Niger Government has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government over the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the Supreme Court.
A statement by Justice Nasara Danmallam, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, in Niger in Minna on Saturday, said the case with suit number SC/CV/210/2023, was filed on February 10, with the Niger State Government as the plaintiff.
The statement said that the state government was seeking for an extension of the timeframe given by the CBN for the currency swap and withdrawal from circulation of old N200, N500 and N1,000 amongst other reliefs.
The statement said the three months given by the Federal government for the withdrawal of old currency across the country was not reasonable and in violation of section 13, 14 (2) (b), 17 (1) (c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
In the affidavit in support of the originating summons, filed at the Supreme Court, the Niger Government contended that the unavailability of the newly redesigned notes had caused untold hardships and sufferings on the inhabitants of the state, especially those living in rural dwellers across the state.
The statement expressed the state government’s concern about the inconveniences the redesigned Naira policy had brought on the people, saying that government would continue everything within its constitutional limit to ameliorate their sufferings.
Meanwhile, the Council of State met Friday and discussed the issue of the Naira notes deadline.
Amongst the suggestions given by the Council, according to Gov. Ishiaku include the suggestions to the CBN Governor to print more new Naira notes or re-circulate the old Naira notes already returned to the CBN vaults.
He assured that after the meeting a lot of efforts will be made by the federal government, particularly in easing the hardship caused to Nigerians by the shortage of the currency.
Corroborating his counterpart from Taraba, Lagos state Governor (Sanwo-Olu) said INEC Chairman and IGP have assured the Council of hitch-free elections while the CBN Governor has been told to ensure that the banks are flooded with new Naira notes or re-circulate the old notes along the redesigned Naira notes.
AGF Malami who coordinated the briefing, reiterated what the two Governors said, adding that the Council has made suggestions to the President who is now constitutionally mandated to take decisions on behalf of the Council that will be beneficial to the Nigerian people.
Asked whether the federal government will obey the Supreme Court ruling on the implementation of the February 10 deadline on the use of old Naira notes, Malami said it will amount to dabbling into a matter before the Apex court.
