Friday 27 April 2018

Cbn pode relaxar a política forex esta semana


A CBN pode relaxar a política forex esta semana.


Economistas do FMI para revisar as políticas da FG.


Por Jide Ajani, Emeka Anaeto, Umoru Henry, Levinus Nwabughiogu e Joseph Erunke.


Em consequência das pressões e da admoestação aberta do presidente do Senado, Bukola Saraki, e mais intensa pelo Diretor Gerente do Fundo Monetário Internacional, FMI, Christine Lagarde, o Banco Central da Nigéria, a CBN, pode relaxar sua política no forex nesta semana.


A vanguarda do domingo aprendeu que, além da chamada feita pelo presidente do Senado durante a audiência da semana passada com o chefe do FMI no CBN, também foi revelado que Lagarde apontou, em termos inequívocos, os perigos da política forex continuada instituída pelo banco do ápice nos últimos oito meses.


Durante as sessões de portas fechadas entre o governador do CBN, Godwin Emefiele e o presidente do Senado, Saraki, por um lado, e outro com a Sra. Lagarde, pareceu haver uma deriva para uma posição consensual sobre a política forex restritiva.


Embora a Emefiele, de acordo com uma fonte nas sessões privadas, não tenha cedido muito sobre a possibilidade do banco do ápice de uma revisão de políticas, a Vanguarda do domingo foi feita para acreditar no fim de semana que, à luz da esperada visita dos economistas do FMI nesta semana, A política pode ser relaxada.


O mercado de câmbio testemunhou a introdução de várias restrições de câmbio em 2018. A primeira restrição notável foi o fechamento do mercado de câmbio oficial (Leilão de varejo de varejo) em 18 de fevereiro de 2018, o que se traduziu em uma nova desvalorização do naira para N197 por dólar de N165 por dólar.


O presidente Muhammadu Buhari recebeu o diretor-gerente do FMI, Christine Lagarde, em Abuja.


A segunda restrição notável foi a Exclusão de 41 países do mercado oficial de câmbio.


Então, em agosto, o CBN proibiu a aceitação de depósito em moeda estrangeira em contas domiciliares.


Além disso, houve redução no limite de uso de cartões de débito naira no exterior. De US $ 150.000 por ano, o limite foi fixado em US $ 50.000 por ano por cartão de débito naira. O limite diário de retirada de dinheiro foi fixado em US $ 300 no exterior.


Durante o ano, o CBN proibiu os bancos de vender câmbio para o Bureau De Change (BDCs), enquanto revisava as diretrizes operacionais dos BDCs e, no processo, proibiu qualquer forma de relacionamento de vendedores ambulantes de moeda estrangeira (mercado negro) e operações de filial.


Essas restrições, associadas à diminuição do fluxo de moeda estrangeira devido ao declínio contínuo dos preços do petróleo bruto, bem como a expectativa contínua de uma nova desvalorização do naira, levaram a uma conseqüente depreciação do naira no mercado paralelo. A taxa de câmbio do mercado paralelo do naira subiu de N179 / N185 no início de 2018, fechando o ano em N280 a um dólar.


E, de fato, como uma equipe de economistas do Fundo Monetário Internacional, o FMI, está prevista para chegar a Nigéria nesta semana, há indícios de que o poder executivo e as armas legislativas do governo podem ter iniciado um processo de troca de cavalos com vista a tornar a Projeto de Crédito de 2018, mais implementável.


Uma fonte do Ministério das Finanças disse ao domingo a Vanguard que as discussões com o diretor-gerente da FMI, a Sra. Christine Lagarde, que visitaram ambos os braços do governo na semana passada exigiram grandes alterações ao Bill, um desenvolvimento que representou um desafio de como o Bill poderia ser legalmente retirado das duas câmaras da legislatura.


Mas a fonte do Ministério das Finanças disse que o governo não está planejando retirar o projeto de lei ainda pendente de novas discussões e entendimentos com a Assembléia Nacional.


Lagarde, enquanto respondeu a perguntas sobre o orçamento de 2018, havia declarado na semana passada que "uma equipe de economistas vai chegar aqui (Nigéria) na próxima semana para revisar e auditar (o Bill) e ter uma boa discussão com as autoridades governamentais para realmente avaliar se o financiamento está em vigor, se a dívida é sustentável, se os custos de empréstimos são sensíveis e qual a estratégia a ser implementada para enfrentar desafios futuros ".


