Fresh controversy over N5,000 note

Fresh controversy, yesterday, trailed the proposed introduction of N5,000 note as there were speculations that the controversial note had already been printed abroad and shipped into the countrypreparatory to distribution.
This came as the National Assembly and the National Economic Council insisted that they were yet to give thepolicy their blessing. The Central Bank, however, declared that what had been printed was just the design and not the original naira note which will come into effect in March 2013. Those who saw the design said it was the yet to be introduced notes, which theyclaimed had been printed and imported waiting for authorization of its release and distribution. CBN officialswho want their names out ofprint, however, said the notes had not been printed. One of them said: “What everany body saw is the design of the proposed currency notthe real currency”. According to him, “before introducing any currency, you have to print a design copy for the monetary authorities to vet and look at the features to ensure they meet security specifications and every other feature in it”He said that the new N5,000 note may not be introduced this year but sometimes nextyear although there were speculations that the N5, 000may come into circulation in January 2013. But a source close to the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPM) said some officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were working out the modalities for the release and distribution of the soon to be introduced currency. It was gathered that the design of the proposed N5, 000 note was being discussed in preparation for today’s meeting of the 17th Conference of the Association of African Banknotes and Security Documents Printers in Lagos. Vanguard gathered that part of the modalities being considered for distribution of the new N5, 000 notes is the withdrawal of the N1, 000 notes currently in circulation so as to pave way for distribution of the N5, 000 notes. The public outcry against theintroduction of the note will not stop the CBN from introducing the currency having gotten approval from President Goodluck Jonathanto print the N5, 000 notes. “The entire N5, 000 printing project is a fait accompli ”the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting source said. The Chief Executive Officer, NSPM, Okoyomon said: “Following the Federal Government’s endorsement of the N5, 000 which has provoked a lot of controversy, the 17th Conference of the Association of African Banknotes and Security Documents Printers that will start in Lagos today will be an opportunity for awareness creation.” It will be recalled that the National Economic Management Team (NEMT) – made up of some senior government officials and prominent businessmen has given its blessing to the introduction of N5, 000 following a briefing by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The President had in 2011 approved the proposal but Nigerians from all walks of life have vehemently opposed the idea of the introduction of N5, 000.00 into circulation in the Nigerian economy, stating that currency restructuring was not the nation’s priority. The new higher denomination will be introduced alongside the new coins of N5, N10 and N20. The policy is expected to take effect early 2013. But NEMT argued that it was the primary responsibility of the CBN to effect changes in the nation’s currency with the approval of the President.The economic management team also allayed the fear that the note will heighten inflation, saying that there is no link between inflation andcurrency denomination. Besides, the group argued that the introduction of the higher currency will help shore up the Naira value as most people who store money in hard currency will now embrace the high denomination. The NEMT, which is headed by the President, comprises the Minister of Finance and coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; CBN Governor, SanusiLamido Sanusi; Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman; DirectorGeneral of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises(BPE), one representative each of governors of the South and the North as well as key private sector players. Usman who spoke at the endof NEMT meeting presided over by President Jonathan explained that contrary to criticisms that the introduction of the N5,000 note would bring about inflation in the economy, the new denomination according to him, will rather assist in big business transaction. The note, he said, would not be high in circulation but will be used mostly by the banks. Usman said the higher denomination was not at variance with the cashless economy proposed by the CBN. Source: Vanguard