Six days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, presented the electoral body’s cash request to the CBN for cash mobilisation of ad-hoc staff was yet to be made available.
It was gathered that the electoral body had presented its cash requirement for the election to the CBN amid the scarcity of naira notes occasioned by the apex bank’s controversial cashless policy.
Last week, the National Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu disclosed that cash for the mobilisation of ad-hoc staff was yet to be made available.
Pulse reports that six days after the disclosure, the electoral body’s cash request from the CBN has still not been granted.
INEC had explained that even though most of its payment are done through online transfers, it would need cash for some specific services.
Earlier in February, Yakubu while speaking at a meeting with the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele at the CBN headquarters, Abuja expressed fear that the lingering cash crisis in the country may affect the conduct of the forthcoming election.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu and Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. (Tribune)
INEC is optimistic that there would be no problem.
The electoral umpire is hopeful that the CBN would grant its cash request on or before Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Committee on Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye disclosed this to ThePunch on Sunday, February 19, 2023.
“We are hopeful that the challenge of physical cash required for the payment of certain categories of staff and some services will be sorted out on or before Tuesday, the 21st of February 2023,” he said.
