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NLC Protests: CBN To Flood Banks With Old Naira Notes

Published

3 years ago

March 23, 2023

The Central Bank of Nigeria has finally concluded plans to release all N1,000, N500 and N200 notes in its custody to Deposit Money Banks.

This decision is expected to end months of hardships and pains Nigerians have been going through following a controversial CBN naira redesign policy that has caused a severe shortage of old and new naira notes across the country.

The CBN’s latest decision came several weeks after the Supreme Court ordered that old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes should remain legal tender until December 31, 2023.

On Wednesday night, top officials of the CBN and commercial banks confirmed to The PUNCH that the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had directed DMBs to begin the disbursement of old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes to members of the public effective Thursday (today).

According to him, the CBN will also start releasing old notes to commercial banks from Thursday.

According to The PUNCH, Emefiele met with the chief executive officers of DMBs on Wednesday evening where he told them that the central bank would start releasing all old notes in its custody to commercial banks effective Thursday (today).

Sources at the meeting said the CBN would also be cancelling all the controversial cash withdrawal limits it put in place in recent months.

Also, it was learnt the CBN would start by releasing crisp old notes to DMBS after which the ones deposited by commercial banks will also be released.

Furthermore, the CBN stated at the meeting that bank customers would no longer be required to generate any code before depositing their old notes.

One of the bank CEOs at the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The CBN governor met with bank CEOs this evening virtually. It was a short meeting that lasted for just about 15 minutes. The governor said all old N1,000, N500 and N200 notes will be released to commercial banks beginning from Thursday. The CBN will start with crisp old notes after which the ones deposited by DMBs will be returned. The plan is to flood the economy with cash and ameliorate the challenges Nigerians have been passing through.“

Top bank chief

The top bank chief added, “Also, the CBN will be cancelling cash withdrawal limits it put in place recently. This means that individuals can now withdraw up to N500,000 across the counter while corporate bodies can do N5m. The CBN is expected to release a circular to this effect later tonight or tomorrow morning (today). But effectively, things should be back to normal as far the cashless policy is concerned.”

Further findings by The PUNCH confirmed the CBN would begin to release the old notes into circulation by Thursday. It was also gathered that banks would begin to pay their customers the old notes immediately to ensure the cash circulate across the country.

According to reliable sources in the CBN, banks have been also been directed to report to the old offices to collect the old naira notes they deposited with the apex bank.

They noted that before the end of the week, the country would be awash with naira notes.

Meanwhile, a top source close to the CBN said the apex bank took the decision to avert the planned picketing of the CBN offices nationwide by supporters and leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

NLC protests

Earlier, The PUCH had gathered that the NLC would on Wednesday picket the CBN headquarters and state offices in protest against the lingering naira crisis and fuel scarcity in the country.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who disclosed this at a press conference on Wednesday, lamented that people’s hardships over the naira crisis had worsened.

The union had penultimate Monday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the scarcity of naira notes and fuel which had compounded the hardships being faced by Nigerians.

Though the CBN said then that it had complied with the Supreme Court judgment which directed that the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes should remain legal tender till December 31, banks have continued to ration the amount of cash issued to customers, indicating that they have not received cash supplies from the apex bank.

The three states of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara which sued the Federal Government over the naira redesign policy had threatened to file contempt charges against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN and the CBN governor, Emefiele for not fully complying with the Supreme Court judgment.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Ajaero said the planned picketing of CBN offices became imperative following the apex bank’s failure to comply with the one-week ultimatum given to it to make cash available for Nigerians.

Ajaero explained that the union took the decision when it noticed that the situation appeared to be getting worse despite the Supreme Court order allowing the old N500 and N1000 notes to circulate with the new notes till December 31.

He directed all NLC’s affiliate unions and their state councils to begin mobilisation on Friday for the nationwide mass action, saying the Federal Government and the CBN have not shown any commitment to address the situation.

Giving an update about the ultimatum at the briefing which was held at Labour House, Ajaero said workers could no longer access cash to pay fares to their respective workplaces or buy food for their families.

He said, “Last week at the end of our CWC (Central Working Committee) meeting, we gave a one-week ultimatum for the Federal Government to address immediately, among other issues, the issue of cash crunch that was caused by the policy. As of this morning when the CWC met again to review the situation, we discovered that not much improvement has been made.

