Fakoyejo OlalekanGovernor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been criticised by a member of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Gagdi, for failing to honour the lawmakers’ summons.
Gagdi in his submission at the lower chamber on Tuesday said Emefiele snubbing the summons of the House of Representatives twice in two weeks doesn’t give a good impression about the powers of the lawmakers.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe said the creators of the Nigerian constitution which gives the House of Representatives power to summon public office holders to explain each of their policies made no blunder.
The lawmaker was furious that Emefiele didn’t make himself available on Tuesday, same as last week Thursday, despite summons issued to the head of the CBN to come explain the cash withdrawal policy.
Prime Business Africa had reported that the CBN had directed banks and other financial institutions to reduce withdrawal over the counter to N500,000 for businesses and N100,000 for individuals.
Emefiele also directed that daily withdrawal for individuals at the Point of Sale (PoS) and Auto Teller Machines (ATM) should be cut down to N20,000.
Gagdi said Emefiele’s action was a disregard and disrespectful to Nigerians who the lower chamber represents.
“I think at this point in time, it is quite important for us to let such public office holders know that it is not Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila that is summoning the CBN governor or Honourable Yusuf Gagdi or the Deputy Speaker or any member; it is the collective whims of the Nigerian people that are inviting the CBN governor to come and explain some of the policies that Nigerian people needs explanation for.
“I am not against any policy but I am against disrespect to you and to the Nigerian people. The Speaker is a symbol of this House and Nigerian people. So, if you disrespect Mr Speaker, you are disrespecting Nigerian people; you are disrespecting the House.”
In a letter to the House of Representatives, Emefiele said his absence is due to an official assignment with President Muhammadu Buhari out of the country.
While defending Emefiele, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the CBN governor wasn’t around before the summon was made, and the lawmakers should wait till Thursday, December 22, 2022, for Emefiele to appear.
Gagdi responded that “Mr Speaker, we have names to protect. As much as I agree with you 100 per cent and I am guided, I wish to equally say that we should be mindful of the impression the House is giving out there.
“I have to commend the House for even inviting him in the first instance. But Mr Speaker, you are coming together for a policy that is commencing in the next few weeks. I believe coming back to address some of these daunting challenges is quite imperative than any other thing they are doing.
“It is important for the CBN governor to know that we will not tolerate further excuses in terms of non-appearance before the House to explain to Nigerian people some of these policies.”
Gbajabiamila also stated that in the absence of Emefiele, a deputy governor can represent him on Thursday, to elaborate on the cash withdrawal policy.
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