South Sudan becomes the 44th country to ratify the Protocol on Women’s Rights

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June 15, 2023

South Sudan becomes the 44th country to ratify the Protocol on Women’s Rights

The Republic of South Sudan has deposited instruments of ratification to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, known as the Maputo Protocol, becoming the 44th Member State of the African Union (AU) to ratify the Treaty. Honorable Aya Benjamin Warille, South Sudan’s Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare deposited the instruments of ratification with the African Union Commission on the 7th of June 2023. This latest ratification coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Maputo Protocol, which will be celebrated this year on July 11, 2023.

As one of the world’s most progressive and comprehensive women’s rights instruments, the purpose of the Maputo Protocol is to protect, promote and affirm women’s human rights to exercise civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights as well as collective and solidarity rights, thus reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependency of human rights for African women.

In May 2022, the African Union Commission (AUC) through the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) in collaboration with the AU Liaison Office for South Sudan (AULO-SS) conducted an In-Country Advocacy Mission to the Republic of South Sudan to support the finalization of the ratification process of the Maputo Protocol, which started in 2017 when the Parliament of South Sudan signed the instruments in October, 2017. During the Mission, the Vice President H.E. Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, committed to ensuring that all regional and international instruments on gender equality and women’s rights, including the Maputo Protocol, are ratified in time for the 20th anniversary of Maputo Protocol.

South Sudan has made great strides in achieving its gender equality obligations. For instance, the country has reached 32% women’s representation in Parliament, surpassing the global quota of 30%. It has also established a Gender-Based Violence and Juvenile Special Court, which is regarded as a global best practice.

H.E Warille restated the commitment of the Government of South Sudan and the President H.E. Salvir Kir, to advance the rights of women and girls, not only in the country but to rally the same on the continent. “On February 24th 2023, H.E. the President appended his signature to the Maputo Protocol, which Parliament passed in 2017. The Ministry has worked tirelessly for a decade to champion for the ratification of the Maputo Protocol. It may have taken us 12 years but we are excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Protocol with the rest of the continent. We are excited to be a part of history. Now you can remove our name from the list of Member States that are yet to ratify the Protocol,” she stated. The Minister was accompanied by H.E. Ambassador James Morgan, South Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the AU.

Ms. Lehau Victoria Maloka, Head of the Coordination and Outreach Division within the WGYD commended South Sudan on the ratification. She conveyed the congratulatory remarks of the women who have walked the journey of achieving GEWE on the continent. “On 11th July, we celebrate 20 years of the Maputo Protocol. Last year during the In-country Advocacy Mission you made a promise that you would celebrate as a Member State that has ratified the Protocol. I congratulate you for keeping that promise. This is a testament to the commitment of South Sudan to upholding women’s rights. The next trip we take to your country will be to support you in domesticating and implementing the Treaty, including building your capacity to develop your reports and submit it to the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. You have our full support,” she said.

To date, 44 Member States have ratified the Protocol. 11 Member States are yet to ratify, namely Botswana, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Somalia and Sudan. The AUC reiterates its encouragement to all Member States to sign and ratify the Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights.

Relatedly, the African Union Commission adopted the African Union Strategy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (2018 – 2028) and the All for Maputo Protocol Programme, which identified ratification, domestication and implementation of the Maputo Protocol as a key priority to achieving gender equality on the continent. It aims for universal ratification, domestication and implementation of the Maputo Protocol by all AU Member States.

African Union Retreat on Institutional Reforms and the second decade of Agenda 2063 kicks off

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June 15, 2023

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African Union Retreat on Institutional Reforms and the second decade of Agenda 2063 kicks off

The African Union Retreat on Institutional Reforms and the preparations of the second decade of Agenda 2063 is currently underway in Kigali, Rwanda. The four-day retreat facilitated by the African Union Commission, brings together members of the AU Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC); African Union Organs; and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to review the mandates of the AU organs, Permanent Representational Offices, Specialized Technical Agencies, and Liaison offices of the African Union; and strengthen the working methods of the African Union Peace and Security Council and its role in conflict prevention and crisis management.

The retreat will also consider the progress on the division of labour between the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Mechanisms and Member States. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government have since adopted a framework that guides the division of labour through the sharing of competencies. The framework is anchored on the principle of subsidiarity, complementary and competitive advantage. The division of labour is centred around six pillars namely; Policy planning and formulation; Policy adoption; Policy Implementation; Monitoring, evaluation & reporting; Resource mobilization; and Partnerships.

Further, the retreat will discuss the second ten-year plan of Agenda 2063 that spans from 2024 to 2033. The Agenda 2063, adopted in January 2015, embodies the aspirations of the African people and is operationalized through 5 ten-year implementation plans, with the first plan spanning from 2014 to 2023. The implementation of the second decade of Agenda 2063 will be focused on acceleration, building on the first decade that focused on convergence. Valuable lessons learned from the first decade of Agenda 2063 have been captured in the biennial progress reports and the evaluation of the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan, among other documents, which in turn informed the design of the successor ten-year plan. Key among the revelations was the perception widely held by African citizens that Agenda 2063 is as relevant to the Continent’s development discourses as it was in 2013.

Speaking at the opening session of the retreat, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission lauded the progress of the reforms underscoring its relevance in repositioning the organization to deliver on the vision for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena. He noted some of achievements of the reforms highlighting, among others, the departmental structure of the AU Commission; the transformation of the NEPAD into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) with an expanded mandate; the autonomy of Africa CDC reinforced by a new statute; the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) structure; the expanded mandate of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM); the implementation of the Decision on Financing the Union for self sufficient financing through domestic resources including the Peace Fund, as well as the enhanced budgeting process. “This institutional architecture has proven itself. Beyond some delays observed for various reasons, it is important to note that for the first time in the history of the African Union, a reform decided by the Heads of State and Government has produced concrete and convincing results. Indeed, a quick glance at the tangible results obtained at the course of the last five years is enough to illustrate my point.” Read the full statement here.

