The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Thursday announced the indefinite postponement of the September edition of its bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

CBN spokesperson Isa AbdulMumin announced the postponement in a statement in Abuja.

The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on September 25 and 26.

“The MPC of the CBN has deferred its 293rd meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday,” said Mr Abdulmumin. “A new date will be communicated in due course.”

He did not offer any reasons for the postponement.

Meanwhile, a financial expert, Okechukwu Unegbu, said the postponement might not be unconnected with the ongoing probe of the apex bank under the leadership of its suspended governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Mr Unegbu, a past president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said the appointment of a new management team for the apex bank while Mr Emefiele and his team were yet to be officially removed might also be responsible for the indefinite postponement.

He, however, said it had no serious negative implications on the country’s economy.

“The status quo just has to be retained until the new CBN governor takes over and begins to implement his own policies,” he said.

At the last MPC meeting in July, the apex bank increased the benchmark interest rate (MPR) by 25 basis points to 18.75 per cent from 18.5 per cent, representing the highest interest rate in 22 years.

President Bola Tinubu recently approved the nomination of Olayemi Cardoso as the new governor of the CBN.

Mr Tinubu also approved the nomination of four new deputy governors for the apex bank.

The newly nominated deputy governors are Emem Usoro, Abdullahi Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor, and Bala Bello.

(NAN)