By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The new move of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sustain its cashless policy in the country has continued to evoke different reactions, and the latest to comment on the matter is the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP).
The group, in a statement made available to Business Post, said those against the new cash withdrawal limits do not want the good of Nigeria.
The apex bank issued a circular this week to commercial banks and other financial institutions that from January 9, 2023, individual customers would only be limited to N100,000 cash from over-the-counter and N500,000 for corporate customers.
Also, cash withdrawals from ATMs and POS terminals would be N20,000 per day and N100,000 per week, while withdrawals above the limits would attract a 5 per cent process fee for individuals and a 10 per cent fee for companies.
In addition to this processing fee, customers would have to fill out different forms and obtain approvals from the management of the bank, with details of how the cash would be spent.
While some have praised the CBN for this, others have kicked against the policy, including the National Assembly, which has asked the Governor of the bank, Mr Godwin Emefiele, to appear to explain details of the new directive.
But CNPP feels this is a good policy, as it emphasised that it would deepen democracy as the nation prepares for the next general elections in February 2023.
In the statement signed by its Secretary General, Mr Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP stated that “Nigerians are suffering today because of bad governance and every sacrifice towards getting the right leadership into offices from 2023 is worth it.
“Bad governance is a product of Nigeria’s flawed electoral processes over the years which threw bad and corrupt leaders on the masses. This became the case as a result of highly monetised electoral processes.
“But, any process that will minimize the domination of the Nigerian political space by moneybags and corrupt politicians is worth whatever sacrifices by the ordinary citizens, who bear the brunts of bad governance the most.”
“Secondly, information available in the public domain shows how several millions, if not billions, of naira notes, got mutilated and became of no use where the country’s thieving leaders stashed the cash, thereby denying the economy, especially the banks, the liquidity for productive enterprise.
“Poor fiscal policies in the country over the years are a result of having the wrong persons in public offices due to electoral process that abhors level playing ground.
“Therefore, the CBN should be commended rather than criticised for the fresh cash withdrawal limits.
“Mr Godwin Emefiele, as the CBN Governor, is unarguably the hero of Nigerian democracy and champion of good governance by virtue of the twin policies of redesigning of the naira notes and the reviewed cash withdrawal limits, with perfect timing of the dates for implementations.
“The CNPP urges the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, and by extension, all security agencies and anti-graft bodies to act swiftly to ensure that no politician or highly placed individual influences banks to circumvent the cash withdrawal policy.
“We also call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support the CBN policy on cash control as part of efforts to secure the future of the country, particularly ahead of the 2023 general elections,” the CNPP stated.
Adedapo Adesanya