Cash withdrawal limits: Reps insist on Emefiele’s appearance within 48 hours

After failing to appear before it for the second time, the House of Representatives has given the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, Thursday this week as the deadline to do so.

A standing House resolution directs Emefiele to appear before the House to answer questions on the series of policies the apex bank churned out lately, especially the latest one on revised cash withdrawal limits.

He had failed to appear on Thursday, last week.

On Tuesday, he again wrote a letter, which the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, read to colleagues on the floor in Abuja. In the letter, Emefiele said he was unavailable because he was engaged in other assignments outside the shores of Nigeria.

Recall that the House also asked him to suspend the cash withdrawal limits pending the outcome of his appearance before lawmakers.

In reacting to the letter on Tuesday, members became agitated, accusing the apex bank’s chief of taking them for a ride.

Some have observed that Emefiele might be using excuses as his strategy for avoiding the House until the full implementation of the policy in January, 2023.

However, Gbajabiamila calmed their nerves, appealing that Thursday be set as the final date for Emefiele to appear.

He equally suggested that if an official engagement indeed kept the CBN governor out of the country beyond Thursday, Emefiele should delegate his deputy, who should be “equipped” to respond to all issues unfailingly.

Gbajabiamila’s suggestions were taken and passed as the updated resolution.