Di Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) don call di Governor of di Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, make e cancel di recent increase wey dem put for Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction fees. Dem talk say di new charges no be only unfair, but e no follow law and e no just make sense.
SERAP beg CBN make dem no use dia policies take add more wahala for Nigerians wey dey already suffer economic hardship or contribute to human rights wahala. CBN bin announce say ATM withdrawals from bank machines wey no dey inside bank premises go now carry ₦100 charge per ₦20,000 wey person withdraw. If person withdraw money from standalone cash points, shopping centers, or airports, e go still pay extra surcharge wey fit reach ₦500. Di new charges go start on March 1, 2025.
For one open letter wey dem write on February 15, 2025, wey SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare sign, di organization talk say dis increase go affect poor Nigerians pass, and e go just make poverty worse. According to SERAP, na banks wey dey make big profits suppose carry di cost, no be to put am for people wey dey struggle to survive.
Di letter still talk say dis kain hike no match with President Bola Tinubu promise say e go fight poverty for di country. SERAP warn say if CBN no cancel di increase within 48 hours, dem go carry di mata go court to force dem to reverse di decision for di interest of di public.
SERAP still talk say di increase dey against di Nigerian Constitution, di CBN Act, di Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, and even international human rights standards. Dem accuse CBN say e dey use e power take do Nigerians anyhow by putting heavy charges wey dey unfair.
Di organization talk say CBN get responsibility under di United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) to make sure say e policies no dey cause economic wahala. Dem beg di apex bank make e check di human rights effect of di charges and stop all dis transaction fees wey dey make life hard for Nigerians.