Financing the reforms and Agenda 2063 remains a top priority. Prof. Manasseh Nshuti, Rwanda’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Charge of East African Community, underscored the urgency for the African Union to realize its vision for reliable and predictable financing mechanism stating, “the Union’s reliance on external partner funding demands sincere discussions to achieve operational autonomy progressively. Since the Kigali Summit of 2016, AU Member States fully fund the organization’s operating budget. However, the continued dependence on external partners for program budget and peacekeeping operations defeats the Johannesburg decision to achieve 75%, and 25% Member States funding. These shortcomings raise questions about our commitment to peacekeeping operations and conflict prevention.” Read the full statement here.

H.E Assoumani Youssouf Mondoha, Comoros Permanent Representative to the AU, and Chairperson of the Permanent Representatives Committee restated the importance of the retreat to deliberate on the key issues of reforms and Agenda 2063. He stated, “the two themes at the heart of our retreat today, namely the reform of the African Union and Agenda 2063, are important as they determine the future of our institution in an uncertain international context. The success of our work and the relevance of the recommendations that will result from it will determine the optimal, efficient and harmonious functioning of our organization for the decades to come.” Read the full statement here.

The report from the retreat will be considered in the processes of the AU Policy Organs before being presented for consideration by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

AU-SAFGRAD Support to the African Group of Negotiators of UNCCD towards Establishment of Global Protocol on Drought

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June 15, 2023

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AU-SAFGRAD in collaboration of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco just concluded a three-day meeting in Rabat, kingdom of Morocco. The meeting, which was held 6-8 June 2023, gathered the African Members of the two Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG) on Drought and on Mid Term Evaluation of the UNCCD Strategic Framework 2018-2030. The Two IWGs were established as key decisions taken in UNCCD COP15 that took place in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in 2022.

The main objective of the meeting was for the African Members of these 2 IWGs to discuss and deliberate on the mandates given to the groups and seek ways to strengthen Africa Position on the need to establish a Globally Binding Protocol on Drought.

At the opening speech, the coordinator of AU-SAFGRAD Dr. Ahmed Elmekass recalled the negative impacts of drought occurring at global level and more importantly its damages in most of African Countries. He also pledged for continent political backstopping to support the work done by experts. This will be particularly needed to strengthen our position for the next UNCCD COP in Saudi Arabia. In addition,

Mr. Khalid Cherki, the Chair of the African Group of Negotiators welcomed the support given by the African Union Commission through its specialized technical office AU-SAFGRAD and highlighted the need for the continent to push for the adoption of the Protocol.

The experts from the different groups went through agenda programme that include the progress on the work of the IWGs on drought and the Midterm Evaluation, presentation of proposed options for drought management, presentation on the submission on policy options by a consultant and the analysis made by other Regions.

The meeting concluded by a strong call for political backup to the negotiation process. At the end of the meeting the groups come up with clear negotiation strategy with the different policy options based on strong justification arguments. The next Committee on Reporting and Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) to be held in October in Uzbekistan will be a turning point and all focal points from Member States should keep open eyes to ensure drought agenda is well captured before heading to the COP16.

It is also expected the IWGs to harmonize their work for better synergy at continent level. A call for political backup from African Union Commission through the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) was recommended.

ECOSOCC Convenes Drafting Workshop to develop a Policy Paper on Unconstitutional Changes of Government

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June 15, 2023

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Economic Cultural and Social Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union (AU) convened a ‘Drafting Workshop to develop a CSO Policy Paper on Unconstitutional Changes` of Government (UCG) for Consideration by the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC)’ on June 8 to June 10, 2023.

The workshop was held under the framework of the European Union African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) IV Programme, jointly implemented by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), as part of ECOSOCC’s commitment to enhance the participation of African Civil Society in the APSA.

The convening of the drafting workshop was a direct and purposeful response to the recommendations derived from the 2022 Citizen’s Forum on ‘Democracy and Unconstitutional Changes of Government,’ orchestrated by ECOSOCC. The workshop was an invaluable platform that fostered meaningful citizen engagement within the broader continental dialogue on democracy and the persistent challenges posed by unconstitutional changes of government in Africa. With a keen focus on the recent surge of UCG incidents across the continent, the workshop amplified the crucial role that civil society plays in bolstering the endeavours of continental and regional institutions to effectively address and mitigate this pressing issue.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Mr. Kyeretwie Osei, Head of Programmes at ECOSOCC, underscored the urgency of addressing UCG in Africa. He acknowledged the escalating incidents of UCG in the Western African region in recent years and recognized the need to find comprehensive solutions.

Mr. Osei highlighted a number of initiatives that had already been undertaken by the AU including the Reflection Forum held in Accra in 2021, the Extraordinary Summit on UCG in Malabo in 2022, and the Citizens Forum on UCG in July 2022, which served as a complementary effort by ECOSOCC to combat the phenomenon from a civil society perspective. In spite of these ongoing actions and dialogues, the issue of UCG remains critical and demands heightened measures and concerted collaborative efforts.

The primary objective of the drafting workshop was to follow up on the outcomes of the Citizens Forum and generate a policy paper that would adopt a solution-oriented approach. Mr. Osei stressed the importance of understanding the root causes of UCG to develop effective solutions that would address the underlying problems. Furthermore, he highlighted the need to identify and rectify the inherent shortcomings within existing continental frameworks on UCG, thereby ensuring their genuine reflection of the issue and efficacy. In a similar vein, an additional point of contention raised revolved around the over reliance on punitive sanctions, which often resulted in hardship on citizens without effectively deterring future recurrences. Accordingly, the policy paper developed during the workshop sought to not only capture and tackle the issues that have contributed to the ineffectiveness of prevention endeavours but also functioned as a tool for informing decision-making, establishing policy priorities and guiding policy development for AU and its member states.

