Economy

CBN Bows to Pressure, reviews Cash Withdrawal Limits

Published

2 years ago

December 22, 2022

The Central Bank of Nigeria has increased the maximum weekly limit for cash withdrawals across all channels by individuals and corporate organisations to N500,000 and N5 million, respectively.

The directive is contained in a circular issued by the bank on Wednesday and signed by the director of banking supervision department, Haruna Mustafa.

The development is coming two weeks after the CBN reduced the weekly over-the-counter cash withdrawal limit for individuals to N100,000 and that of corporate organisations to N500,000.

The PUNCH reports that the apex bank also reduced withdrawals at Automated Teller Machines and point-of-sale terminals to N20,000 daily.

The policy had generated mixed reactions among Nigerians, with the House of Representatives also wading into the matter.

In the Wednesday circular, the apex bank said it made the upward review based on feedback received from stakeholders.

“The CBN hereby makes the following reviews: (1) the maximum weekly limit for cash withdrawal across all channels by individuals and corporate organisations shall be N500,000.00 and N5,000,000.00 respectively.

“2. In compelling circumstances where cash withdrawal above the limits in (1) is required for legitimate purposes, such requests shall be subject to a processing fee of three per cent and five per cent for individuals and corporate organisations, respectively.

“Further to (2) above, the financial institution shall obtain the following information from the customer, at the minimum, and upload same on the CBN portal created for the purpose: valid means of identification of the payee (national ID, international passport, or driver’s license), bank verification number of the payee, tax identification number of both the payee and the payer, and an approval in writing by the MD/CEO of the financial institution authorising the withdrawal.

“Third party cheques above N100,000 shall not be eligible for payment over-the-counter, while the extant limit of N10 million on clearing cheques still subsist.”

The CBN also said monthly returns on cash withdrawal transactions above the specified limits should be rendered to the banking supervision department, other financial institutions supervision and payments system management departments.

It added, “Compliance with extant AML/CFT regulations relating to the KYC, ongoing customer due diligence and suspicious transaction reporting etc. is required in all circumstances.

“Customers should be encouraged to use alternative channels (internet banking, mobile banking apps, USSD, cards/POS, eNaira, etc.) to conduct their banking transactions.

The apex bank noted that it recognised the vital role that cash played in supporting underserved and rural communities and would ensure an inclusive approach as it implemented the transition to a more cashless society.

“All banks and OFls are to note that aiding and abetting the circumvention of this policy will attract severe sanctions,” CBN said.

“The above directives supersede that of December 6, 2022 and take effect nationwide from January 9, 2023,” the CBN said.

Economy

FAAC: FG, States and LGs Share N1.203 trn for August

Published

2 weeks ago

September 18, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

By Sule Musa

. . .

A total sum of N 1.203 trillion August 2024 Federation Accounts Revenue has been shared to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils in the country.

The revenue distribution was announced at the September 2024 meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), in Abuja.

The N1.203 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N186.636 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N533.895 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N15.017 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N468.245 billion.

Sakirat Oluwatoyin Madein
Accountants-General of the Federation

A communiqué issued by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicated that total revenue of N2.278 trillion was available in the month of August 2024. Total deduction for cost of collection was N81.975 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N992.617 billion.

According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.221 trillion was received for the month of August 2024. This was lower than the sum of N1.387 trillion received in the month of July 2024 by N165.994 billion

Gross revenue of N573.341 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in August 2024. This was lower than the N625.329 billion available in the month of July 2024 by N51.988 billion.

The communiqué stated that from the N1.203 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received total sum of N374.925 billion and the State Governments received total sum of N422.861 billion. The Local Government Councils received total sum of N306.533 billion and a total sum of N99.474 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

On the N186.636 billion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N71.624 billion and the State Governments received N36.329 billion. The Local Government Councils received N28.008 billion and the sum of N50.675 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

From the N533.895 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N80.084 billion, the State Governments received N266.948 billion and the Local Government Councils received N186.863 billio

A total sum of N2.252 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N15.017 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL). The State Governments received N7.509 billion and the Local Government Councils received N5.256 billion.

From the N468.245 billion Exchange Difference revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N220.964 billion and the State Governments received N112.076 billion. The Local Government Councils received N86.406 billion, while the sum of N48.799 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

In August 2024, Oil and Gas Royalty, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Import and Excise Duties, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), CET Levies and Companies Income Tax (CIT) all recorded decreases.

The balance in the ECA was $473,754.57

Economy

No Plan to Increase VAT, FG Denies Speculation

Published

4 weeks ago

September 9, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

By Sule Musa and Ojone Grace Odaudu

The Federal Government has officially debunked reports suggesting that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration plans to raise Nigeria’s Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 7.5% to 10%.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, in a statement on Monday, clarified that there is no such proposal under consideration, emphasising President Tinubu’s commitment to fiscal stability.

Edun highlighted that the current VAT rate remains unchanged, and that the Federal Government is focused on strengthening the economy through sustainable policies aimed at reducing inflationary pressures without burdening citizens. He also stressed that recent fiscal measures, such as suspensions on import duties for key goods, are part of President Tinubu’s efforts to alleviate economic hardship.

The Federal Ministry of Finance, he reiterated, remains committed to transparent communication on all tax and economic policy matters, ensuring that citizens are well-informed and not misled by unfounded reports.

The Minister assured the public that any future tax reforms would be announced through official government channels to avoid misinformation.

Economy

Local Government Autonomy: FG Sets Up Committee on Enforcement

Published

2 months ago

August 20, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

By Sule Musa

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON, has inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the Supreme Court judgement delivered on 11th July, 2024 granting financial autonomy to Local Governments in Nigeria.

A statement by Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations in the office of the SGF said the members of the committee include:

1. Secretary to the Government of the Federation – Chairman

2. Hon. Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy -Member

3. Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice – Member

4. Hon. Minister of Budget & Economic Planning

5. Accountant General of the Federation

6. Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria

7. Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance)

8. Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission

9. Representative of State Governors

10. Representative of Local Governments

According to the statement, the committee’s primary goal is to ensure that local governments are granted full autonomy, allowing them to function effectively without interference from state governments.

Inaugurating the committee, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Chairman of the Committee, Senator George Akume, this move is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to ensure appropriate implementation to the provisions of the Constitution, which recognizes local governments as the third tier of government.