over the years, in determining the survival or otherwise of banks. Although it must be said that some relative degree of banking it is believed that any banking institutions that is properly managed and has adequate liquidity should be able to swim above troubled waters.

Problems sometimes also evolve from banks inordinate urge to make phenomenal profit. In the process of doing this there is the tendency for these banks to get carless in the resources utilization and particularly their management of liquidity.

The resultant effect is usually loss substance and consequently, loss accumulation, a situation which can lead to banking failure. The marginal loans in the banking system calls to mind the important factor that national government of all' time preoccupy themselves with banks. This shows the degree of importance attached to liquidity and its management by these governments and deviation from its ratio or inadequacy of it management always spells trouble for the banking concerned.

The far reacting consequences of inadequate liquidity management can also be examined. Apart from profit declines. Other of attendant consequences to a bank includes loss of confidence in the particular bank its inability to fulfill both its short term and long-term obligation, lack of trust on the part o depositors and other customers alike; and the concomitant reduction in level of operations.

A recent example of the eminent distress facing Nigeria bank which is as a result of improper liquidity position management as well as loan loss- accumulation (marginal loans)

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1.3 Objectives Of The Study

Considering the nature of banking itself which is a risk taking venture, i.e borrowing short and lending long one sees the indispensability of liquidity for a banks effective and profitable operation liquidity is needed to finance the gap created by mismatching funds. Again liquidity adequacy is a sure way of minimizing the risk portfolio of any bank. The need to put some family into the management of banks liquidity has always been considered a serious issue by the authorities and this has often influenced periodic prudential regulation. As a check on banks against holding excessive cash, Central Bank presently stipulated liquidity ratio of 24.69%, is considered by the Apex bank as being the reasonable maximum any an expression of the bank liquidity assets which comprise cash marketable securities and investments over the bank banks total liabilities (Ngwu 2006:56)
The objectives of the study include

1. To examine in details the liquidity position of banks in Nigeria using first bank Nigeria as a case study.
2. To identify causes of illiquidity or factors that influence liquidity management.
3. To examine how these banks are able to adjust their liquidity and control management in Nigeria financial environment.
4. To analyses the consequences of inadequate of liquidity control management.
5. To make some suggestion on policy guideline to the monitory authorities who can after banks current liquidity and credit management practices.

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1.4 Research Questions

The essence that the respective bank should manage their balance sheet inn such a way as to operate within that maximum range and still remain liquid.

The basic questions this research attempt to answer includes:

1. What is the impact of liquidity position in management?
2. What is the relationship between liquidity and profitability?
3. What are the criteria for determining adequate liquidity for a bank?
4. How does liquidity influences a bank investment policy?
5. What are the predicament of inadequate liquidity control management.

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1.5 Significance Of The Study

The study justification arises given the unsavory experience of the deregulated banking era in Nigeria and the present global economic meltdown. Apart from this liquidity has always been a source of concern with some Nigeria banks. The importance of liquidity has even acquired a new dimension in the advanced countries of the world in recent years. This is basically because of responses to structural changes and funds management techniques in these countries. The development of new technical innovations that do not necessarily fit into the world of the age long liquidity tests.

The key role played in any banking set-up further epitomizes it importance. Right from time liquidity has been associated with allocation of assets. According to their capacity to generate the cash necessary to satisfy creditors and depositor calls on the bank liabilities.

However, with the emergence of active liability management strategies liquidity has been more than a function, particularly in some instance of the of the banks capacity to acquire additional funds in the market place.
Limitations of the Study

Time constraints were one of the limitations encountered in the case of the study.

This is because, this study was carried out during an academic session, the researcher did not have enough time to properly concentrating on this particular study.

Secondly, finance was yet another problem that put a check on the extent of investigation.

Finally there was the problem of inadequate information and unavailable material or information for the study.

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1.6 Scope Of The Study

Due to time and resources constraints the study at hand has been limited to First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

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1.7 Definition Of Terms

The following definition terms are given to facilitate better understanding.

Liquidity Management

This is the act of storing enough funds and razing funds quickly from the market to satisfy depositors, Loan customers and other parties with a view to maintain public confidence.

Bank

A bank is a financial house established for the purpose of accepting deposits and lending out funds in addition to other services.

Central Bank Of Nigeria

This is the national apex and financial institution that regulates the banking system value supply and cost of finds in the economy.

Financial System

The aggregation of financial market arrangement institutions agent that inter-act with each other and other economic unit together with the se of rules and regulation that guide their interactions.

Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC)

This is the body which ensures that customer funds are insured in the commercial banks at liquidation they make sure the customer are paid bank their deposits.

Profitability Ratio

This a class of financial metrics that are used to asses a business ability to generate earning and compared to it expenses and other referent costs incurred during a specific period of time, for most of these ratios, having a higher value relative to a competitors ratio or the same ratio from a previous period is indicative that company is doing well.

Liquidity Assets Theory

This theory argues that banks should hold large sum of liquid assets to avert sudden payment request that might be received.

Call Money

They are banks excess reserves on daily or short-term basis with the correspondent banks.

Short-Term Government Securities

These are gifted securities with short-term maturity which are being bought and sold in active market.

Marginal Loans

This is a loan made by a brokerage house to a client that allows the customer to buy stocks on credit

Liquidity Ratio

This is a class of financial metrics that is used to determined a company ability to pay off its short term debts obligation. Generally the higher the value of the ratio, the larger the margin of safety that the company posses to over short-term debts.

Liquidity Portfolio

Liquidity is the ability for the bank to have sufficient capital in it account or cash deposited by individuals and portfolio is any collection of financial assets such as stock bonds and cash it may be held by individual investor and or managed by financial professionals hedge financial institution, or a portfolio is a brief case for caring lose papers.