“The situation is still almost the same. People are still buying our currency with our currencies. People no longer have access to the currency and the government seems to be very adamant about this. No moves have been made to reduce the suffering of Nigerians.

One-week notice

“Consequently, the CWC-in-session resolved to go into the process of actualising the one-week notice. From Friday, there will be a mobilisation of all state councils through a NEC meeting. All unions have already been directed to mobilise all their organs and their branches.

“By Wednesday, next week, all Central Bank of Nigeria offices nationwide will be picketed. All central banks from the CBN headquarters will be shut till further notice. Workers are directed to stay at home and join in the picketing exercise.

“We call on Nigerians to understand the circumstances we are operating in. People will be telling you about the political situation. The political situation is self-inflicted and the economic situation is worse than the political situation because people cannot eat.”

The labour leader described the proposed demonstration as “total”, saying the workers have been pushed to the wall.

He added, “Workers can no longer go to the office and nothing is happening. So, we have been pushed to the wall having given one week (ultimatum) and we thought they could address the situation which is not addressed.

“We have decided to take our destiny into our hands. So, comrades, the mobilisation commences immediately and when we talk of action from Wednesday, it’s total; until further notice.’’

The labour leader explained that the lingering fuel scarcity and cash crunch were important issues for the NLC as they affected every Nigerian.

The Secretary-General of the National Union of Aviation Transport Employees, Ocheme Abah disclosed that the unions would comply with the NLC’s directive on the picketing action.

Responding to inquiries from The PUNCH, he said,” Yes, of course, we will comply as NLC directed. Yes, all the unions in all airports.

Meanwhile, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications at CBN, Mr Isa Abdulmumin, said he could not immediately comment on whether the CBN would be releasing the old notes to commercial banks.

He said the apex bank would communicate its position on the matter on Thursday.
PUNCH

Related Topics:#CBN Naira Scarcity old Naira

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Business

Naira Records Highest Depreciation Against US Dollar

Published

2 days ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Naira recorded the highest depreciation against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange on Friday to end the week on a negative note.

Central Bank of Nigeria data showed that the Naira extended its dip on Friday to N1,423.17 against the dollar, down from N1,419.72 traded on Thursday.

This represents a N3.45 depreciation against the dollar on a day-to-day basis, the highest in the week under review and in 2026 so far.

Meanwhile, at the black market, the naira remained at N1,490 per dollar on Friday, the same rate recorded on Thursday.

In the other week, the Naira recorded three gains and two losses against the US dollar and other currencies.

The development comes amid the continued rise in the country’s external reserves, which hit $45.67 billion as of January 8, 2026.

Business

KPMG Flags Five Major ‘Errors’ In Nigerian Tax Laws

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

Fresh apprehension has surfaced over Nigeria’s newly implemented tax framework after KPMG Nigeria highlighted what it described as “errors, inconsistencies, gaps, and omissions” in the new tax laws that took effect on January 1, 2026. The professional services firm in a recent statement cautioned that failure to address these issues could weaken the overall objectives of the tax reforms.

Nigeria’s tax overhaul is built around four major legislations: the Nigeinpieces of legislation:ria Tax Act (NTA), the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Establishment Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) Establishment Act. The laws were signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2025 and formally commenced in 2026. However, the reforms have continued to attract controversy since they were first introduced in October 2024.

Despite the concerns, government officials have consistently described the reforms as essential to improving Nigeria’s low tax-to-GDP ratio and modernisingpieces of legislation:modernizing the country’s tax system in line with evolving economic conditions.

In a detailed review, KPMG outlined several areas of concern.

Capital gains, inflation modernizing inflation and market response

KPMG flagged Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigeria Tax Act, which require capital gains to be calculated as the difference between sale proceeds and the tax-written-down value of assets, without adjusting for inflation. According to the firm, this approach is problematic given Nigeria’s prolonged high-inflation environment.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that headline inflation has remained in double digits for eight consecutive years, averaging over 18 percent between 2022 and 2025. Over the same period, asset prices have been significantly influenced by currency depreciation and general price increases.

Market data also reflects investor sensitivity to tax policy changes. Although the NGX All-Share Index gained more than 50 percent over the year and market capitalisation inflation,capitalization approached N99.4 trillion, equities experienced sharp sell-offs in late 2025. In November alone, market value reportedly declined by about N6.5 trillion amid uncertainty surrounding the new capital gains tax regime.

