PIC.5. PEOPLE QUEUE TO OBTAIN BANK VERIFICATION NUMBER (BVN) AT A BANK IN GARKI, AREA 3 IN ABUJA
The Senate on Tuesday asked the Central Bank and other banks in the country to carry out a vigorous campaign on its verification exercise to rural areas so as to create adequate awareness among the rural bankers.
Moving the motion on the floor of Red Chambers, Senator Biodun Olujimi representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, explained that biometric exercise of Banks at the rural level across the country was posing dangers to rural bank customers as they may not have access to their accounts because of the deadline.
“I am worried that the ongoing biometric verification number (BVN) may deny rural banks customers,” Olujimi stated.
In her submission, she expressed concern that the rural bankers were not carried along in electronic and print media, hence, majority of them were not aware of deadline for the exercise.
To second the the motion was Senator Dino Melaye, Kogi West Senatorial District; but Senator Egye Salihu Hassan opined that the motion in question as it affected Banks was private driven and sought for it to be stood down.
He said: “Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the Bank verification exercise is a follow up to Central Bank directive and it is private driven”.
Reading from order 55(2) to draw the Assembly to be guided in their responsibility to Nigerians, Senator Wakili Mallam Ali asked that the motion be given the needed attention in view of its importance, especially the fact that Banks exist as a result of acts of Parliament.
In prayers supporting the motion, the Senate urged the Central Bank of Nigeria and other Banks to sustain the enlightenment and make sure that bank customers at the rural level were not denied access to its services. .
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