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Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom has joined the National Assembly in urging President Muhammadu Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to extend the deadline for the withdrawal of old Naira notes from circulation until June 2023.
The Governor warned that Nigerians are suffering unbearable pains as a result of the policy, which he described as ill-timed.
The Governor, who spoke on Monday in Makurdi, urged the President to listen to the National Assembly and put the policy on hold until June because it was clear that it was causing further hardship for the people.
"I join the National Assembly to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari and also to alert him that the people are already in distress and suffering as a result of the new Naira notes and the cashless policy,” he said.
“Though the redesign is good and it is done all over the world but for our economy, the timing is completely wrong and it is creating a challenge for all Nigerians.
“So I appeal to Mr. President and the Central Bank to extend this exchange of the old currency to June. That is the right thing to do now because of what Nigerians are going through due to the policy.
“You go to the banks they would not be able to give you old notes and they, at the same time do not have the new notes to dispense to Nigerians from their ATM. Nigerians cannot have cash for their daily use.
“So it is a big problem that has been added to the pains being faced by the suffering people. It has to be revisited without further delay.
“Mr. President should look at this matter passionately because the policy is not working. People are getting restive and agitated because they are crowding all available ATM machines and are not able to get the new currencies.”