CBN seeks Exclusive powers on issuance and revocation of banks’ licenses
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is seeking legislative powers through the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to grant it exclusive rights to issue and revoke banking licenses.
The apex bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele said that licensing of banks and revocation of the same when a bank goes distressed will bring the country on par with the international practices and minimise duplication of functions.
Emefiele added that the proposed Act will help the CBN serve its purpose better by being able to identify the critical roles it plays in regulating the banks.
He proposed that the banking legislation should empower CBN to issue and revoke operating licences to banks while regulating them.
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) should be in charge of bank resolution activities after a licence is revoked, he added.
Emefiele said that the new amendments should consider “the Enhancement of failing bank recovery and resolution tool kit to give more options for managing failing institutions and systemic crisis without recourse to the public treasury; the creation of a credit tribunal to strengthen credit recovery processes and enforcement of collateral rights; strengthening the framework for reporting for insider transactions as part of measures to boost credit administration processes in banks; enhancements to regulatory measures for single obligor limits, transfer of significant holdings, etc. and strengthening of the sanctions regime to make it more deterrent.”
The governor also proposed to review and recognise the unique business models of new entrants, including non-banks into the financial services industry and a pool of several other amendments.
In his submission, NDIC Managing Director Alhaji Ibrahim said: “it was important that the CBN is involved in the process of licensing new banks.”
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