FRI. 27 JANUARY, 2023-theGBJournal| The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, risked being arrested for failing to honour an invitation by the House to explain the limited circulation of the new Naira notes in the country, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has warned.
The warning comes few days before the January 31st deadline set by the apex for the usage of the old notes, and it underscores the fragility of the Central Bank’s autonomy.
Gbajabiamila spoke Thursday during plenary in Abuja after the House was briefed by Rep. Alhasan Ado-Doguwa, the Chairman of an ad-hoc committee interface with the CBN and Managing Directors (MDs) of money deposit banks in the country, that the bank executives snubbed the Committee.
Ado-Doguwa said told the House that ”the CBN gave an excuse that the invitation got to its office late, but applied to appear instead on Thursday (today). The initial date fixed was Wednesday.
While the Plenary of the House was in progress Thursday, a letter was transmitted from the CBN, saying that Emefiele was in Dakar, Senegal, and would not be able to appear before the committee.
”The letter did not indicate that any senior officials of the bank had been delegated to represent the governor,” the Speaker of the House said.
The Speaker is vexed that the ”imposition” of a deadline brings with it hardship on the citizenry and reminded the CBN that under Section 20 (3) of its establishment Act, new and old notes are to coexist until the old ones are completely mopped up from the country.
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