Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has called on the state’s residents to continue accepting the old and new naira notes as legal tender. The Supreme Court had extended the validity of the N500 and N1000 senior notes until December 31, 2023.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, the governor urged businesses to accept the old notes. This decision is in inline with the ruling of the highest court in the country. He warned that the government would arrest and prosecute business owners found rejecting the old notes. He said it is unlawful for any business owner or service provider to do so.
The governor expressed concern over complaints that many businesses in the state had refused to accept the old naira notes as a means of transaction. He appealed to all residents of Ekiti State to abide by the Supreme Court ruling, which provided a breath of relief for the people by extending the validity date of the reintroduced old naira notes till December 31.
Ekiti State government is one of many states to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court in reversing the new naira policy. Other states have also argued the policy had inflicted excruciating pain and hardship on the people. It has, in addition, crippling economic activities.
