N65 ATM Charge As Representation Of Nigerian Problems
On September 1, 2014, Nigerians
woke up to the news that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has
re-introduced the N65 ATM charge for on the 4th of every third-party
bank withdrawal by all customers nationwide. Needless to say, many
Nigerians were – and still are – outraged.
Naij.com reader Vincent Chidozie appeals to President Goodluck Jonathan, expressing his surprise and condemnation of the new CBN measures, indicating that the latest innovation is only a part of the many Nigerian problems. “N65 ATM charge!” Mr. Chidozie exclaims and then asks, rhetorically, “Nigeria, which way?”
“Dear Mr. President,
“We are so tired of this “fresh air’’! We seek alternative in this your administration. We sleep with fears because we do not know what story we will wake up to the next morning.
“Just recently, we were celebrating a new CBN governor. Today, we woke up to the N65 ATM charge applicable for 3rd party withdrawal. Mr. President, why? Many of our youths are jobless, what solution have you offered to the menace? We now feel the job of a President is to relentlessly strategize with his cohorts on how to extort money from the people.
“Goodluck, why? We were enjoying the ubiquity of ATMs without any barrier for 3rd party machine usage. And now we’re getting the news of this N65 ATM charge.
“I have always wondered about the Nigerian administration system. I feel something is seriously wrong. One administration comes and makes a law, then another comes and make its own. Is it now a game of personal interest? Are national interests considered at all? How will N65 ATM charge benefit the masses, if not the CBN and banks?
“In Nigeria, who supervises the supervisor? Who manages the managers? The National Assembly, how effective are they?
“Oh, see what you guys have turned my dear country into! My country that was once full of dreams, full of pride and hope. The youth are fleeing now. Should we really regret the departure of the white men? I was wondering the other day if things would have been brighter had the country remained under British colonization rule.
“Mr. President, I am not against your person! But I feel you should be realistic about your interests. What do you want more, Mr. President, power or development? We are no kids. Even though we are young, we know that he who wants to solve problems can do that despite the controversial polity. Or should we run away from our country?
“Some of us decided to still stay in the country, believing we’ll create a niche for ourselves. But that is now a hallucination. Many sectors are bastardized. Where do we start from? The CBN? CAC? FIRS? LIRS? Regulatory bodie? SURE-P?
“Oh, my Nigeria, after all the lofty dreams as a kid, hoping to see a peaceful and beautiful country, all we have today is a mediocre mundane. Do we revolt? Is that a solution? Please do not charge me for treason and felony, don’t assassinate me. I know the Nigerian law is better for the common people without any vindication. We know the usual stories of the top guys, the story of ex-convicts who were granted state pardons, even those who embezzled bank funds…
“Let’s speak about the deadly Ebola virus which has invaded the country. N1.9bn brought out for it: is it for the usual “national chop-chop”? That, I’ll say, is another big national cake.Where do I start from? Is it the SURE-P fund which you and Okonjo-Iweala cannot give credible account for? Is it the funds mapped out to mobilize farmers? Is the lofty allowances for government personnel? Is it the massive anomalies and corruption in the police? Is it the irrational policies? And I’m not even talking about Boko Haram insurgency, because I know it’s not totally your fault… But we expected better anyway.
“We do not blame those who take up political positions and don’t discharge positively as expected. What we blame is the vehement resistance in vacating the position. We are scared now of driving in Lagos because police are like “immovable-tin-gods”. Sometimes we bribe them just to make our way, even when we are right. This is a nightmare. Oh, my Nigeria, will I ever see the bright you? You are blessed with natural resources, but cursed with human resources. What do we do, what do we do, what we do?..”
Naij.com reader Vincent Chidozie appeals to President Goodluck Jonathan, expressing his surprise and condemnation of the new CBN measures, indicating that the latest innovation is only a part of the many Nigerian problems. “N65 ATM charge!” Mr. Chidozie exclaims and then asks, rhetorically, “Nigeria, which way?”
“Dear Mr. President,
“We are so tired of this “fresh air’’! We seek alternative in this your administration. We sleep with fears because we do not know what story we will wake up to the next morning.
“Just recently, we were celebrating a new CBN governor. Today, we woke up to the N65 ATM charge applicable for 3rd party withdrawal. Mr. President, why? Many of our youths are jobless, what solution have you offered to the menace? We now feel the job of a President is to relentlessly strategize with his cohorts on how to extort money from the people.
“Goodluck, why? We were enjoying the ubiquity of ATMs without any barrier for 3rd party machine usage. And now we’re getting the news of this N65 ATM charge.
“I have always wondered about the Nigerian administration system. I feel something is seriously wrong. One administration comes and makes a law, then another comes and make its own. Is it now a game of personal interest? Are national interests considered at all? How will N65 ATM charge benefit the masses, if not the CBN and banks?
“In Nigeria, who supervises the supervisor? Who manages the managers? The National Assembly, how effective are they?
“Oh, see what you guys have turned my dear country into! My country that was once full of dreams, full of pride and hope. The youth are fleeing now. Should we really regret the departure of the white men? I was wondering the other day if things would have been brighter had the country remained under British colonization rule.
“Mr. President, I am not against your person! But I feel you should be realistic about your interests. What do you want more, Mr. President, power or development? We are no kids. Even though we are young, we know that he who wants to solve problems can do that despite the controversial polity. Or should we run away from our country?
“Some of us decided to still stay in the country, believing we’ll create a niche for ourselves. But that is now a hallucination. Many sectors are bastardized. Where do we start from? The CBN? CAC? FIRS? LIRS? Regulatory bodie? SURE-P?
“Oh, my Nigeria, after all the lofty dreams as a kid, hoping to see a peaceful and beautiful country, all we have today is a mediocre mundane. Do we revolt? Is that a solution? Please do not charge me for treason and felony, don’t assassinate me. I know the Nigerian law is better for the common people without any vindication. We know the usual stories of the top guys, the story of ex-convicts who were granted state pardons, even those who embezzled bank funds…
“Let’s speak about the deadly Ebola virus which has invaded the country. N1.9bn brought out for it: is it for the usual “national chop-chop”? That, I’ll say, is another big national cake.Where do I start from? Is it the SURE-P fund which you and Okonjo-Iweala cannot give credible account for? Is it the funds mapped out to mobilize farmers? Is the lofty allowances for government personnel? Is it the massive anomalies and corruption in the police? Is it the irrational policies? And I’m not even talking about Boko Haram insurgency, because I know it’s not totally your fault… But we expected better anyway.
“We do not blame those who take up political positions and don’t discharge positively as expected. What we blame is the vehement resistance in vacating the position. We are scared now of driving in Lagos because police are like “immovable-tin-gods”. Sometimes we bribe them just to make our way, even when we are right. This is a nightmare. Oh, my Nigeria, will I ever see the bright you? You are blessed with natural resources, but cursed with human resources. What do we do, what do we do, what we do?..”
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