Kaduna State Government has directed all its ministries, agencies and departments to continue accepting payments in all denominations of the new and old naira notes.
This was as the state government also warned against the breakdown of law and order, reiterating that any form of protest is prohibited.
A statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, said the directive was in compliance with a subsisting Supreme Court order, which allows continuous use of all the old naira notes.
The statement reads: “In line with the subsisting order of the Supreme Court, the Kaduna State Government has directed its ministries, departments and agencies to ensure that their collection agents continue to accept payments made in all denominations of the naira, old and new.
“The laws of Kaduna State does not allow personnel of government agencies to be involved in cash collection of revenues. The collection agents authorised by state government agencies do offer citizens a route for cash payment, and are expected to comply with the subsisting court order.”
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said the Kaduna State Government received credible intelligence reports of plans by various groups to deliberately disrupt public peace by organising street protests.
He reminded citizens that such protests remain strictly prohibited.
Aruwan said the government continues to empathise with citizens subjected to untold distress as a result of the CBN cash swap policy.
He said: “The Government of Kaduna State, and other concerned state governments, are deploying the full instrumentality of the law to attain a proper resolution, and thus bring relief to citizens.
“Government is also studying options for addressing challenges being faced by citizens with regard to transport to their places of work.
“Any resort to unruly or violent conduct is illegal and against the public interest which values law and order.
“Security agencies have been placed on high alert and have been directed by the Government to decisively uphold law and order.
“Citizens are therefore urged to maintain calm, and to remain peaceful and law-abiding as they prepare to exercise their civic franchise in an atmosphere free of all forms of threat.”
