Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Emmanuel Badejo, has called on the federal government not to allow naira notes redesign to cause more hardship for the masses.

In a statement on Saturday in Ibadan, Mr Badejo said governance and policies must have a human face.

The cleric said that scarcity of the new Naira notes would inflict suffering on Nigerians.

He lamented that many citizens deposited their old naira notes without any guarantee of getting the new notes. 

He added that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s insistence on the January 31 deadline was only justifiable if necessary things were in place.

“Why should the general public suffer?” he queried. “The story is even direr in large swathes of the country where there is no banking service whatsoever within kilometres. Are those living there not Nigerians too?”

He lamented that the situation was more “complicated” given the fuel scarcity and increased price of commodities.

“All these are coming on top of skyrocketing prices of goods and services, sending the anger and frustration of struggling masses through the roof, with the 2023 General Elections only weeks away,” he said.

The Nigerian government and its officials must react quickly to the current hard times.

“If the monetary policy is hurting the same people it intends to serve, why can’t some modification be made to its timing and execution?” he asked.

He said the government policies and actions should be targeted at making life better for the masses.

“Therefore, in executing even the best and most urgent policies, the people’s interest must be at the centre,” Mr Badejo said. 

(NAN)