Senate Moves to Prevent CBN Governor from Engaging in Partisan Politics

• The Nigerian Senate advances a bill to amend the CBN Act, prohibiting the CBN governor from engaging in partisan politics
• The amendment also seeks to ban foreign currency use in local transactions and improve the Central Bank’s effectiveness and governance

The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step by passing a bill for the second reading, which aims to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act to prohibit the serving CBN governor from participating in partisan politics.

The bill, titled the “Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) (Amendment) Bill 2023,” was sponsored by Senator Steve Karimi (APC – Kogi West). Another bill, titled “A Bill to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, and for matters connected therewith, 2023,” was introduced by Senator Darlington Nwokocha (LP – Abia Central).

This legislative action follows an incident where the former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, attempted to run for the 2023 presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while still in office, which received widespread condemnation.

The primary aim of Senator Karimi’s bill, as stated in its explanatory memorandum, is to amend the CBN Act to enhance accountability and transparency in the Bank’s operations and to prevent the use of foreign currency in local transactions in Nigeria.

The proposed amendment seeks to alter section 9(2) of the CBN Act, stating that the “Governor and the Deputy Governor of the Bank shall not participate directly or indirectly in partisan politics, nor contest any election during their tenure in office.”

Moreover, the amendment proposed by Senator Karimi also intends to ban the use of foreign currency for domestic transactions in Nigeria. The bill seeks to amend Section 20 of the CBN Act, introducing Section 20(A) immediately after the existing section 20 but before the current section 21. This amendment explicitly prohibits the use of foreign currency in various transactions, with penalties outlined for those who violate the provisions.

On the other hand, Senator Nwokocha explained that his amendment aims to address issues that have hindered the Central Bank’s ability to manage the nation’s economy effectively. He emphasized the importance of creating a people-centered Central Bank focused on maintaining price and financial system stability and promoting sustainable economic development.

The proposed changes in the bill are expected to:

1. Separate the head of Management from the head of the governing Board to align with good corporate governance practices.
2. Establish a proper governance framework for the monetary authority to enhance policy and operational effectiveness.
3. Ensure real-time controls and effective accountability in the conduct of central banking in Nigeria.
4. Reposition the CBN to fulfill its core mandates and address the country’s economic challenges.
5. Position the CBN as an apolitical entity that can serve as an exemplary model in national and international monetary policy, banking sector regulation, currency management, and supervision.

The bills represent an important step toward enhancing the integrity and non-partisan nature of the CBN’s leadership while focusing on its crucial role in the Nigerian economy.