• Ortom looking for naira old note extension deadline
• The policy is not timely, said Dickson
As citizens became agitated over rejecting the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes before the January 31 deadline, more voices, yesterday, weighed heavily on the currency redesign swap policy amid calls for an extension.
The House of Representatives, yesterday, read the Riot Act to the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and his management team to cancel the January 31 deadline on the cash withdrawal limit and cash exchange policy.
The Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee investigating the policy, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, stated this while briefing members on the inability of the CBN management to attend the investigative hearing.
While noting that the CBN Governor and other Directors are Nigerian employees, Ado-Doguwa warned that the House will not allow excuses for the absence of any public official invited on the rescheduled date, which is today (Thursday) at 1:00 p.m. .m.
The lawmaker, who reiterated the need to review the policy, which he described as ‘unpopular’, said the policy has negatively affected businesses and the welfare of Nigerians across the country, as well as payment for services, with denial. of old naira notes.
On Monday, the DPR leader announced that he will meet with the Bankers Committee and top bank management. Speaking on the inability of the CBN executive to appear before him, Ado-Doguwa explained that the communication by the CBN was that the letter of invitation was late to the bank and therefore could not be implemented.
According to him, the House will not entertain other reasons, because there is a need to address the issue around the cashless policy, which has a negative effect on the economy of the nation and Nigerians at large.
House also rescheduled the meeting with the Managing Directors of Commercial Banks for Friday (tomorrow).
Meanwhile, the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has asked the CBN to extend the deadline for the validity of the old naira notes.
Ortom said this when the board of governors and management of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University paid him a courtesy visit, yesterday, in Makurdi.
The CBN has, on Tuesday, confirmed that it will not return within the stipulated deadline. Expressing his views on the attitude of the apex bank, Ortom said because the new notes are not in circulation, Nigerians, especially rural people, cannot meet the deadline.
He added that most people living in rural areas do not have bank accounts.
“As a governor, I have not seen the new naira notes. This is why I will join other Nigerians to look at this critically so as not to harm the people’s condition. I am joining members of the National Assembly to prevail on the CBN to extend the deadline for the exchange of old naira notes ,” he said.
Also, former Bayelsa State governor and senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, said the timing of the currency redesign was wrong. It is the hope that the policy does not hinder the country from succeeding in the elections.
Dickson said the CBN should introduce the policy under the new administration. He said that the consequences of these actions would have been well managed by other administrations as the current one has ended.
The senator spoke at an interaction program by the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama in Abuja, Wednesday.
He said: “The timing of the policy for me is a problem, no matter how well-intended. I think that coming into the evening of this almost eight-year administration is the wrong time. I think the main basic policy like this should be left for the next administration to manage the consequences and adjust. I hope the people are not confused and agitated. I hope this does not distract us from focusing on conducting a fair and peaceful election.