New law to require the Nigerian central bank to fix exchange rates

306 views · Published 13 December 2016 · 0:44 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: CGTN Africa · 2016 · News & Politics

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A Nigerian lawmaker is proposing a new currency law that would revert powers to set the exchange rate to the central bank. The bill would repeal the existing foreign-exchange legislation, where market rates are mutually agreed between counter-parties, and allow the regulator to decide those rates itself. The Bank may determine the basic exchange rate, rate of purchase and sale of foreign exchange and arbitrated exchange rate in foreign exchange transactions. If passed, the legislation would give the central bank freedom to defend the naira, which has tumbled 37 percent against the dollar since Central bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, abandoned its peg in June. The draft has been through two readings in the Senate and will be put to a public hearing next year.

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