we can do more with our present ICT resources

Despite banks general appreciation of the benefits of information technology a huge volume of tasks are done manually. This translates to a low level of service delivery and computer adoption. This has been largely caused by resistance to change, inadequate manpower, poor telecommunication, infrastructures and epileptic power supply of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN} and extra costs to bank expenses in maintaining a generating set.

According to Bill Gates, “Very few companies are using technology for new processes that radically improve how they function that give them the full benefit of all their employees capabilities, and give them the speed of response they will need to compete in the emerging high-speed business world. Most companies don’t realize that the tools to accomplish these changes are now available to everyone. Though at heart most business problems are information problems, almost no one is using information well”. This statement is applicable to a large extent in Nigeria even today. Human resource productivity is actually being limited by ineffective deployment of ICT infrastructure. In essence, higher levels of productivity can be attained even with the available resources.


CONCLUSION
Since the major aim of the banking operations of FBN Plc is based on the need to provide the best financial services possible; and these must be done profitably, then the employees must be productive. The benefits of computerization cannot be overemphasized. To the customers, computerization has provided quality and prompt services while to the management they now have an improved internal control system. Also management efficiency is improved with provision of better, prompt and accurate reports. Appreciate cost of savings have been achieved through the introduction of electronic banking. The profit of the shareholders and FBN Plc has increased appreciably.

The spreading nature of information technology has empowered banks to introduce new products and services such as automated teller machine (ATM). It has also enabled the bank to use labour more effectively and extensively, ensure more efficient bank office operation and better delivery of services. Information communication technology has improved management efficiency; increase customer base and deposit mobilization.

While the immediate effect of this technological growth in the Nigerian financial sector may be seen in employment reduction, the long-term effect is to entrench innovative skills, retrain staff and expand employment in more lucrative and less labour-intensive operations- the aim of boosting productivity in the long term. Therefore ICT should be seen as a vital and important tool in the delivery of effective services of any banking industry and financial services as a whole.

RECOMMENDATIONS
The deployment of Information and Communication Technology has altered the landscape of Nigeria’s banking industry and has become a strategic resource for achieving competitive advantage in the 21st century digital economy. But some banks are still faced with the problems of ICT adoption.

It is important to invest in human capital for a long-term development and the accumulation of required technologies capabilities to use. This can be done when banks contract with ICT firms to hire their staff to manage and maintain their ICT. During the contract period the banks ICT staff will understudy the ICT firm staff and eventually take over the management of ICT facilities at the expiration of the contract.
With the new global order of liberalization and privatization, private sector initiatives should be fully promoted by the state while it concentrates on providing basic infrastructure and a conducive macro-economic environment. This is to suggest that PHCN has to be privatized as a solution to the problem of epileptic power supply. The ongoing process of privatizing NITEL must be concluded to improve the efficiency of the company. Also more telecommunication outfits should be given license to increase the degree of competition and quality of services available in the economy. This will allow the full capabilities of ICT to be realized; thus giving room for more effective computerization of banking functions.

Further, with Nigeria’s large and growing market, a national ICT policy must aim at establishing parts-and-components manufacturing sector in the medium and long term. There is the considerable dissatisfaction with the quality and timely availability of components and parts while this can be met with imports in the near term. A more strategic solution will be the establishment of an indigenous component sector.
For greater impact of information technology to be felt in the banking industry, the large segment of our banking population still on the fringes of a high technology should begin the full application of information technology into their products and services so that banks can influence the perception of their customers.

It therefore becomes imperative to add here that all stakeholders in the banking industry must capitalize on information communication technology to reinforce the volume and speed of efficient service delivery in the banking industry. Alcino Rodrigues de Assuncao says, “It is better to take a proactive stand. Technology threatens us if we sit back and let someone use it. It helps us if we use it to move quickly to design services where the bank becomes the value added intermediary to our customers”. Today employees must take a cue from this by learning and embracing ICT skills and exploiting it for their career development to ensure they remain relevant today and tomorrow.