Considering the context surrounding the meeting, Mr Osei stressed the fundamental significance of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in providing advisory input to policy organs, leveraging their specialised knowledge and experience in the field.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Louis Sissoko, ECOSOCC’s Chair of the Political Affairs Cluster highlighted the profound and pervasive challenges posed by UCG in Africa. This troubling phenomenon has witnessed a surge in recent times, characterised by a series of military coups against democratically elected governments, interventions by mercenary forces seeking to supplant governments, the usurpation of power by armed dissident groups and rebel movements, and the refusal of incumbent governments to relinquish power following free, fair, and regular electoral processes.

These flagrant occurrences, as Mr Sissoko expounded, have had far-reaching consequences, adversely affecting citizens and impeding socio-economic development of the countries involved. Moreover, the implications for social cohesion, peace, and the security of citizens, as well as their individual and collective freedoms, cannot be underestimated.

“It is concerning that, despite the existence of numerous texts, treaties, conventions, protocols, and other instruments, regional and continental bodies have encountered formidable challenges in effectively combating unconstitutional changes of government and finding lasting, effective solutions. Therefore, it is imperative to uncover the underlying causes behind UCG and identify appropriate solutions,” he said.

Amb. Salah Hammad, Head of AGA-APSA Secretariat, stressed the need for a united and proactive approach to tackle UCG effectively.

“The convening of the Drafting Workshop marks a critical milestone in the ongoing efforts to address this pressing issue in Africa, and reaffirm ECOSOCC’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the participation of African Civil Society in the APSA,” he said.

Following an intensive three-day drafting session, the workshop concluded with the production of a Zero-Draft policy paper. The document encompasses impact-driven and solutions-oriented recommendations, as well as policy considerations, all of which reflect the diverse perspectives of civil society. It is poised to resonate with the Peace and Security Council of the AU, serving as a catalyst for decisive action.

The Zero-Draft policy paper provides invaluable insights into the essential tools and perspectives necessary to address the root causes of UCG. It highlights the pressing need to rectify deficiencies in current frameworks and calls for a transformative shift away from punitive sanctions. Instead, the emphasis is placed on cultivating sustainable solutions that effectively protect the fundamental rights, security, and freedoms of African citizens.

The successful conclusion of the workshop further exemplified the pivotal role played by ECOSOCC through collaborative efforts and engagement with partners and stakeholders.

ECOSOCC has demonstrated unwavering dedication to addressing the complex challenges of UCG and fostering a more democratic, stable, and prosperous Africa. Moreover, it has provided a platform for elevating the indispensable role of CSOs’ in advising policy organs and nurturing African solutions to African problems. By amplifying the voices of African civil society at decision-making levels, the workshop epitomised the potential for lasting change through collective action and collaborative endeavours.

The Third Meeting of the Expanded Mechanism for the Resolution of the Sudan Conflict

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June 6, 2023

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The Expanded Mechanism for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan convened its third meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting was chaired by Professor Mohamed El-Hacen Lebatt, Spokesperson for the AU Process for Sudan. The meeting presented to the members of the Expanded Mechanism the outcomes of the 1156th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) at the level of Heads of State and Government held on 27 May 2023, the AU Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan, as well as the next steps towards an inclusive, Sudanese owned process, that would end the fighting and put Sudan on the path to a democratic, civilian-led government.

The United Nations (UN) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) delivered statements as members of the Trilateral Mechanism. The UN provided an update on the status of the humanitarian assistance to the displaced population in Sudan. The IGAD expressed its commitment to fostering peace in Sudan and stressed the need for a single, inclusive, consolidated political process. The IGAD and UN commended the AU for its leadership role and reaffirmed their support for the AU Roadmap.

The Expanded Mechanism welcomed the outcome of the PSC Summit, including the endorsement of the AU Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan, as well as the upcoming regional consultations of H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the AU Commission and his emissaries to neighbouring countries.

The Expanded Mechanism expressed concern at the continued fighting and stressed that there is no military solution to the conflict. The importance of a coordinated approach to resolving the crisis and the need for an African-led Sudanese-owned process was underlined. The participants cautioned against the proliferation of uncoordinated initiatives that would undermine the collective effort and the sovereignty of Sudan.

The Expanded Mechanism welcomed the Jeddah Process facilitated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, which resulted in the Declaration of Commitments and the Short-term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangement and welcomed the five-day extension of the ceasefire announced on 29 May 2023. The Mechanism expressed concern at the lack of full implementation of the humanitarian ceasefire and the deteriorating humanitarian situation. In this regard, the Expanded Mechanism urged the parties to fully commit to undertaking their obligations to protect civilians and civil infrastructure and ensure the delivery of unhindered humanitarian assistance.

The role of the neighbouring countries was stressed, not only with regard to receiving large numbers of refugees, but also with respect to the potential spill-over effect of the conflict on the broader region.

The Expanded Mechanism welcomed the announcement by the AU that the inaugural meeting of the Core Group of the Expanded Mechanism will be convened in the coming days.

Africa moves to protect its interests in the global tax rules to increase revenues and stem illicit financial flows

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June 6, 2023

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Africa moves to protect its interests in the global tax rules

The African Union has concluded a three-day meeting of the Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration- Sub-Committee on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows under the theme “Tax in Africa: contemporary issues affecting the continent” and adopted recommendations that ensure African interests are protected in the design and implementation of the global tax rules, and ways to improve domestic resource mobilization for Africa’s development.

The meeting convened by the African Union Commission department of Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETTIM); and supported by the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), was attended by Experts and Senior Officials from the Ministries of Finance, Tax Administrations, Government Specialised Agencies, Central Banks of the AU Member States, representatives from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African Tax Experts, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Investigative Journalists, and Academia interrogated key issues on the tax regimes in Africa and made recommendations to guide possible reviews and reforms of national tax policies to protect Member States’ tax bases.

The meeting discussed parameters of the African position on the Promotion of inclusive and effective tax cooperation at the United Nations and on the consideration of the enactment of a Domestic Minimum Top-up tax for tax base protection ahead of the incoming global tax rules; adopted recommendations to use the VAT toolkit by ATAF for improved revenue collection on cross-border supplies; and identified areas where future legislative action or coordination would benefit Member States, the African Union and relevant partners, in regard to addressing the issue of wasteful tax incentives, stemming of Illicit Financial Flows respectively, and improving continental domestic resource mobilization necessary for the development of the continent.

