Residents Express Displeasure With FGN And CBN Over New Naira Note

Aminah Salako – Adekunle

Residents of Kwara State have expressed displeasure with the silence of the Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN on the Supreme Court judgement over the use of old naira notes.

The Supreme Court had on 3rd of March ruled that the old naira notes should remain legal tender till 31st of December this year.

Some of the people who spoke with Radio Nigeria said the silence of the two major stakeholders has shown that people in authority are undisturbed about the adverse effect of their policies on the masses.

The implementation of the new naira notes policy has continued to suffer setbacks as the newly printed notes remain scarce in circulation.

The Central Bank of Nigeria had said that individuals will have access to physical cash of Five hundred thousand naira notes weekly, and Five Million Naira for corporate organizations.

This has, however, remained a mirage as residents continued to suffer to retrieve their hard earn money from the banks to meet their daily needs.

For residents who travel long distances in search of cash, defying the scorching sun to keep watch at bank gates, waiting for succour, the situation is depressing.

An Eighty Year Old retiree, Pa Adeleye Akanbi, along with some other senior citizens, sat quietly by the gate of a commercial bank at the A’ Division area of Ilorin, looking worried.

Pa Akanbi said all efforts to gain entrance into the banking hall for over three hours were fruitless.

The people also expressed displeasure with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC for being quiet despite the hardship the masses are facing.

In a reaction, the outgoing State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Aliyu Issa – Ore explained that the union could not consider the option of the strike to advocate compliance with the Supreme Court justice during the election period.

Alhaji Issa- Ore, however, urged the Federal Government and CBN to consider the difficulties Nigerians are facing due to their refusal to comply with the Supreme Court verdict.

As of the time of filling in this report, commercial banks in Ilorin were yet to receive a new directive from CBN .