… Persons with Disabilities Seek Apex Bank’s Intervention
Despite complaints by bank customers over indiscriminate and multiple deductions from depositors monies, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has instructed financial institutions to ensure compliance to regulatory standards or face stricter penalties.
Banks, in the past few years, have brought up divers levies, fees and charges, claiming to be implementing a few of CBN directives. These charges include ATM Maintenance fee, ATM Card acquisition charge, fund withdrawal charges, CBN Electronic Money Transfer levy, Tax on withdrawals, Withholding Tax, SMS charges (higher than what MNOs charge the banks) and sundry charges.
However, this latest warning from the CBN’s Deputy Director, Consumer Protection Department, Jamiu Rabiu, was in response to banks’ lacklustre compliance with consumer protection standards at a high-level policy roundtable on financial inclusion for Persons with Disabilities (PWD), organised by the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) on Monday.
Rabiu highlighted the ineffectiveness of current fines in deterring recurring issues in the banking sector.
His remarks were in response to concerns raised by Persons with Disabilities who criticised the CBN for insufficient efforts to promote inclusivity in the financial sector.
They argued that the current penalties are not strong enough to deter banks from repeatedly violating their rights.
Rabiu said efforts were ongoing to increase the fine imposed on erring banks.
He said: “We’ve made several efforts, even reaching out to the Bankers’ Committee, because they work closely with the banks to address issues at the level of senior government. They’ve created groups aimed at preventing fraud.
“We’ve held discussions and gone over everything, but when things go back to the status quo, the same issues arise. I believe we need to strengthen our regulations and even increase the fines imposed.
“For instance, Madam mentioned that when we imposed fines of around N2m to N3m, it wasn’t yielding significant results. Whenever there’s an issue, the banks don’t always act.
“Recently, our Deputy Governor questioned why we were imposing only 2 million in fines. We are now considering increasing these fines. If payments are not made within a specified period, there will be an additional N2 million charge per day. Or if payment takes 6 months, we would calculate the total days to determine the accumulated fine. I believe increasing these fines is essential. This is a work in progress.”
He noted that the CBN would have to get the buy-in of the banking authorities to increase the fines to ensure better compliance from banks.
Rabiu said the Apex bank needs to coordinate with the banking authorities so that the Deputy Governor can approve higher fine amounts. “Not just 5 or 10 million. We are aiming to raise it to around 100 million, which we believe would drive better compliance from the banks.”
Executive Director of CADEF, Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, stressed the importance of these changes, particularly for PWDs, who often struggle to access digital financial services due to inadequate infrastructure.
She said: “The meeting with stakeholders was organised because of the challenges PWDs encounter accessing digital financial services. We realise that their needs are not being met by the financial institutions whether online or offline.
“We are collaborating with CBN, FCCPC and a technical committee that would come up with a person with Disabilities Bill of Rights so that enforcement and sanction can be given.”
