By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has travelled out of the country to attend to “some health challenges.”
This was confirmed in a letter forwarded to the House of Representatives and read by the Speaker, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday during plenary.
On Tuesday, the lower chamber of the National Assembly had given Mr Emefiele Thursday to appear before it to explain the recent policy of the bank, which said from January 9, 2023, bank customers will not be able to withdraw more than N100,000 per week via the various channels.
In the letter, the CBN Governor said he would not be able to honour the invitation from the House of Reps because he was away from the country. He, instead, asked a team led by one of the CBN Deputy Governors, Mrs Aishah Ahmad, to represent him tomorrow.
“We refer to your letter of December 20, 2022, on the above subject, inviting the CBN Governor to appear in person on Thursday, December 22.
“Regrettably, the Governor is out of the country on official engagements as well attending to some health challenges. He is, therefore, unavailable to attend the briefing.
“Giving the urgency associated with the briefing, the Committee of Governors led by Mrs Aisha Ahmed, Deputy Governor Financial Systems Stability, is prepared to brief the House.
“Please accept once again the Governor’s highest consideration and very warm regards,” the letter to the lawmakers, which was read by the Speaker, stated.
Though some lawmakers kicked against Mr Emefiele sending representatives to address them on the issue, it was later resolved that they should be allowed to speak because the policy in question was taken by the central bank and not the Governor alone.
“We will expect the team, the Committee of Governors led by Mrs Aisha Ahmed, the Deputy Governor, Financial Systems Stability, tomorrow at 10 am to brief the House on the new cash policy as prescribed by the CBN Act,” Mr Gbajabiala declared after debates by his colleagues.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya