The House of Representatives has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop its directive on the addition of social media handles as part of ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) requirement for bank customers.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) and a few others at plenary in Abuja on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

Chinda said as laudable as the directive might appear, it would be unnecessary as it was likely to bear pressure on bank customers at this trying period.

He said the directive by the CBN was in conflict with the provision of Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 on the right to privacy of citizens.

The lawmaker said banks in the country already had the names, telephone numbers, passport photographs, emails, National Identification Number (NIN), Biometric Verification Number (BVN), utility bills, and other basic requirements to identify, know, and monitor customers.

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Chinda said there were better means of monitoring money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing such as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

Others include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), intelligence and crime tracking agencies, among others.

He said if the directive took effect, Nigerians who were not on social media, with large turnovers from their businesses and trades would be compelled to or systematically excluded from formal banking systems.

Chinda added that this would come with its attendant negative effects and implications.

He expressed worry about the untold hardships the directive would cause millions of Nigerians, especially the illiterates, or semi-literate business owners, traders, and entrepreneurs living in the villages.

According to him, implementing the CBN’s directive at this point may clearly be unnecessary as it is likely to bear a lot pressure on teeming Nigerian masses.

Adopting the motion, the House stressed the need to revisit and halt the CBN directive to reduce the hardship and pain faced by Nigerians.

The House mandated the Committee on Banking and Currency (when constituted) to investigate the matter and report back within three weeks for further legislative action.

The House also mandated the Committee on Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure implementation.

The Star