By Kamil Opeyemi
The Council of State meeting on Friday ended on a note of fresh instruction to the Central Bank of Nigeria to print more Naira notes or re-circulate the old ones.
The council’s meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, had in attendance past leaders such as General Yakubu Gowon, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who joined the meeting virtually.
The directive to the CBN was sequel to the hardship being faced nationwide by Nigerians over the scarcity of cash as a. result of the deadline imposed by the apex bank for the depositing of the old ones.
They said although the council of state backed the CBN policy, the members expressed concerns over the manner it is being implemented.
Nigerians spend hours at the banks which also shut their gates to them. Point of Sale Operators (POS) charge high prices on withdrawals.
Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba; Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos; and Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, jointly briefed state house correspondents on the outcome of the meeting.“The CBN was advised to make money available in quantum,” Ishaku said.
“The old money can also be recirculated to ease the suffering of the poorest of the poor.”
Also present at the chamber is the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Governors who attended the meeting include Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Babagana Zulum (Borno).
Other governors who joined virtually were Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and the Deputy Governors Nasarawa state and Bauchi state.
The Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele also attended the meeting.
The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu also attended the meeting in person purposely to brief the council on the preparations ahead of the 2023 elections.
All the Service Chiefs and Heads of security agencies were also physically present.