The digital economy has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few decades, transforming the global economic landscape and reshaping the way businesses and individuals interact. This phenomenon has been driven by rapid advancements in technology, widespread internet access, and the increasing penetration of smartphones and other digital devices. However, this increased consumption of digital goods and services, delivered across borders and intangible in nature, has brought with it challenges on the difficulty in establishing the appropriate jurisdiction for tax collection, as well as determining the value for taxation purposes.

These developments have had a negative impact on Africa’s ability to mobilize revenues. Africa is therefore looking to actively engage in the global tax debate at the United Nations on International tax cooperation, and the opportunities it presents for increased domestic resource mobilization. Further, the new global tax rules will have an impact on existing national tax incentive policies and present an opportunity for African countries to protect themselves from ceding their taxing rights to countries where multinationals are resident on existing tax incentives lower than the 15% global minimum tax, according to the new rules. This requires African countries to enact domestic minimum top-up tax legislation to tap into this revenue. Similarly, revenue collection from e-commerce goods and services requires the implementation of simplified VAT regimes.

Amb. Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Economic development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, noted that to effectively operationalize the UN Convention on International Tax Cooperation, the process must be inclusive in incorporating the views of existing African structures and leverage the work of the UN Committee of Experts on International Tax Cooperation. Further, the Member State-led intergovernmental body ought to have a well-resourced technical structure to focus on specific pain points in developing countries not addressed by previous initiatives to address gaps in tax cooperation. “At the continent level, the core issue is how Africa can develop tax administrations to increase investments from the current level of 20% of GDP to 40%. By incorporating the views of existing African structures, the operationalization process of the Convention will ensure accountability and full ownership by the Member States.”

Raymond Nazar, Head of Policy Unit at the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Ghana and the Chair of Experts of Sub-Committee on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows called for improved tax collection systems supported by trade and investment to shield the continent from the vulnerabilities to external shocks and dependency. “Estimates show that enacting legislation to protect tax bases from losses due to tax incentives could result in an additional revenue of around $220 billion while cross-border transactions and e-commerce have the potential to generate approximately $40 billion in revenue for the African industry by 2023”. The domestic resource mobilization, he noted, is critical as the continent builds back economies from the Impact of; the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia- Ukraine crisis, climate change, drought and food insecurity.

With multilateral financing becomes increasingly inadequate, and while international private financing has become costly owing to poor credit ratings stemming from structural issues and systematic bias, and an international tax system skewed unfavourably toward developing countries, Antonio Pedro, Acting Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) underscored the need for a complete overhaul of the global financial system, the creation of an operational debt relief and restructuring framework, strengthened domestic resource mobilization as well as an inclusive international tax system. “Global financial architecture reforms need to be coupled with an international tax framework that can ensure the taxing rights of African countries in an inclusive and equitable manner. As such, it is critical to formulate an African Position on the UN Tax Convention.”

For Africa to realize the aspirations of Agenda 2063, Logan Wort, ATAF Executive Secretary emphasized the urgency in addressing the tax regime gaps to boost domestic resources mobilization noting the importance of domestic taxes such as VAT to African economies. “As directed by the Ministers in the 5th Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration, together with the African Union Commission, we have developed the Suggested approach to Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax. This is a design feature to offer protection to Member States who may be exposed to the effects of the Global Minimum Tax as agreed under Pillar Two of the Inclusive Framework”. Further, ATAF has published a VAT Digital Toolkit for Africa to help African jurisdictions secure VAT in the digital economy by providing support for the effective collection of VAT on e-commerce transactions.

To improve domestic resource mobilization, Africa is also keen on stemming Illicit Financial Flows to ensure sustainable development financing, critical for the realization of the goals of the AU Agenda 2063. GIZ Programme Manager, Gerhard Mai, restated the committed of GIZ in the fight against Illicit Financial Flows through the Good Financial Governance (GFG) Programme in Africa, and the Global Programme on IFFs by strengthening governance systems, tax administration and addressing IFF. “Your conference is of very high relevance since many countries – not only in Africa – are facing serious socio-economic challenges because of the impacts of the COVID 19 Pandemic as well as the Russia- Ukraine crisis. This leads to high inflation, reduced tax incomes and increased debts.”

The outcomes of the Sub-Committee meeting will be considered at the 6th Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration, scheduled from 17 to 21 July 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya to influence Africa’s policies and consensus on improved tax regimes, and stemming illicit financial flows towards increased domestic resource mobilization.

Separately, and in recognition of tax as a critical enabler for Africa’s development, the AUC and ATAF signed a memorandum of understanding for the latter to provide tax technical support to the Commission in implementing its tax strategy, addressing illicit financial flows (IFFs), and addressing emerging tax issues.

Africa CDC Launches Groundbreaking Initiative to Tackle AMR Crisis: Strengthening Workforce and Implementing Homegrown Solutions for Enhanced Surveillance

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cherryafrica

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June 6, 2023

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a growing and urgent threat in Africa. With nearly 1.3 million deaths attributed to AMR in 2019, Inadequate monitoring and control measures by governments have worsened the situation, hindering the prevention of resistant micro-organisms. If immediate action is not taken, millions of Africans are estimated to lose their lives to antimicrobial resistance by 2050.

AMR stands as one of the leading public health challenges of the 21st century, with Africa having the world’s highest mortality rate from AMR infections, resulting in 27.3 deaths per 100,000 attributable to AMR.

The Africa Union Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Control, 2020-2025 describes strategies for Africa CDC to improve surveillance, delay emergence, limit transmission, and mitigate harm from AMR pathogens.

