VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update

Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji has appealed to residents to continue to accept the old and new notes in line with the ruling of the Supreme Court which extended the validity of the old naira notes till December 23, 2023.

The Supreme Court in its March 3 ruling extended the validity date for the old naira notes in a case instituted by some States against the Federal Government with Ekiti State one of them.

Oyebanji, who noted complaints by residents that many business concerns in the State refused to accept the old notes as means of transaction, said it becomes unlawful for any business owner or service provider to reject them

The Governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, on Saturday, urged Ekiti people to accept the old notes till the December deadline and stay clear of actions that could create hardship for one another.

The Governor appealed to market women, artisans, transporters, filling stations, supermarket owners, school proprietors and service providers to remain law abiding and accept the old naira notes.

He also urged the commercial banks and CBN to make the old and new currencies available in their branches and at their automated teller machines (ATM) points in order to ease the stress residents go through to get money for their daily and commercial needs.

“This is an appeal to all residents of Ekiti State to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court which provides a reprieve for the people by extending the validity date of the old naira notes till December 31st.

“The State Government had joined other states to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court in reversing the new naira policy which the states averred had inflicted excruciating pain and hardship on the people in addition to crippling economic activities.

“As honourable people, what is expected of us is to abide by the ruling of the apex court and continue to accept the old naira notes as means of transactions and not to inflict further hardship on one another by rejecting it.

“This is a special appeal to all the banks to make the naira notes available in all their branches and pay points and to all traders, business owners, service providers, okada riders, drivers, filling stations, gas plants, supermarkets, schools, hospitals, POS operators, to start accepting the old notes forthwith. To do otherwise would amount to defying the ruling of the highest court in the country and thwarting government efforts at reducing the hardship of the people.

“Our Government will continue to explore avenues to make life more meaningful for our people, as we continue to build a more prosperous state.

“In same vein, Government will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute business owners found rejecting the old naira notes,” the statement reads.