The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Dr Olayemi Cardoso has said he is confident that with support newly appointed Deputy Governors, support of all Nigerians and relevant stakeholders, will regain the trust and integrity of the Apex Bank and succeed.
Cardoso who on tweet said it is an honour to standing before the Senate and being confirmed and humbled to have been appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, adding that the challenges the country is facing are enormous.
The Governor thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the nomination and the Honourable President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio and all Distinguished Members of Senate for their time and consideration. “Lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support”.
On Tuesday, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Olayemi Cardoso as the Governor of the CBN and also confirmed the nomination of Mrs Emem Usoro, Mr Muhammad Dattijo, Mr Philip Ikeazor and Dr Bala Bello as the bank’s deputy governors.
Their confirmation followed the consideration and approval of a motion moved by Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti Central) while before confirmation, the Senate suspended its orders to facilitate the admittance of the nominees into the chamber.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Gumel led the nominees into the chamber. Thereafter, CBN governor and the deputies took turns to highlight their career profiles and professional experiences.
Cardoso said for 12 years, between 2010 and 2022 he had the privilege of serving as the chairman of Citi Bank where: “I dedicated myself to enhancing both the financial and non-financial operations of the institution.’’
He told the Senate that the issue of exchange rate of the Naira to other currencies was worrisome. “For the type of economy that we want, we need to have an exchange rate that is stable and we must apply short and medium term measures to achieve this,’’ he said.
Cardoso added that CBN’s new management team would evolve rules that are open and transparent and comprehensible by all players in the finance business.
“We cannot expect serious foreign investors, portfolio investors who have an impact on the market to do so if we do not have a transparent system that everybody understands and can rely on,’’ he said.
Earlier, President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio (APC-Akwa Ibom North-West) said the Senate reconvened from its annual recess to expeditiously consider and confirm the nominees.
He said the expeditious confirmation also resulted from of the emergency resignation of the former CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
Akpabio urged the Senate Committees on Finance and Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to regularly conduct thorough oversight of the CBN.
