Tinubu Highlights Six Ways Out Of Current Hardship Amid Naira Scarcity

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a presidential candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, has outlined six methods that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) might alleviate the current hardship that the country is experiencing as a result of the lack of freshly redesigned Naira notes.

Tinubu said in a statement he personally signed and released on Sunday in Abuja that he and his running mate Kashim Shettima have nothing against the CBN’s cashless policy and the redesign of the naira, but that he is only worried about the program’s disruptive execution.

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The APC Presidential nominee urged the CBN to follow the Council of States’ recommendation and declare that the old and new Naira notes (especially the non-withdrawn notes and coins) will co-exist as legal tender for the following 12 months in order to follow the lead of other nations that have successfully implemented a similar monetary policy in order to provide immediate relief to Nigerians.

“This will immediately remove growing tension in the country, eliminate panic reactions by the populace and allow time to scale up infrastructural gaps around alternative payment options to cash”, he stated.

The APC standard bearer further suggested that until the current issue is fully resolved, associated fees for internet transactions, bank transfers, and POS payments be immediately suspended.

He contends that the CBN should view this fee as a roll-out expense in order to reward both the public who uses financial services and those in charge of carrying out the scale-up program for the anticipated shift to alternative transaction channels.

Other quick-win options Tinubu suggested were; “Mobilise all Money Deposit Banks, Payment platforms to show clear commitment and timelines on expanding their infrastructure and support services.

“Bring in Fintech companies with capabilities into currency swap programme for the next 90 days to help decongest banking halls and ATM points where people line up for hours.

“The Central Bank and other relevant MDA’s should form an Inter-Agency Action Committee for immediate oversight over the cash supply gaps from the Nigerian Security and Minting Company and deal with issues around capabilities and turn around time to meet the needs of the informal sector and unbanked people.

“The CBN, National Orientation Agency and Ministry of Information, State and Local Governments with their relevant organs in both the public and private sectors should commence a major public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign to further educate and empower our people on the new naira and cashless policy for better understanding and mainstream adoption”.

Tinubu bemoaned that recent weeks have been difficult for Nigerians, particularly those working in SMEs, the impoverished and vulnerable, and people whose basic livelihood depends on daily cash transactions.

“They have felt the brunt of the combined problems of scarcity of fuel and new Naira notes.

“We feel the pains of our market women and artisans who have experienced low sales because customers do not have cash to make purchases. We hear the loud cries of farmers in rural areas and hinterlands who have been forced to sell their produce at much lower prices so they don’t lose out completely. We hear every Nigerian dealing with the consequences of the roll-out of the cash swap programme”, he stated.

He said while the scarcity arising from the supply limitations of the new naira notes is still in place, he is encouraged about reports that fuel queues across the country are easing out as a result of better supply to fuel stations.

“We are now confronted with how to bring quick, sustainable solutions and relief to Nigerians on the challenges still posed by the non-availability of new Naira notes so that social and economic activities can move on unimpeded and normalcy can immediately return to our financial services sector and overall productivity of our nation.

“In seeking a quick resolution, the National Council of State met on Friday, February 10, 2022, and advised the government and Central Bank in particular, to push more new Naira notes into circulation and also allow for the old notes to remain a legal tender by ensuring supply gaps relative to infrastructural limitations are bridged by recirculating it to ameliorate the pains caused by the scarcity of new ones.

“We agree with the wisdom of the Council of States as a necessary starting point to begin redressing the unintended consequences of what would have otherwise been a good policy that required mainstream adoption.

“For the records, I and my running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima and our campaign council do not have anything against the CBN Naira redesign and cashless policy in principle. We are, however, only concerned about its disruptive implementation and the hardship it has brought on the generality of our people who currently can’t access their hard-earned money to meet obligations and the attendant consequences on the informal sector, where the majority operate.

“Despite the challenges and current difficulties, we are a country of resilient, bold and courageous people who don’t succumb to hard times. We have always overcome our most difficult times and come out better as a people and a nation. This time will not be different. We will make lemonade out of our current lemons.

“As leaders, our commitment to our country every day must be on how to make life better for our people and we are called upon not to waste the opportunity the moment presents to us to ramp up capacity and capability to serve 200 million Nigerians, leaving no one behind and ultimately improve the living conditions of every single Nigerian. Our task now is to restore hope in the country by implementing these steps to energise our people so that we can do big things for a better future and shared prosperity. We can build upon this citizen-focused policy challenge to offer a template on how government should work for the people”, Tinubu declared.