It has been one week since the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that the old N1,000, N500 and N200 banknotes remain legal tender. However, many Nigerians are not accepting the money for transactions.

Development Diaries reports that the hardship imposed on Nigerians as a result of the never-ending cash scarcity continues to linger.

The apex court had ruled that the federal government’s naira redesign policy contravened the 1999 Constitution.

Nigerians beg for Buhari’s directive

Since the Supreme Court ruled on the validity of the old notes, some commercial banks have begun partial implementation of the ruling.

The problem, however, is that individuals and businesses continue to suffer as the old notes are still being rejected as legal tender.

Traders, commercial transport drivers and so on are wary of accepting the old notes as a means of transaction because the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has not issued any official directive on its use.

Development Diaries got the reactions of some Nigerians who called on the president to address the nation on the matter.

Pls can President Buhari make a public broadcast that people can now spend all the old naira notes denomination until Dec. Banks are paying the old Naira notes. Traders are rejecting it. They are waiting for his live broadcast. #Nigeria #presidentbuhari. #nairascarcity #naira

— christabel Bello (@kmagnificat) March 10, 2023

@MBuhari kindly make a public statement that you have authorized compliance with the Supreme court ruling on the validity of the highest naira denominations.
Nigerians are further suffering because of your silence.#Nigeria #nairascarcity

— occian f. diaali 🧢 (@occiandiaali) March 10, 2023

Please, Sir. @MBuhari kindly inform Nigeria the way forward with Naira.
I also appeal to you Sir @ProfOsinbajo #19years Burna Boy #InternationalWomensDay #nairascarcity

— Amah.T (@Officialamah_t) March 9, 2023

Development Diaries believes that the president and the CBN are taking Nigerians for granted by not saying anything about the apex court’s ruling. In fact, many Nigerians are refusing to accept the money because of the president’s silence on the judgment.

Even the CBN Act recognises the power of the president, so the CBN cannot do anything without the president’s approval.

We, therefore, reiterate our call to President Buhari to immediately address the nation of his acceptance of the Supreme Court ruling in order to ease the suffering of the masses.