SOME governors have warned those rejecting the redesigned N1000, N500 and N200 notes in their states to refrain from such acts, failing which they risk sanctions.
The governors are: Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).
Their warning followed yesterday’s extension of the interim order by the Supreme Court restraining the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or any of its agents from phasing out the old naira notes until the determination of a suit pending before it.
Sanwo-Olu, who spoke through a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, threatened to prosecute those rejecting the old naira notes.
“It is against the law to reject the old notes as ‘doing so is contrary to the position of the Supreme Court,” the governor said in the statement.
Appreciating the patience and calmness of Lagosians, the governor said the government has also joined the dispute at the Supreme Court.
“The state government hereby warns those rejecting the old notes to desist from doing so or face prosecution. It is against the law to reject the old notes as doing so is contrary to the position of the Supreme Court.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu urges Lagosians to remain law-abiding and shun mischief makers who may exploit this temporary situation to promote their anti-people agenda. He is confident that the judiciary will resolve all the issues around the currency shortage crisis.
“To cushion effect of the CBN directive on the old notes, especially on the vulnerable among us, Lagos State has started the distribution of food packs promised by the governor. The 50 per cent fares slash on all government transportation facilities also continues, as directed by Mr. Governor.”
Governor Abiodun vowed to deal decisively with businesses rejecting old naira notes in the Gateway State.
He reiterated his threat that his government will clamp down on banks and businesses flouting the apex court ruling.
Abiodun said that part of the measures being considered may include getting security agencies to arrest anyone who refuses to accept old naira notes, stressing the directive became imperative after an on-the-spot assessment of business transactions at some filling stations in Ijebu-Ode.
He said the old notes of N1000, N500 and N200 remain legal tenders and that anyone who refuses to accept would be dealt with according to the dictates of the law.
“It has come to the notice of the State Government that some people and traders were rejecting the old Naira notes from the citizens, a development that is not healthy thereby inflicting untold hardship on the people of the state,” he said in a statement by his spokesman, Kunle Somorin.
In Kano, Ganduje said he would not hesitate to sanction commercial banks for rejecting the old naira notes.
He also threatened to revoke operational licenses of major business owners who refuse to accept the old naira notes as a means of transaction.
Ganduje, in a statement by his Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, insisted that the old naira notes are still a legal tender.
He said the Supreme Court was emphatic on its interim injunction on the issue of old naira notes which would continue to be used as legal tender hand in hand with the new ones until gradual and final phase out.
The statement reads: “It has come to the notice of the government that some business owners such as supermarkets, malls, banks, restaurants, hotels, traders in markets, filling stations, motor parks, among others, are in the habit of rejecting the old naira notes in business transaction.”
“This non-acceptance by some selfish individuals is further worsening the already tensed situation exacerbated by the non-availability of the new naira notes.
“Business and economic activities are seriously affected by the naira redesign and unfortunately some self-centered individuals are cashing on the situation to cause further hardships on the people by not accepting the old naira notes during transactions.”
The Osun governor also warned commercial banks against hoarding the new naira notes and rejecting old naira currency.
Adeleke lamented the pain and suffering the cash crunch had subjected the people to. He called on all stakeholders to reach a consensus to put an end to the current hardships.
Decrying the rejection of the old notes, the governor called on the banks to be compassionate by either making the new notes available or continuing acceptance of the old currency notes.
He said: “I am pained by the current hardship inflicted on our people. Daily living has become a nightmare. All sectors of society are witnessing untold hardship. I call on bank chiefs to have mercy on the poor, the middle class and even the rich.
“We must make the new naira notes available or we continue to accept old notes. We must stop punishing the citizens even when they commit no sin.”
“I hereby warn the banks in Osun state to be humane. We should not encourage insurrection against the government by citizens through unfair policies and actions.
“Banks in Osun state must meet the demands of the people for new notes. Those banks that have stopped receiving old notes must reverse that policy. Our people are being pushed to the wall.”
In Lafia, Sule lamented the sufferings of the rural dwellers on their inability to get the new naira notes to take care of their basic needs.
According to him, as governor, he cannot access the new currency.
“Yesterday, I sent the SSG to the various banks and a lot of these banks have no new naira at all to give,” the governor.
He accused the apex bank of confiscating the people’s cash rather than exchanging the old notes with the new naira.
On the way forward, he said: “The only way the CBN can ameliorate the suffering of the people occasioned by its cash swap policy, is to allow the old Naira to be in use alongside the new currency for a period of six months.”
