Senator: N5000 relegates T/Balewa, Murtala, Ikoku

[DT]

Senator Kabiru Marafa (ANPP, Zamfara Central) has said he will move against plans by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to introduce new currency that will see the N5, N10 and N20 naira notes changed into coins.  

Speaking to Daily Trust on phone yesterday, Marafa said President Goodluck Jonathan was ill-advised on the proposed coining of the lower naira denominations because it would amount to insulting and relegating Tafawa Balewa, Alvan Ikoku and General Murtala Muhammed whose portraits are on the notes.  

Marafa, who vowed to sponsor a motion against the proposal as soon as the Senate resumes from its recess, said: "I believe Nigerian women deserve to be honoured in whatever way. But coining the N5, N10 and N20 notes already adorned with the pictures of Tafawa Balewa, Alvan Ikoku and General Murtala Mohammed is relegating or reducing these prominent men, who had served the nation in different capacities, to coins. If you want to honour the women, they don't have to be known women, you could put five of them--one Hausa, one Yoruba, one Ibo, one woman from the southern minority and another one from the northern minority. I don't subscribe to the idea of relegating Balewa, Ikoku and Mohammed.  It will amount to throwing merit into the dust."



Daily Trust