Recent findings, paints the dire reality of the AMR surveillance situation across the continent and the urgent need for improved AMR surveillance in AU member states. The findings of the multi-country study are particularly concerning as most laboratories across Africa do not have the resources for AMR testing and surveillance. The continuous lack of surveillance data has hindered our understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance, antimicrobial use (AMU) and drivers of resistance on the continent. In response to this growing public health threat, Africa CDC has launched an international exchange study visits between Africa Union Member States for sharing knowledge and best practices on Antimicrobial Resistance surveillance system implementation and AMR control.

This initiative kicked-off with an exchange visit between Ethiopia and South Africa, convening public health experts from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and South Africa National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Centre for Health-Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mycoses (CHARM) for a collaborative learning experience on AMR surveillance implementation.

Participants shared their best practices for establishing and operationalising functional laboratory-based Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance systems particularly in resource-limited settings. This meeting took place in Johannesburg, South Africa from 22 – 26 May 2023.

“The Africa CDC is pleased to launch this initiative to strengthen workforce for improved AMR surveillance with homegrown solutions to implement AMR control”, said Yewande Alimi, Africa CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance & One Health Program Coordinator.

Both countries have documented remarkable progress in AMR Surveillance, the Ethiopian National Public Health Institute begun its laboratory-based AMR surveillance system 2017 and has expanded the participating sentinel sites through strengthening detection and response capacity of priority pathogens guided by WHO/GLASS AMR data reporting, national AMR prevention and containment strategy, EPHI laboratory-based AMR surveillance system guide.

Speaking at meeting, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), Dr. Getachew Tollera highlighted the criticality and timeliness of the exercise, stating, “We need standardized approaches to address regional and global shared threats such as Antimicrobial Resistance. Collaboration, partnerships, and networking with institutions like NICD are crucial for EPHI to be prepared and respond effectively to emerging threats.”

South Africa’s leadership in AMR surveillance across the continent is commendable. the countries participation in key initiatives led by Africa CDC holds great promise. Initiatives such as continental genomic sequencing through the Pathogen Genomics Institute (PGI) and the EQAFRICA regional project, funded by the Fleming Fund, have already made significant contributions to AMR surveillance in 14 African Union countries, with the NICD leading regional EQA reference capacity to enhance laboratory capabilities in detecting and monitoring AMR. In collaboration with Africa CDC, NICD aims to support AMR surveillance capacity-building efforts across the continent. Collaborative efforts such as this, have great potential for advancing AMR surveillance and laboratory improvement in the continent.

“It is a great opportunity for any country on the African continent to get an understanding of how surveillance of AMR surveillance is performed and how we can learn from each other in different settings on implementation of surveillance as the global AMR surveillance system is changing”, says Professor Olga Perovic,, Principal Pathologist, Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory and Culture Collection Centre for Healthcare-Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mycoses (CHARM) during the international exchange visit.

Africa CDC will continue to engage Member States on AMR surveillance and support similar learning opportunities for other countries with the aim of promoting and advocating for excellence in AMR prevention and containment intervention strategies in Africa.

The international exchange visits are part of Africa CDC’s effort to strengthen AMR surveillance in Africa by building capacity and providing technical assistance to support the development and implementation of surveillance systems while leveraging existing resources in AU Member States.

AU partners with UNESCO in support of the annual African Media Convention

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June 6, 2023

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The African media stakeholders in partnership with the African Union and UNESCO, held the second continent-wide media conference in Lusaka Zambia, from the 11-13th May 2023. This was in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day 2023 under the theme “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”.

The annual event brought together over 300 delegates from journalists’ associations, civil society, the academia, representatives from four AU organs and bodies, African governments, the UN and other media development partners.

The key outcome of this convention is the AMC declaration which among other things, draws the attention of governments in Africa, to pursue equitable sharing of revenues by tech giants to sustain ensure journalism and media sustainability and viability.

Highlight of this year’s convention was the training of the AU media fellows, through a partnership between AU Information and Communication Directorate, UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison office to AU, GIZ Liaison Office to the AU and WAN-IFRA Women in News. This joint effort was hailed by the participants as a timely and much needed programme by journalists at the conference, as it enhanced their capacity in the use of technology and artificial intelligence, especially in data journalism.

The participants further applauded the AU for establishing the AU Media Fellowship Programme, as a cross-border collaborative platform contributing to the Agenda 2063 aspirations. The AU, its bodies and Regional Economic Communities, were welcomed as co-hosts and requested to provide support for the Annual African Media Convention.

In addition, the delegates also welcomed the AU and its bodies to partner with the Africa media stakeholders, in carrying out the annual assessment of the status of press freedom, access to information and safety of journalists in AU Member States.

Noting the economic challenges facing the media sector, UNESCO was called upon to lead efforts in creating an African media fund, to finance and enhance media sustainability and viability. This was deemed necessary in protecting the media from political and economic pressures and thus consolidate freedom of the media in Africa.

Furthermore, following the consultations held during this convention on the proposed guidelines for regulating the digital platforms by UNESCO, the organisation was called upon to include in the next version of the Internet for Trust guidelines, a set of obligations for Tech platforms to safeguard, support and advance public interest news and journalism as a public good in society.

To ensure the recommendations emanating from this annual convention are implemented, a steering committee of nine members was established. This will guide the strategic evolution of the annual African Media Convention and also spearhead the development of an annual Africa Media Review Journal, to provide in-depth documentation of media developments and the African Media Convention.

More importantly, the African Media Convention steering committee will establish follow-up mechanisms for the implementation of all past, present and future recommendations on press freedom, access to information and safety of journalists on the African continent.

Import Dependency Puts Liberia In Precarious Position

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January 19, 2023

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Import Dependency Puts Liberia In Precarious Position

Cees Harmon writes that Liberia now needs to address import propensity and step up production as food insecurity threatens.

