The Senate has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend its deadline for the phasing out of the old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes from January 31st to June 31st, 2023.
The recommendation follows a motion by the senator
representing representing Borno South, Ali Ndume raising the alarm over the
January 31st deadline.
According to him, the notice given by the CBN is too short,
considering the “few” banks in Borno and Yobe states and the “inability” of
people in these states to lodge the old notes in time to meet the deadline.
The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele on October 26, 2022
announced the redesign of the three bank notes, saying the new and existing
currencies will remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31,
2023.
The apex bank believes the redesigned notes will limit cash
in circulation and therefore restrict the deplorable activities of ransom-demanding
kidnappers as well as politicians set on rigging the upcoming elections.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in November, unveiled the
redesigned naira notes as proposed by the CBN, marking the first time in 19
years since Nigeria’s last currency redesign.
The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele maintained that there
would be heavy restriction on the volume of cash that people can withdraw over
the counter, as it works with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to monitor the purpose of any heavy transactions.
The redesigned currency note he asserts can never be
counterfeited, adding that to forestall such occurrence, the CBN will redesign
the notes after every five to eight years.
Economic Concerns
Last week, the World Bank expressed concern over the economic
impact of the recent naira redesign on Nigerian households and businesses.
“At present, households and firms already face elevated
financial pressures from prolonged, high inflation, recently compounded by
external food and fuel price shocks, and the severe floods, and phasing out
existing naira notes over a short time period may add to their challenges,” it
stated.
The global financial institution stated that the timing and
short transition period of the Nigerian naira redesign may weigh on economic
activity.
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