House votes to restrain CBN

House votes to restrain CBN
.. As Kelechi Nwogu speaks

By Jonas Happy

 

The House of Representatives has voted to restrain the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, from implementing its policy guideline requesting Nigerians to attach their social media accounts as part of the information required from customers of commercial banks.

Presenting the motion, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu representing the Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency urged the House to forestal the hardship that ordinary Nigerians are likely to suffer as a result of the new rule.

He said there were ordinary citizens in the country who have no access to the social media and who do not have such social media accounts that would go through excruciating pain as a result of the new CBN regulation.

Nwogu urged his colleagues to order the CBN to shelve its plan to tie individual social media handles to the fight against terrorism financing, money laundering and other forms of internet fraud.

When Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the matter to vote, members  resoundingly voted to halt the resolve of the CBN to include individual social media handles as part of its new policy requirement.

Back home, at his constituency, there is widespread excitement as Kelechi Nwogu’s speech on the floor of the House resonates.

Nwogu had promised to give a voice to the people of Etche and Omuma while seeking their mandate.

Nwogu’s composure while delivering the motion and his presentation of the motion is gradually winning him several admirers.

Some of those spoken to by this publication expressed happiness at the performance of the new timer.

They said Nwogu elected on the platform of the PDP in Rivers State  has proved that he is a round peg in a round hole.

The Minority Leader, Kingsley Chindah (PDP Rivers) had earlier requested the Speaker to allow the first timer to present the motion after introducing it on the floor.

Chindah’s conduct, borne out of experience, has revealed how the new Minority Leader intends to guide new and old opposition members as Federal lawmakers on the floor of Parliament to contribute their quota towards the growth and advancement of the nation through bi-partisan participation.

Nigerians had earlier taken to the social media and the mass media to express their reservations over the decision by the CBN to compel commercial banks to obtain social media handles belonging to individuals as part of customer information.

With the decision taken by the House of Representatives a few hours ago, most Nigerians are patiently watching from the sidelines to see what the CBN would do next.