Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara State, has claimed that he resumed to an empty state treasury.

In an interview with TVC on Wednesday in Abuja, the governor revealed that he inherited N13 billion in unpaid pensions and gratuities from previous administrations in the state.

However, he noted that his administration has settled around N9 billion of the debt owed to Zamfara workers, adding that the remaining balance will be cleared in the coming months.

The issue of unpaid pensions and salaries is not new to the system.

Lawal made it known that the pensions and gratuities date back to 2011, which is 13 years before his administration.

He expressed concern over the heavy burden placed on his administration.

Accumulated debt backlogs from the previous administration, including sectors such as education, electricity, and water resources, seem to be weighing down Lawal’s government.

However, the state governor is confident and determined. According to him, his government is diligently working to resolve the issue of debt.

In his words: “We inherited a very empty treasury with a backlog of four months’ salaries for Zamfara State workers. We were able to settle that. We are set to settle N1.3 billion for NECO. We were able to settle N1.4 billion for WAEC. We also settled N1.4 billion for Kedco because, when we took over, almost all the ministries, including the government house, were disconnected from electricity.

Since 2011, Zamfara has not paid pensions and gratuities to the tune of N13.4 billion. Guess what? We have already cleared about N9 billion as of today. The remaining balance will be paid within the next couple of months,” Lawal said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied reports of reintroducing the previously suspended cybersecurity levy on electronic transfers.

Recall that the CBN had, on May 20, 2024, withdrawn an earlier directive mandating all commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks, as well as mobile money operators, to charge a 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy on all electronic transfers.

The cybersecurity levy was initially issued by the Central Bank on May 6, 2024.

However, later reports suggested that the apex bank reinstated the levy, claiming that the percentage had been reduced from 0.5% to 0.005% in the new guidelines.

Part of the statement read: “The CBN shall continue to enforce the payment of the mandatory levy of 0.005 percent on all electronic transactions by banks and other financial institutions, in accordance with the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.”

“Pursuant to the circular titled ‘Issuance of Risk-Based Cybersecurity Framework and Guidelines for Deposit Money Banks and Payment Service Providers,’ referenced BSD/DIR/GEN/LAB/11/25, and dated October 10, 2018, issued by the CBN to combat the increasing cybersecurity threat in the banking industry, banks and Payment Service Providers (PSPs) are mandated to adhere to the guidelines on the risk-based cybersecurity framework.”

Reacting to these reports, the CBN, in a statement on Friday, clarified that there is no reversal on the suspension of the cybersecurity levy.

The apex bank made this clarification in a statement titled, “Clarification on the Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade, and Exchange Policy Guidelines for Fiscal Years 2024 – 2025 (Monetary Policy Circular No. 45).” It stated that the earlier released circular had been misinterpreted or misrepresented.

The CBN “reiterates that the publication is a compilation of previously issued policies and guidelines from the Bank up to a cut-off date, typically December 31 of the relevant year.”

The presidency has refuted reports alleging that President Bola Tinubu had asked Yemi Cardoso to resign from his position as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The report claimed that the president ordered Cardoso to resign following his inability to stop the poor performance of the economy, most especially, the free fall of the Naira.

Also, the report alleged that Tinubu gave the order to Cardoso before departing Nigeria for China.

However, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has countered the report suggesting that Tinubu ordered Cardoso’s resignation.

The presidential spokesman spoke via his X handle, describing the report as a “bundle of lies.”

“It’s all lies. President Tinubu has not asked Yemi Cardoso to resign,” Onanuga said while dismissing the report.

Cardoso was nominated as CBN Governor by President Tinubu on September 15, 2023, and assumed office as CBN Governor on September 22, 2023.

He and his deputies were cleared by the National Assembly days before he took over from acting CBN Governor, Folashodun Shonubi.

Cardoso has been under heavy pressure to address the ongoing economic challenges and stabilise the Naira.