O chefe do FMI realizou reuniões com o Banco Central da Nigéria, a Ministra das Finanças, a Sra. Kemi Adeosun, o Ministro Nacional do Planejamento, Udo Udoma, outros membros do Conselho Executivo da Federação, a EXCOF, a liderança da Assembléia Nacional e os principais executivos da bancos. Ela também teve sessões de porta fechada com o presidente, Mohammadu Buhari, e o vice-presidente, Yemi Osinbajo.


Esta semana, o time dos economistas do FMI deve reunir-se com todos esses funcionários do governo e muitos mais, incluindo os líderes do setor privado.


O domingo Vanguard aprendeu que as áreas de discussão para as ações políticas necessárias e as mudanças no orçamento de 2018 incluem geração de receita, sistema tributário, preços dos combustíveis, política cambial, redução das despesas recorrentes, especialmente no que se refere ao custo de governança, alocações de infraestrutura, saúde, setores de habitação e educação.


Outras áreas de possível alteração no conteúdo do Projeto de Crédito de Aprovação, Sunday Vanguard aprendido, também incluirão, mas não se limitarão a empréstimos para financiar o orçamento onde o governo federal já havia declarado que iria emprestar cerca de N2.1 trilhões para financiar o orçamento déficit.


Além disso, a equipe discutirá maneiras de melhorar a eficiência do serviço público do país, criação de ferramentas para gerenciar o impacto do declínio das receitas do petróleo e medidas para reduzir vazamentos.


Além disso, a equipe colocaria medidas para abordar entradas de capital estrangeiro, criação de riqueza nos setores de energia e transporte, melhores opções para gerenciar vulnerabilidades a curto prazo para choques financeiros econômicos internacionais, bem como estratégias para políticas aprimoradas e construção de instituições mais fortes.


Eles também discutirão o quadro para alcançar um crescimento inclusivo e sustentável, redução da pobreza e boa governança nos níveis mais baixos de governo, estados e governos locais.


Falando ao domingo Vanguard durante o fim de semana, no contexto das preocupações expressas por alguns observadores sobre o efeito da intervenção do FMI nas políticas econômicas e fiscais da Nigéria, os principais economistas da Nigéria, o professor Pat Utomi, disseram que era errado fazer grandes negócios com as visitas do FMI . Segundo ele, "estas são visitas de rotina".


Ele afirmou, "como membros do FMI, deveria ser uma rotina para ter consultas. Não devemos perder de vista o fato de que vivemos em um mundo globalizado e que a má gestão econômica em um país pode resultar na exportação de problemas para outras economias. Tais problemas que são exportáveis ​​& # 8211; como a inflação, o contágio da venda de cestas envenenadas de valores mobiliários, como as crises subprime que desencadearam crises de 2008 ou déficit de conta corrente na Malásia e em outros países da Ásia que iniciaram o tsunami da crise financeira asiática # 8211; e requerem algumas instituições financeiras supranacionais. À medida que a Guerra Mundial destruiu os poderes aliados concordou em Bretton Woods que o FMI deveria ser tal.


"Mas os países têm a obrigação de modelar suas economias e gerenciá-las bem. Onde o inesperado acontece, o FMI foi colocado para ajudar. Todos contribuímos e podemos recorrer aos direitos especiais de saque, SDR, do FMI em tempos de problemas temporários, mas ninguém é obrigado a ir para lá. Economistas de todos os fins do espectro ideológico, a verdade é que o FMI é derrubado quando eles entraram depois que os líderes não conseguiram fazer as coisas certas com a evidência disponível para eles, incluindo relatórios das consultas do FMI.


Também reagindo às visitas do FMI, os economistas cheif do FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Sr. Ayodele Akinwunmi, disseram à Vanguarda do domingo que a visita do chefe do FMI foi frutífera até agora.


Presidente do Senado, Bukola Saraki.


Segundo ele, "o FMI aprovou o esforço atual do governo federal da Nigéria para construir uma nova Nigéria". Eu acho que o endosso é positivo para a comunidade empresarial internacional.


"Ela (Lagarde) também disse ao governo o que precisa ser feito, como taxa de câmbio flexível, remoção de subsídio e construção de um amortecedor e aumento do IVA.


