Naira Redesign: Finance Minister Warns Of Dangers Inherent In Policy
Forty eight hours after the announcement of plans to redesign the Naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmad, has disowned the policy.
The Minister who commented on the policy in response to question raised by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central) during 2023 budget defence session she had with the Senate Committee on Finance, warned CBN of consequences that may arise from the plan.
Senator Bamidele had in his question, told the Finance Minister that barely two days after announcement of the policy by CBN, repercussion of it on the value of Naira to US dollar was being felt.
“Just two days after announcement of the policy, value of Naira to a US dollar has risen from N740 to N788 due to rush in exchange of stached Naira notes for foreign currencies, particularly dollar.
“To me, the policy may be a well conceived one, but the timing going by realities on ground, is very wrong as the Naira may fall to as low as N1,000 to a US dollar before the January 31, 2023 fixed for full implementation of the policy”, he said.
Surprisingly the Minister in her response said She and her Ministry, are not aware of the policy but only heard of it from the media.
“Distinguished Senators, we were not consulted at the Ministry of Finance by CBN on the planned Naira redesigning and cannot comment on it as regards merits or otherwise.
“However as a Nigerian privileged to be at the top of Nigeria’s fiscal management, the policy as rolled out at this time, portends serious consequences on value of Naira to other foreign currencies.
“I will however appeal to this committee to invite the CBN governor for required explanations as regards merits of the planned policy and rightness or otherwise of its implementation now”, she said.
The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele had on Wednesday said that the apex bank would redesign the country’s currency ranging from N100, N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations.
He said the action was taken in order to take control of the currency in circulation just as he posited that the bulk of the nation’s currency notes were outside bank vaults and that the CBN would not allow the situation to continue.
The planned policy he added, was in line with Sections 19, Subsections a and b of the CBN Act 2007, upon which the Management of the CBN sought and obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign, produce, and circulate new series of bank notes.
