Connect with us

News

BREAKING: NASS Proposes 21-Year Imprisonment For Breach Of CBN Act

Published

on

JomogNews Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Senate has introduced a bill to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act of 2007, proposing a 21-year imprisonment penalty for breaches of the CBN Act limit on ways and means advances.

This proposed legislation, spearheaded by Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru ( Lagos East), aims to significantly increase the penalties for naira abuse and enhance the CBN’s ability to fulfil its primary objectives.

The bill, which is entitled ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Central Bank of Nigeria Act No. 7 of 2007’, with a copy of the amendments seen by NewsOnline Nigeria, overhauls Section 38 of the Principal Act by introducing stringent measures to regulate temporary advances granted by the CBN to the Federal Government.

According to the amendment bill, any individual or group found guilty of violating the provisions of Section 38 will be required to refund the amount exceeding the set limits and will face imprisonment for a minimum period of 21 years without the option of a fine.

It read: “Any person or group of persons who breaches or is involved in the breach of the provision of this section 38 shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to refund such amount that exceeds the limits set in this section and shall also be liable to imprisonment for a minimum period of 21 years with no option of fine.”

This amendment comes at a time when a former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, whose tenure is known for breaching the CBN Act limit, is battling several court cases from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Senate is also probing the N10tn expended on the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, the $2.4bn forex transaction out of the $7bn obligation made for that purpose as well as other intervention programmes.

Limits on advances

The amendment bill states that the total amount of advances should not exceed 10% of the Federal Government’s actual revenue from the previous three years, excluding proceeds from asset sales.

This is a 100% increase from the 5% of the previous year’s revenue in the CBN Act of 2007. It is also lower than the 15% earlier proposed by the Ninth Senate.

Also, the amendment expanded the period from just the previous year to the previous three years, giving the Federal Government more borrowing space from the CBN.

Interest rates

The amendment bill specifies that temporary advances to cover budget revenue deficiencies should be granted at interest rates determined by the CBN in collaboration with the Coordinating Committee for Monetary and Fiscal Policies.

The interest rate must not be lower than the average Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) of the preceding 12 months.

The bill read: “Notwithstanding the provisions of section 34 (d) of this Act, the Bank may grant temporary advances to the Federal Government in respect of temporary deficiency of budget revenue at such rates of interest as the Bank may determine; provided such rate shall be determined with the Coordinating Committee for Monetary and Fiscal Policies and shall not in any case be below the average MPR for the preceding 12 months.

The total amount of such advances outstanding shall not at any time exceed ten percent of the previous year’s actual revenue of the Federal Government in the preceding three years excluding proceeds from assets sale.”

Repayment terms

The amendment bill states that advances must be repaid within 12 months from the date they are granted. If not repaid within this period, the interest rate increases by 10%.

Furthermore, no further advances can be made until outstanding amounts are fully repaid. Importantly, repayments cannot take the form of promissory notes or any securities underwritten by the bank.

The document read: “All Advances made pursuant to this section shall be repaid –

“(a) as soon as possible and shall in any event be repayable at the end of twelve months after the advance date and if such advances remain unpaid at the end of the year the interest rate payable shall increase by ten percent, the power of the Bank to grant such further advances in any subsequent year shall not be exercisable, unless the outstanding advances have been repaid and any such outstanding amount shall be held against the proceed of the sale of government asset; and

“(b) in such form as the Bank may determine; provided that no repayment shall take the form of a promissory note or such other promise to pay at a future date or securitisation by way of issuance of treasury bills, bonds, certificates or other forms of security which is required to be underwritten by the Bank.”

News

Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

Published

on

By

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

Continue Reading

News

Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

Published

on

By

The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

Continue Reading

News

Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

Published

on

By

Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

Continue Reading

Trending