The Liberian soil is rich for agriculture. and, According to a January 2001 edition of Newsweek Magazine, Liberia has the highest freshwater per capita in the world. With such natural assets, Liberia should perennially enjoy adequate food security. But that is not so, at least for now.
According to the latest Cadre Harmonise (CH) analysis of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Liberia, about 373, 000 people were estimated to be in CH Phase 3 (Crisis) and above between October and December 2022, of which nearly 7,500 in CH Phase 4 (Emergency), due to high food prices and a slow economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic-induced downturn. The situation is projected to worsen in 2023, as about 530,000 people are projected to face acute food insecurity during the June to August 2023 lean season period. This includes about 21,350 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency).
As of October 2022, the country was hosting approximately 1,660 refugees, while nearly 90,000 people had been affected by floods by November 2022.
Levels of acute food insecurity are expected to increase in 2023. Food availability and access are likely to remain limited by high food prices and below‑average imports, exacerbated by the unfolding effects of the war in Ukraine on international trade and commodity prices. An expected further slowdown in economic domestic growth in 2023 is likely to compound food insecurity conditions for the most vulnerable households, according to the FAO.
Inflationary pressure and falling incomes are increasingly putting basic food beyond the reach of many households in Liberia. Moreover, with the current global food inflation, and Liberia’s dependence on imported rice, that staple is getting beyond the reach of many Liberians. Rice is Liberia’s staple of staples, a commodity that many believe contributed to the overthrow of two presidents in the country’s history.
The dire situation must have impelled the Liberian president, George Weah, to issue two Executive Orders affecting critical national issues germane to the security and well-being of citizens. One of the Executive Orders was on Friday, January 6, 2023, when he issued Executive Order #113 suspending the import tariff on rice.
Executive Order #113 is in consideration of the expiration of Executive Order #105 and the government’s commitment to ensuring that the prices of certain basic commodities on the market are affordable, and do not impose an unnecessary burden on the citizens.
“Now, therefore, the government of Liberia, in its desire to continue bringing relief to the public, hereby issues this Executive Order #113, suspending import tariff on rice as classified under tariff Nos 1005.30,00 (in packing of more than 5kg or bulk); 1006.30.00 (in packing of at least 5kg); and 1006.40.00 (broken rice) under the Revenue Code of Liberia Act with immediate effect,” asserted the President.
President Weah further indicated that Executive Order #113 is issued against the backdrop of an assessment and evaluation conducted by the government on the causes of increases in the price of various strategic commodities including rice with intent to ameliorate the situation.
In a more sustained move to ensure food security in Liberia, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Government of Liberia recently signed a €4 million agreement to study the West African nation’s rice sector in anticipation of large-scale investment to boost production, enhance food security and reduce dependence on imports.
The feasibility studies, financed by a grant from the European Development Fund under the Africa Investment Platform, will assess the entire rice value chain in Liberia, which produced just 170,000 tonnes of rice for its 5 million people in the marketing year 2021-22. By implication, Liberia produces on average 34 kilograms of rice per capita.
The studies will inform the design of an investment program by the EIB and Liberian partners expected to be launched this year, covering the entire rice value chain by improving production, building irrigation, upgrading food laboratories, and enhancing warehousing and logistics.
“Liberia is highly vulnerable to global food shocks, with more than two-thirds of rice consumed in our country being imported from abroad,” said Agriculture Minister Jeanine M. Cooper. “Liberia’s partnership with the European Investment Bank and the European Union will boost local rice production, create private sector jobs across our country and reduce agricultural dependency of other countries. The close cooperation between Liberia and Europe is strengthening food security and reducing the impact of the war in Ukraine and recent global economic shocks on Liberia.”
The importance of rice as a strategic commodity for Liberia continues to grow with its increasing population and the need to respond to nutritional challenges. The annual per capita consumption of rice (about 133 kg per year) in the country is among the highest in Africa. To meet the high demand, Liberia imports nearly 300,000 metric tons annually, costing an estimated US$ 200 million.
The country relies significantly on imports to meet its domestic cereal requirements. In the 2022 calendar year, imports of rice were anticipated at 350,000 tonnes, about 6 percent below the five‑year average. Imports of wheat and wheat flour in 2022 were anticipated at a historic low of 12,000 tonnes, nearly 75 percent below the five‑year average. The reduced imported quantities of cereals are mostly associated with global supply chain disruptions, high international prices, and the interruption of shipments of wheat from the Black Sea Region, amid macroeconomic difficulties that limited the country’s import capacity.
As of May 2022 (latest available data), retail prices of imported rice increased on average by 8 percent year‑on‑year, with peaks of up to 35 percent year‑on‑year in some southeastern regions, particularly River Gee County. Prices of other key food products, including palm oil and cowpeas, registered significant increases, and, as of May 2022, they were up to 65 percent higher on a yearly basis. The high prices of rice and other food products mostly reflect the increased transportation costs and trends in international markets of essential commodities.
While Liberians relish eating rice, the Liberian soil is not the most suitable for rice production. And that has been the situation for generations. A $200 million bill for the annual importation of rice for a country with an annual budget of US$806,587,341 is not sustainable.
An agriculture economist, Peter Gbelee, told this medium that Liberia does not have problems associated with natural conditions to produce food, but needs palate change. He said the government needs to give adequate statistics to give direction to the public on food production and consumption.
However, an improved economy will reduce Liberians’ vulnerability to food insecurity. Liberians will be able to afford the food they want to eat when the economy improves, an opposition politician noted.

CBN moves to cushion economy and Naira

By

cherryafrica

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December 27, 2022

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The signs that the Nigerian economy has been in doldrums were palpable and frightening: 130 million Nigerians in poverty, representing 63 per cent of the nation’s population, according to the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index Survey released by the National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS); inflation rate that accelerated for the ninth straight month to 21.09% in October of 2022 from 20.77% in the prior month, which was the highest since September of 2005; a decline in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product from 173.5 trillion naira the third quarter of 2021 to 45.3 trillion naira the same period; then a partially paralysed naira, almost N800 to one dollar on the parallel market. This paints a scary picture.

With this in place, something drastic and expedient needed to be done. Therefore, it was not surprising that the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) seemingly concerned with ensuring stability in the financial system, announced two major monetary policies that would either lift the economy and save the naira. Analysts say these policies can also plunge the two deeper the steepness of declension if not dexterously implemented.