KPMG warned that taxing nominal gains in such an environment could result in investors paying tax on inflation-driven increases rather than real economic gains. The firm recommended introducing a cost indexation mechanism to adjust asset values for inflation, noting that this would reduce distortions while still enabling the government to earn revenue from genuine capital appreciation.

Indirect transfers and foreign investment concerns

Attention was also drawn to Section 47 of the Nigeria Tax Act, which subjects gains from indirect transfers by non-residents to Nigerian tax where the transactions affect ownership of Nigerian companies or assets.

This provision comes at a time of subdued foreign investment. Figures from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development indicate that foreign direct investment inflows into Nigeria remain below pre-2019 levels, reflecting ongoing investor caution.

While similar rules exist in other countries, KPMG noted that they are often supported by detailed guidance and clear thresholds. The firm advised Nigerian tax authorities to issue comprehensive administrative guidelines to clarify scope, thresholds,capitalizationthresholds, and reporting obligations inorder to reduce disputes and limit potential negative effects on foreign investment.

Foreign exchange deductions and business impact

Another issue identified relates to Section 24 of the Act, which restricts businesses from deducting foreign-currencyforeign currency expenses beyond their naira equivalent at the official Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate.

In reality, limited access to official foreign exchange forces many companies to source FX at higher parallel market rates. Under the current rule, the additional cost becomes non-deductible, effectively increasing taxable profits and overall tax liabilities.

KPMG observed that although the provision aims to discourage FX speculation, it does not adequately reflect supply constraints. The firm recommended allowing deductions based on actual costs incurred, provided transactions are properly documented, to avoid penalisingforeign currencypenalizing businesses for factors outside their control.

VAT-related expense disallowances

Section 21(p) of the Nigeria Tax Act also came under scrutiny for disallowing deductions on expenses where VAT was not charged, even if the costs were entirely business-related.

Given Nigeria’s large informal sector and persistent VAT compliance gaps, analysts argue that the rule unfairly shifts part of the VAT enforcement burden onto compliant taxpayers. KPMG advised that the provision be removed or significantly amended, stressing that expense deductibility should be based on whether costs were wholly and necessarily incurred for business, while VAT compliance should be enforced directly on defaulting suppliers.

Non-resident taxation uncertainties

KPMG further highlighted ambiguities around the compliance obligations of non-resident companies. While the Nigeria Tax Act recognizespenalizingrecognizes withholding tax as the finalthe final tax for certain nonresident payments in the absence of a permanent establishment or significant economic presence, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act does not clearly exempt such entities from registration and filing requirements.

Nigeria’s network of double taxation treaties, including agreements with the UK, South Africa, Canada, and France, generally supports the principle that final withholding tax extinguishes further obligations. Experts warn that inconsistencies between the laws could create uncertainty and discourage foreign participation.

KPMG recommended harmonizing the relevant provisions of the NTA and NTAA, with explicit exemptions for non-resident companies whose tax obligations have been fully settled through withholding tax. The firm noted that such alignment would ease compliance and enhance Nigeria’s appeal for cross-border transactions.

As Nigeria undertakes its most extensive tax reform in decades, KPMG concluded that the success of the overhaul will depend on clarity, consistency, and alignment with international best practices. Without timely amendments, businesses may face higher costs, foreign investors could remain cautious, and capital markets may continue to experience volatility.

Recall that KPMG concerns come after a lawmaker, Abdulsamman Dasuki, raised alarm over alleged alterations to the gazetted tax laws.
(DAILY POST)

Business

Naira Records First Depreciation Against US Dollar In 2026

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Naira recorded its first depreciation against the United States dollar in the official foreign exchange market on Thursday, the first time in 2026 so far.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s data showed that it weakened on Thursday after days of gains to N 1,419.72 per dollar, down from N 1,418.26 on Wednesday.

This means that for the first time this year, the Naira dipped by N1.46 against the dollar on a day-to-day basis.

Similarly, the Naira also depreciated by N10 at the black market to N1,490 on Thursday, down from the N1,480 recorded the previous day.

This comes despite the continued rise in the country’s foreign reserves to $45.64 billion as of Wednesday, 7th January 2026.

DAILY POST reports that the Naira recorded a seven-day bullish run at the official foreign exchange before Thursday’s decline.