Business
Reactions Trails N5000 Note Suspension
More Nigerians have continued to react to President Goodluck
Jonathan’s directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the N5,
000 note scheduled to be introduced in 2013.
They expressed their views in separate interviews with
newsmen in Lagos on Saturday.
The National Assembly had on Wednesday urged Jonathan to
stop the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from printing the N5, 000 notes.
Dr Samuel Nzekwe, former President of Association of
National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), described the president’s directive as
a welcome development.
He said that governance was about the people, adding that
the Federal Government had demonstrated that it was committed to listening to
the yearnings of Nigerians.
“CBN did not consult Nigerians before planning to introduce
N5,000 note which is not good enough if the nation wants to attain sustainable
national development,’’ he said.
He said that there should be mass enlightenment by
government agencies and institutions on any policy or programmes they planned
to introduce.
Dr Olumide Owoade, a senior lecturer, Department of
Economics, Lagos State University (LASU), also said that the introduction of
the note would lead to inflation.
According to him, the initiative negates the cash-less
policy of the apex bank.
“It will encourage people to carry plenty of money about.
“The N5, 000 note will increase the rate of corruption and
other vices,’’ the don said.
Another don, Dr Kazeem Bello, an economics lecturer at the
University of Ibadan, said that the introduction of the note “is unacceptable
to Nigerians’’.
He criticised a statement credited to the CBN Governor,
Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that the N5, 000 note was not meant for all
Nigerians, saying that was not good enough.
“ Any good policy will consider the generality of the
citizens,’’ Bello said.
Mr Titus Okunronmu, a former Director of CBN, Budget
Department, said that he did not support the suspension of the N5, 000 note.