First, on October 26, Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the CBN, announced the issuance of redesigned naira notes. He said the circulation would begin on December 15, 2022. by the stroke of pen of this policy, the old Naira notes will cease to be legal tender by January 31, 2023.

This was quickly followed by a new cash policy that places a limit on cash withdrawals to N20,000 daily for Point Of Sale(POS) terminals; N100,000 weekly for private individuals and N500,000 for organisations and corporate bodies weekly.

In redesigning the naira, Emefiele gave four reasons: One, to address the issue of individuals who have made currency fraud their main source of income. There were challenges in the management of the existing banknotes in circulation, especially those outside the banking system. This portended dire consequences for the integrity of the CBN and the country. Top of the challenges, he said, was hoarding of the banknotes to the tune that N2.73tn out of the N3.23tn currency in circulation as of September 2022 was outside the vaults of the commercial banks across the country.

Two, it would help in reducing the growing kidnapping and ransom industry as the access to large sums used for ransom payment; three, it will aid in lowering the rate of inflation and regulate the amount of money in circulation.

Emefiele also said the worsening shortage of clean and fit banknotes; increasing ease and risk of counterfeiting evidenced by several security reports and compliance with global standard to circulate new legal tender every five to eight years.

He elaborated that the naira redesign would help to rein in the currency outside the banking system and make CBN’s monetary policies more effective as well as deepen its cashless economy drive.

He said: “On the basis of these trends, problems, and facts set out above, and in line with provisions of Sections 2(b), Section 18(a), and Section 19, subsections (a) and (b) of the CBN Act 2007, the Management of the CBN has sought and obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign, produce, release and circulate new series of banknotes at N200, N500, and N1,000 levels.

“In line with this approval, we have finalized arrangements for the new currency to begin circulation from December 15, 2022 after its launch by President Muhammadu Buhari. The new and existing currencies shall remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31, 2023 when the existing currencies shall cease to be legal tender.”

The CBN announcement of the naira note redesign elicited reactions among experts and other agencies of government.

For instance, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, during the budget debate of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning in the National Assembly, said the CBN did not consult her ministry before taking the decision to redesign naira notes.

She said even though one of the reasons for the decision is to manage inflation, consequences are sure to follow.

“We were not consulted. It was an announcement that we heard. Part of the reason that was advocated is that it is one of the ways to mop up the liquidity to manage inflation.
“But there are also consequences – we are looking at what the consequences will be. There will be some benefits but there will be some challenges.
“And I don’t know whether the monetary authorities have actually looked very closely at what the consequences are and how they will mitigate it.”

However, President Muhammadu Buhari came to Emefiele’s defense when he said his administration will not go back on the plan by CBN to redesign the nation’s highest currency notes.

Buhari said this in London, UK, shortly after meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.

Also, the CBN Director in charge of Corporate Communication, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi said the CBN management, in line with provisions of section 2(b), section 18(a), and section 19(a)(b) of the CBN Act 2007, duly sought and obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari in writing to redesign, produce, release and circulate new series of N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes.

Nwanisobi urged Nigerians to support the currency redesign project.
He said currency management in the country had faced several escalating challenges which threatened the integrity of the naira, the CBN, and the country in general, adding that every top-rate central bank was committed to safeguarding the integrity of the local legal tender, the efficiency of its supply, as well as its efficacy in the conduct of monetary policy.
Part of the fears expressed by experts was that the dollar which has been on a steep rise in value against the naira may continue to promote the downward slide.

And true to the concerns, the sharp fall of the naira against the foreign currencies continued just after the announcement with the British Pound crossing N1,000 in the parallel market. Now, its about N925 to one pound.

Predictably, a few days after the announcement was made, the naira hit new lows against the dollar in the parallel (black) market. A dollar which earlier exchanged for about N700 hit almost N850 within days.

Also, as a result of the redesign policy, naira notes minted as far back as over a decade ago, were back in circulation. It was reported that bundles of cash minted in 2005 and 2008 were deposited in banks in a bid to beat the CBN deadline. Emefiele confirmed this when he said the bank has retrieved more than N1 trillion since its launch of new naira notes in a bid to move cash back into the banking system.

However, one of the secretive things about the naira design was the inability of the CBN to disclose how much it spent to carry out the exercise.

The apex bank was reported to have spent N281.07 billion to print bank notes between 2016 and 2020 and another N3.88 billion to destroy mutilated notes within the same period.

Experts say over N500 billion must have been spent to redesign this, questioning the rationale to spend such an amount at a time the economy is still in crisis. However, it is still in the realm of estimations.

The New Cash Withdrawal Policy

As the controversy surrounding the redesigning of the naira was still raging, the CBN on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, issued a new directive to banks and other financial institutions to reduce cash transactions in the country.

According to a new memo to banks signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, Haruna .B. Mustafa, individuals will only be able to withdraw N100,000 per week ( from over the counter, Point of Sale Machines or the Automated Teller Machines), while organisations can access N500,000 per week.

The memo among other things, stated: “Further to the launch of the redesigned naira notes by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, and in line with the cashless policy of the CBN, all deposit money banks and other financial institutions are hereby directed to note and comply with the following:
“1. The maximum cash withdrawal over the counter by individuals and corporate organisations per week shall henceforth be N100,000 and N500,000 respectively. Withdrawals above these limits shall attract processing fees of 5% and 10%, respectively.
“2. Third-party cheques above N50,000 shall not be eligible for payment over the counter, while extant limits of N10,000,000 on clearing cheques still subsist.
“3. The maximum cash withdrawal per week via Automated Teller Machine shall be N100,000 subject to a maximum of N20,000 cash withdrawal per day.
“4. Only denominations of N200 and below shall be loaded into the ATMs.
“5. The maximum cash withdrawal via the point of sale terminal shall be N20,000 daily.
“6. In compelling circumstances, not exceeding once a month, where cash withdrawals above the prescribed limits are required for legitimate purposes, such cash withdrawals shall not exceed N5,000,000.00 and N10,000,000.00 for individuals and corporate organisations, respectively, and shall be subject to the referenced processing fees in (1) above, in addition to enhanced due diligence and further information requirements.”

