EKO NEWS
El-Rufai Gives Reasons For Rejecting Buhari’s Proposal To Extend Deadline For Old Naira Notes
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El-Rufai has been at the forefront of a battle against the federal government over the deadline for the validity of the old naira notes.
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The governor attended a Supreme Court hearing on the matter on Wednesday.
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He recently rejected a proposal by the federal government to extend the validity of the old notes.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has explained his reasons for refusing to accept the fresh resolutions proposed by the federal government on the naira redesign policy.
EDITOR’S PICKS
This medium had on Wednesday reported a senior government official telling TheCable that the federal government proposed conditions on the naira redesign policy, including a new deadline of April 10 for the old notes.
A government official had also said the resolutions presented to members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) included “that the old naira notes of N200 be allowed free movement in and out of the banks for the next 60 days.”
The official reportedly said El-Rufai rejected the proposed resolutions, and insisted on a total cancellation of the naira redesign policy.
However, the Kaduna governor has accused the federal government of misrepresenting his position.
In a lengthy statement by his spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, on Wednesday evening, he described the federal government’s proposal as “insincere.”
El-Rufai disclosed that federal officials told governors on a call that the government will allow only the old N200 note to remain legal tender and be circulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) till April 10, 2023.
The governor added that the officials, who dealt in “bad faith”, claimed that CBN had already destroyed the old N500 and N1000 notes that had been deposited.
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and President Muhammadu Buhari with the new naira notes
He described the claim as false, noting that N200 notes alone would be insufficient to relieve widespread suffering in his state.
“A few hours after the Supreme Court adjourned the ‘currency redesign’ case today, TheCable, a respected publication, published what it described as an exclusive story regarding the intentions of the Federal Government on the matter,” the statement reads.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai would like to clarify that TheCable has been misled by its sources on this issue. There has been no meeting this week between the FG and either the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) or the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), not to talk of one lasting till the wee hours of today, Wednesday, 15 February 2023.
“Rather, senior officials of the FG reached some governors, including Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on phone to initiate discussions on a possible out of court settlement. The terms they proposed were to allow only the old N200 note to remain legal tender and be circulated by the CBN till 10 April 2023. They claimed that the CBN had already destroyed the old N500 and N1000 notes that had been deposited, but that those persons who still held the old notes could redeem them up to 10 April 2023.
“These were not considered as serious proposals, for obvious reasons. Circulating the old N200 notes alone would not be sufficient to relieve widespread human suffering in Kaduna State, and indeed in Nigeria today. They knew that and that is why they falsely claimed that the CBN had already destroyed the old N500 and N1000 notes.
“This is contrary to the fact available to the governors to the effect that the old notes were in the custody of commercial bank branches throughout Nigeria until the evening of Monday, February 13, and not a single N500 or N1000 had been destroyed.
“It is also a non-starter to insist on a new cut off date without first assuring that sufficient new notes would have been printed and circulated. Information available to the governors also indicate that the Mint will need at least 12 months to print the minimum amount of N1 trillion needed to ensure a functioning trade and exchange environment in Nigeria.
“The tabling of false facts, inadequate solutions to the sufferings of our people, and the bad faith that some of the FG negotiators displayed in our phone conversations and chats have now been taken further in leaking a false account and context to a respected medium. The plaintiff governors rejected the draft proposal as insincere, and invested our hopes in the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai will be addressing the people of Kaduna State on this currency redesign mess, the consequences of the extension of the injunction of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and related matters tomorrow.
“But the Kaduna State Government feels it is important tonight not to allow an exclusive falsehood to stand, or even gain the slightest traction. This statement is therefore issued to put the records straight.”
FURTHER READING
Meanwhile, the federal government has refused to obey the Supreme Court order restraining the CBN from enforcing the February 10 deadline as commercial banks continue to reject the old naira notes.
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