…Emefiele’s withdrawal limits, retaliatory against politicians – Fintiri
…All governors back CBN’s cash withdrawal limit — Masari
ASHENEWS recalls that controversies over the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cash withdrawal limits of N100,000 and N500,000 for individuals and corporate bodies, respectively have continued to rage with pro and against views trailing the policy.
The recent are mixed reactions by two Nigerian governors, Ahmed Fintiri of Adamawa and Aminu Masari of Katsina State.
ASHENEWS reports that Fintiri on Friday accused the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele of targeting the political class with the cash withdrawal limit policy.
The governor at a campaign engagement in Kala’a, Hong local government area claimed that with the policy, Emefiele was retaliatory against the political class, after his truncated foray into politics.
“What is breeding poverty? Economic policies. Look at the one that is about to be implemented by the Central Bank which would further throw the country into poverty. Nobody is saying the economy shouldn’t be cashless. Take time and do it systematically. We shouldn’t do it as if some people wanted to be politicians and they were denied the opportunity, then they use their office to punish the politicians,” Fintiri said.
The governor also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to pioneer the amendment of the constitution to allow for a true federation where states are allowed to take full control of revenues and by so doing assure autonomy for the third tier of government.
“If we are talking about governors diverting funds, we expect the government to correct the anomaly by sponsoring amendment to the Nigerian constitution to separate the office of the accountant general of the federation from the accountant general of the federal government so that funds belonging to local government and the state would not also be converted by the federal government, because what the governors’ are being accused of, the Federal Government can equally be accused of doing same ten times over,” Fintiri said.
According to him, there is the need for restructuring the current system that would allow autonomy to the states and local government.
“The way the system is couched there’s no autonomy even for the states nor for the local governments and nobody sees the states as sub-national of the federation because everything is being controlled at the centre,” he further said.
But Katsina state governor, Aminu Masari said regardless of widespread criticisms against cash withdrawal limits, said all the governors were in support of the policy.
The governor in a chat with newsmen after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at his Daura country home on Saturday, said the policy would bolster the nation’s economy.
“What is wrong with it except one who stockpiles millions in his house and is afraid to bring it out.
“It will help the economy. Now, all the money has not been in the banking sector. The Central Bank governor said that they have mopped over N1 trillion into the banking sector which was stashed in soak-ways and other places.
“We believe by the end of the transition to the new currency, the remaining trillions will be back in the banking sector. I think it is very good for the economy,” he added.
