Rep. Afam Ogene, Leader of the Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives, criticized the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over confusion regarding the concurrent use of old and new Naira notes.

His remarks followed the CBN’s clarification on a recent Supreme Court ruling, which did not specify when the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes would cease to be legal tender.

In a motion during an October 24 House plenary session, Ogene called on the CBN to clarify the validity of both currency notes, with an emphasis on an effective cut-off date for the old notes by January 1, 2025. However, he expressed disappointment at the CBN’s lack of a clear policy, which he described as a failure in regulatory responsibility.

Ogene acknowledged an unintentional oversight in the motion, which missed referencing the Supreme Court’s decision on the continued use of both note types. The House subsequently instructed its Committee on Banking Regulations to engage the CBN and report back within 21 days. However, Ogene noted that the CBN’s response to the House’s motion suggested that the legislative directive could “disrupt the payment system.”

Questioning the dual use of currency, Ogene asked, “Which country operates with two conflicting sets of currency notes? Wasn’t the CBN’s introduction of new notes intended to eventually phase out the old ones?”

He also pointed out the poor condition of banknotes distributed by commercial banks, noting that customers lose money due to the torn and damaged notes. He called on the CBN to prioritize clarity and responsibility in managing the nation’s currency, rather than deflecting the issue indefinitely.

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