The Arewa Youth Consultative Movement and the Middle-Belt Youth Forum have said that the best time to implement the cashless policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the Chief Convener of the groups, Godwin Meliga, raised alarm over the plot by some stakeholders to rubbish the policy.
The groups urged all lawmakers of Northern extraction in both chambers of the National Assembly not to lend any support at all to any unpatriotic elements who approach the National Assembly to get them to oppose the policy.
Noting that the policy was a lethal blow to vote buyers, money launderers and financial criminals, Arewa and Middle-Belt Forum urged all Nigerians who desire a better Nigeria to support the policy as it was in the public interest and not designed or directed against any section of the country.
The groups said that the cash withdrawal limit policy is a policy in the public interest and not made to further impoverish the poor masses of Nigeria, particularly in the North, adding that they totally endorse the policy.
They said: This policy will hand over the control of money in circulation back to the CBN and this will enable better management and control of the economy, inflation and other factors which will enable the Federal Government to improve the lives of citizens.
The groups resolved that the policy is a lethal blow to vote buyers and election riggers who ordinarily would be planning on how to compromise the 2023 general election against the collective democratic will of the people. They said that the policy will tighten the noose around the neck of money launderers, who cannot have access to unaccounted cash with which to enhance their illegal trade.
They further said that with the anticipated inevitable removal of petroleum subsidy, the government will have more funds at its disposal, and if this policy does not kick-in properly before the subsidy removal, corruption and looting will be at unprecedented heights. This is indeed the best time for this policy.
The groups pointed out that the failure of the CBN to take control of the cash in circulation leaves the country in a vulnerable position and at the mercy of criminals as the government cannot plan and execute plans without the correct control of the money in circulation.
