Buhari reappoints CBN Governor Emefiele for second term

TRACKING >>Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has been reappointed for a five-year tenure by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The news of his reappointment was broken when Senate President Bukola Saraki read a letter from the President yesterday, 26 days ahead of the expiration of Emefiele’s five-year tenure on June 2.

In the letter dated May 8, President Buhari said Emefiele’s reappointment followed the expiration of his first tenure.

He urged the upper chamber of the National Assembly to confirm the CBN boss for a fresh tenure.

The letter, read by Dr. Saraki on the floor of the Senate, was titled: “Renewal of the appointment of Godwin I. Emefiele as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.”

It was received in the Office of the Senate President yesterday.

The letter reads: “In view of the expiration of the first tenure of the current Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on June 2, 2019, and pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 (1) and (2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, I hereby present for confirmation by the Senate Mr. Godwin I. Emefiele for re-appointment as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for a final term of five (5) years.

“It is my hope that the Distinguished Senate will consider and confirm the nominee in the usual expeditious manner.

“Please accept, Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

No date has been fixed for the consideration and approval of the nomination.

Emefiele was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on June 3, 2014, after Mrs. Sarah Alade served out the tenure of former CBN governor Lamido Sanusi.

Sanusi, now the Emir of Kano, was suspended few months to the expiration of his tenure by the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Since coming on board, Emefiele raised the key interest rate to a record high to contain price growth and bolster the naira, despite sluggish growth.

He implemented currency controls by restricting importers of about 42 locally-available items from assessing foreign exchange (FOREX).

Emefiele was also on the same page with the President by not succumbing to calls to devalue the naira.

The 57-year old banker has become the first CBN governor to get a tenure renewal since the country returned to democracy two decades ago.

Former Attorney -General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mike Aondoakaa commended the President for reappointing Emiefele.

He told The Nation that Emefiele’s reappointment will boast the agriculture sector, particularly rice farmers.

He noted that under Emeifele, the Federal Government rice Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) has achieved a hundred per cent success in implementation , which according to him, has led to food sufficiency and change in the lives of rice farmers..

The former AGF said: “The CBN governor has channeled his energy towards the Anchor borrowers programme diligently and Nigeria can now boast of flooding the entre West African region with its rice unlike before when its relied on importation

“I commend the President for his reappointment as CBN governor for a second term and we rice farmers are happy that he will do more for the agriculture sector .

Polaris Bank Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer MD/CEO Tokunbo Abiru described Emefiele as a positive development for the economy.

Abiru said: “The economic outlook remains positive, as this adds fillip to the continuity of current macro – economic policies initiated by the CBN governor

“The positive interventions in agriculture, real sector and foreign exchange stability gives confidence that the economy will continue to grow.”