A meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Governors Forum, (NGF), ostensibly arranged to discuss the ongoing cash swap failed to hold yesterday.
The President was said to have canceled it because of the court order forbidding the Government from extending the February 10, 2023 deadline for the swapping of old Naira notes for the redesigned ones.
Presidency sources affirmed that the President was wary about the possible perception of disregard for lawful orders should anything be done to the policy at this time.
Despite the cancellation of the meeting, the Chairman of the NGF and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, as well as the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, had a private meeting with the president in his office. It was not immediately clear what they discussed, as none of them spoke to waiting reporters.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, also met with the President, just as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), was also sighted emerging from the meeting with the President.
Asked by correspondents whether there was a contemplation of policy change, the CBN boss declined to answer.
Recall that a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory had on Monday stopped the CBN from extending the use of the old naira note beyond February 10, 2023.