"Não creio que o aumento do IVA aconteça agora. Mas a flexibilidade da taxa de câmbio está ao virar da esquina com remoção de subsídio de combustível ''.


Em suas várias reuniões, a semana passada, a Lagarde, havia pedido o aumento do imposto sobre o valor acrescentado, o IVA, enfatizando que tornou-se imperativo que o governo federal ampliasse a base de tributação do país explicando que a Nigéria tem a taxa de IVA mais baixa no continente africano.


Segundo ela, "a taxa atual do IVA está entre as mais baixas do mundo e bem abaixo das taxas em outros membros da CEDEAO, portanto, um aumento deve ser considerado".


Embora o diretor-gerente do FMI tenha cuidado para não endossar a desvalorização do naira contra as principais moedas internacionais, ela, no entanto, pediu ao governo federal que adote uma política monetária flexível que atenda melhor o interesse dos nigerianos.


No entanto, ela advertiu a Nigéria contra a obtenção de empréstimos, observando que era no momento afetar o país e os empréstimos subseqüentes poderiam prejudicar a economia do país no longo prazo.


Ela disse: "Em despesas recorrentes, devem ser feitos esforços para agilizar o custo da governança e melhorar a eficiência da prestação de serviços públicos em todos os governos federais e subnacionais. As transferências e as despesas tributárias também devem ser abordadas. Por exemplo, continuar o movimento já iniciado pelo governo no orçamento de 2018 para eliminar recursos alocados em subsídios de combustível permitiria despesas mais direcionadas, inclusive em programas sociais inovadores para os mais necessitados ".


Lagarde dentro da rocha de Aso.


Seu briefing na terça-feira à tarde, provavelmente, fluía em músicas de staccato. Por um lado, ela descobriu uma paixão pelo bem-estar financeiro nigeriano, pois mostrou menos que uma preocupação fugaz para a causa dos pobres. No entanto, em outra prancha, ela falou em alguma posição de diretoria advertindo contra políticas econômicas rígidas que podem ter efeitos adversos sobre as populações pobres da Nigéria e os países vizinhos.


No entanto, enquanto ela falava, ela antecipou uma pergunta desagradável sobre empréstimos e rapidamente desiludiu as mentes de seus ouvintes que sua missão não era negociar um empréstimo. Ela visitou o presidente Mohammadu Buhari na vila presidencial, Abuja na terça-feira, para começar sua visita de estado de quatro dias à Nigéria.


& # 8220; Primeiro deixe-me deixar claro que eu não estou aqui nem é minha equipe neste país para negociar um empréstimo com condicionalidades. Não estamos em negociações de programas e, francamente, neste momento, dada a determinação, resiliência exibida pelo presidente e sua equipe, não vejo por que um programa do FMI será necessário. Então, é claro, a disciplina será necessária, é claro, a implementação será fundamental para os objetivos e as ambições de servir bem o país, para que ele seja realmente sustentável. Para uma melhor parte do briefing, Lagarde insistiu na necessidade de políticas econômicas flexíveis e disciplina financeira na implementação do orçamento de 2018 da Nigéria ", afirmou o FMI.


Ela reconheceu que a resiliência e os programas do presidente Buhari não permitiriam obter a Nigéria da lista de países emprestados do mundo.


# 8220; Mas o que eu certamente mencionei ao Sr. Presidente foi que sua luta e sua determinação em lutar contra a corrupção e sua determinação em trazer transparência e responsabilidade em todos os níveis da economia são itens de agenda muito importantes e um objetivo muito ambicioso que precisava seja deliberado sobre o qual ele, ele mesmo, definitivamente está comprometido com o que indicou nesta manhã e como ele inspira os membros de sua equipe ", acrescentou.


Portanto, emergindo de uma reunião de portas fechadas com o presidente Buhari com a participação do vice-presidente Yemi Osinbajo e outros funcionários seniores do governo, que incluíram o ministro das Finanças, Kemi Adeosun; Ministro de Orçamento e Planejamento Nacional, Udo Udoma; Ministro dos Transportes, Rotimi Amaechi; e Ministro das Obras, Habitação e Energia, Babatunde Fashola, entre outros, na terça-feira, Lagarde disse aos Correspondentes da Casa do Estado que a disciplina financeira extra deve ser assegurada para que a Nigéria funcione.


