Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC) says it has kept close tabs on the Naira redesign and cash swap policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), although the implementation has caused serious hardships, which should be immediately addressed for the sake of millions of Nigerians.
SERDEC is not losing sight of the benefits of the policy in the area of curbing vote buying and commended the government’s efforts to tackle vote buying during the general elections.
The Executive Director of SERDEC, Comrade Tijani Abdulkareem in a statement on Thursday, said the historic 2023 general elections present Nigerians with a unique opportunity to make their democratic choices. The President is therefore on the right path with respect to the government’s efforts to stop the anti-democratic activities of vote buyers and other enemies of free, fair, and credible elections.
Nonetheless, SERDEC believes that the ordinary people in the country need not bear the brunt of this policy. It is SERDEC’s considered position that the government, through its law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies put more spotlight on political actors’ financial activities, he added.
“SERDEC, therefore, calls on the President to mandate the Nigeria Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Financial Intelligence Unit to keep a close watch on the financial activities of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and political parties in the weeks before, during and after the elections.
“We believe this is a more effective way to address the threat of vote buying, without disrupting the economy and the livelihood of honest and hardworking Nigerians.
“SERDEC reiterates its concurrence on the need to safeguard the right of Nigerians to freely elect their leaders, without coercion or inducement. We, therefore, stand with all well-meaning efforts to ensure the votes of the Nigerian people count.”
