Business

Senate worried over 900% Microfinance banks’ capital base hike

886
Advertisement




A 900% increase in required minimum paid up capital by Nigeria’s microfinance bank has the country’s senate worried, Chairman, Senate Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim disclosed, Thurdsay, saying the such an astromical increase will torpedo the objectives of the financial inclusion strategy.

He did not say what the Senate’s next course of action on this might be.

The Senator was referring to a new order from Nigeria’s banking regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria which ordered an upward review of minimum capital base of microfinance banks operating State and Unit licences to N1 billion from N100 million and N200 million from N20 million respectively, while those operating with National licence were reviewed upward of 150 percent from N2 billion to N5 billion.

Kevin Amugo, Director, Financial Policy and Regulation department of the regulatory bank explained in a circular the microfinance capital requirements were raised in order to curb the challenges capital adequacy facing the sector; and to reposition it to meet critical critical targets in the microfinance policy.

But Ibrahim thinks this will deny several Nigerians the opportunity for financial inclusion.

Author

See also  NCC New Rule: Bank Customers to Pay USSD Charges Using Airtime

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Breaking: CBN Slashes Interest Rate to 23% as Inflation Edges Lower

By Samuel Akpan Nigeria’s apex bank stunned markets Tuesday by slashing its...

Oyedele, Cardoso Sign Pact to Tame Inflation, Debt, Forex

By Samuel Akpan The Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria...

Nigeria, Spain Explore Agricultural Partnership To Boost Food Production, Cut Losses

By Omoyeni Ojeifo Nigeria’s drive to improve food security and create jobs...

Lagos Int’l Trade Fair Complex Reiterates Commitment to Fair Business Environment

The Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board (LITFCMB) has reiterated its...