Part of the objectives of the policy according to the CBN, is that it aims at reducing the usage of cash and increasing the use of alternatives to cash due to the negative consequences of cash usage.

Other benefits include, the achievement of the nation’s vision 2020 objective; to reduce huge cost associated with cash handling (printing, storing, processing, distributing, etc); to increase convenience/access to payment (more payment options); to enable more transparency in payment systems, and allow for more effective monetary policy and to reduce cash-related crimes for safety of bank customers and the general public.

Accordingly, concerns have been raised by stakeholders. Top of these is the fear by political parties that the cashless policy will choke the political process, fundraising going into the 2023 general elections.

They argued that if Buhari had no access to funding in 2014, it would have been very difficult for him to win the elections. They also argue that the policy will create logistic problems, particularly in paying party agents nationwide will be difficult.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State accused Emefiele of targeting the political class with the new cash withdrawal limit.

The Director, Strategic Communications, National Election Management Committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Chief Dele Momodu, said the recent cash withdrawal policy announced would affect the parties’ funding activities, adding that “if enforced, the policy will strangulate the political process, not the PDP alone.”

He said: “Why make a policy that will largely affect the poor more than the rich? My worry is that most of our policies always target the poor. The PDP is worried about the poor market woman, the ordinary man on the street because we still run a cash-and-carry economy.”

On his part, the National Chairman of the Africa Democratic Congress, Chief Ralph Nwosu said the policy might pose a challenge to the parties, noting that the CBN did not carry out adequate sensitisation campaigns on it, stressing that it was politically motivated.

He said: ‘’How do you expect the ADC candidate to have the cash to do the things he wants to do and how do you think that this is the best time for such an undertaking?

‘’We have almost 200,000 agents that we must pay and 80 per cent of them live in rural areas. Is it that N2,000 or N5,000 that you pay them that you would transfer to each of them? How many of them have such a facility? So it’s completely inconsiderate of them.“

For the factional National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Alpha Muhammed, ’’you cannot overnight bring a policy that will seriously affect a project as big as the general elections.

‘’Definitely, cash has to move, people have to pay for logistics; you have to give cash to agents, you have to give cash to those who will transport people to rallies. It will definitely affect the success of the election and the campaign itself.’’

This was as the National Chairman and Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Party, Sani Yabagi said political parties would have logistical challenges if the policy implementation eventually takes off.

He said:“I think the government is trying to control the flow of money in circulation. We have all agreed that vote buying and selling is a cankerworm to our democracy. So, if the intention of the government is to curb the use of cash for vote buying, this will be good news for everyone.

“But will this not amount to killing an ant with a sledgehammer? Again, which is better: the medicine or the sickness? Government must think about this again particularly as it would affect the logistics of all the political parties.”

National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye said: “The poor will be affected no doubt but this is just a temporary measure. It is not going to last. It is part of the process to make the transition to the new currency seamless. The pain and difficulty will ease out very soon.

“Of course, it will take time for poor Nigerians to get used to this but they will eventually embrace it. Let me also add here that this is a process in the journey to a cashless economy. There will be a question or two about the timing, particularly with elections around the corner. Still, the rich and the poor should support it.’’

Contrarily, the spokesman of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko said his party would not support waivers for parties, adding that this may be a ploy to stash money that could be used to buy votes during the polls.

Not finding the policy palatable, the House of Representatives last week summoned Emefiele and asked the CBN to suspend the new cash withdrawal policy.

This followed a motion of matter of urgent public importance moved by Aliyu Magaji (APC Jigawa) during plenary. In the motion, Mr Magaji said small businesses, which are the major drivers of the economy, depend on cash for transactions. He added that the owners of these businesses are going to be negatively impacted by this policy.

He said although the CBN has the statutory power to implement monetary policy, the policy will have a negative impact on the economy at large.

He said: “Although the Central Bank of Nigeria has the right to issue monetary policies on the Nigerian economy to be able to guide and direct the economy to the right path of recovery and growth, however, the new policy rolled out by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will definitely have a negative impact on the already dwindling economy, and further weaken the value of the Naira as Nigerians may resolve to use the dollar and other currencies as means of trading and thus further devalue Naira and weaken the economy.

“It is good to have a cashless policy but we seem to be borrowing ideas and policies from other countries that are far ahead of us. We are comparing ourselves with the United States and the United Kingdom. These people are far ahead of us. We will get there one day but this type of policy disturbs the people that voted for us.

“The issue affects everyone, most of our people are in rural areas and everything is being done in Naira and cash. And somebody will wake up and make a policy that will start tomorrow, no consultation.”

Emefiele after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari said there was no going back on the policy, no matter the degree of criticisms.

He said: ” I am aware that they (federal lawmakers) have asked for some briefings and we will brief them. But I think it’s important for me to say that the cashless policy started in 2012.

“But on almost three to four occasions we had to step down the policy because we felt that there is a need for us to prepare ourselves and deepen our payment system infrastructure in Nigeria.

“Between 2012 and now 2022, almost 10 years, we believe that a lot of electronic channels have been put in place that will aid people in conducting banking and financial service transactions in Nigeria.”

Fearing that more than a million POS Operators may lose their jobs if the new policy is implemented, the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN) has written to the apex bank requesting exclusion from the policy.

AMMBAN in the letter dated: “All of these efforts are not aimed at making the CBN change her policy but for us agents to be recognized and enable us to have access to more funds better than the 20,000 a day as prescribed by the new policy.

“You will agree with me as agents that if all we can access is 100,000 a week /20,000 a day as cash for running our business, then we are practically out of business.”

There is no doubt that there will be severe consequences if the CBN goes ahead to implement the policy, both for the generality of Nigerians and the government and its regulatory agencies. How these issues are going to be mitigated is left to imaginations. Perhaps the CBN has shoulders that are broard enough to carry the weight.