CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study:
The role of institutional quality in sustainable development has received tremendous attention in recent time and it has been a central issue in development policies of many nations to orchestrate an insurmountable institution because of its critical position in the development of financial system and stock market in particular. Institution plays a pivotal role in promoting the enactment of rules and regulations, for proper surveillance of political, social and economic activities globally. Furthermore, viable institutions support macroeconomic stability and promote social cohesion, thus accelerating market efficiency and business development. It has been inferred that countries with efficient working institutions advances strong legal framework for the promotion of efficient mobilization and allocation of funds, thereby creating less risky business environment. Consequently, the absence of adequate regulatory framework and supervision could erode the investors’ confidence which will undermine the performance of the stock market (Law and Azman-Saini, 2008).
The deepening and broadening of the stock market in Nigeria presents an important concern to the policy makers (Manasseh et.al, 2014). This has brought to bear many institutional reforms such as the establishment of the investment and securities tribunal (IST) for investors protection, central securities clearing system (CSCS) for transparency, and prologue of other new practices in the market like; the introduction of automated trading system (ATS), Desk for phone-in-service, trade alert introduced by CSCS, a day transaction clearance (T+1) as against T + 14, introduction of the capital trade point by investment securities Act (ISA), introduction of market makers, and the establishment of Real Estate Investment Schemes (Manasseh et. al, 2012). Even though the market is erratic in its performance over time, the introduction of these practices and the newly established policy incorporating small and medium business enterprises in the activities of the market have brought some remarkable improvement in the performance of Nigeria stock market.