O presidente Buhari, em parte, disse a seu convidado que "Nós acabamos de sair das discussões orçamentárias depois de muitas semanas levando em consideração as muitas necessidades do país e a queda da economia com a queda dos preços do petróleo e previsões econômicas negativas.


& # 8220; Estamos trabalhando muito e com o orçamento como nosso caminho a seguir, faremos o nosso melhor para garantir que nosso país sobreviva à atual desaceleração econômica.


Nós também dissemos a todos os chefes de ministérios, departamentos e agências de governo que, sob nosso controle, contará com todos os fundos que entrarão em seus cofres. # 8221;


O presidente também revelou que o governo federal estava revisando seus custos operacionais, dizendo que havia ordenado que todos os Ministérios, Departamentos e Agências reduzissem seus custos indiretos.


A reunião do Senado.


Para um lugar deserto devido ao recesso, a visita de Lagarde às instalações da Assembleia Nacional na quarta-feira passada trouxe a vida de volta à legislatura.


O evento estava programado para começar às 9:30 da manhã, mas não foi até 12; 33 quando os senadores Shehu Sani, APC, Kaduna Central, Kurfi Umar, APC, Katsina Central; Musa Kwankwaso, APC, Kano Central e Sunny Ogbuefi, PDP, Ebonyi South, entraram no local de que sinais de possíveis compromissos deram lugar a raiva e desespero por parte de alguns que haviam assumido posições já às 9h. Senadores Francis Aliemekhena, APC, Edo North, Abdullahi Adamu, APC, Nasarawa West; Sabi Aliyu, APC, Níger Norte; Danjuma Goje, APC, Gombe Central; Binta Garba, APC, Adamawa North e muitos outros entraram às 12h40 para se juntar aos que já estavam sentados, dando assim mais esperança ao início iminente da ocasião.


A visitante de agosto, Christine Lagarde, liderou sua equipe às 12h50, após o que seu anfitrião e presidente do Senado, Bukola Saraki, entrou para ocupar seu lugar pouco depois, juntamente com alguns dos principais diretores do Senado, incluindo o líder de maioria deputado, Ibn Bala Na & # 8217; allah e o Whip adjunto, o senador Adeyeye.


Exatamente dois minutos depois que Saraki entrou no local, e pouco depois da introdução de menos de dois minutos de convidados, ele começou a dirigir-se ao público, sem antes permitir que o chefe do FMI divulgue a casa em sua missão. Ele era muito profissional.


Levou exatamente oito minutos para fazer sua apresentação, após o que Lagarde imediatamente fez a dela.


Às 14h02, a reunião terminou anteriormente, após a qual os repórteres e outros convidados no evento foram convidados a sair para uma sessão de porta fechada entre as duas partes para começar.


Durante a reunião, Saraki convocou o Banco Central da Nigéria a relaxar sua política de câmbio estrita, observando que estava causando mais danos à economia do que ao bem. Ele insistiu que o desenvolvimento fazia com que as pequenas empresas sofressem desnecessariamente. Ele pediu que o banco do ápice introduza um regime de câmbio mais flexível e reduza as restrições atuais no mercado autônomo, o que não permite que os homens de negócios façam trocas estrangeiras ou utilizem o que eles têm em suas contas à medida que diminuíram.


Saraki disse então a Lagarde que o FMI deveria apoiar o nosso CBN para oferecer empréstimos com juros baixos às PME. Precisamos incentivar os empreendedores e fazer a maioria dos nossos novos criadores de emprego de graduados em vez de procurar emprego. Esta é uma área em que precisamos do apoio financeiro e assistência técnica do FMI. & # 8221;


Ele explicou que seu escritório recebeu inúmeras reclamações de proprietários de pequenas empresas, reclamando que seus negócios estão sendo ameaçados pelos enormes estrangulamentos agora envolvidos em fazer negócios.


Por sua parte, o Diretor Gerente do FMI expressou preocupação sobre o perfil da dívida da Nigéria, dizendo que pesava fortemente o tesouro do país com 35 kobo de cada naira coletado usado para o serviço da dívida.


Ao aconselhar o governo nigeriano a ter cautela nos empréstimos, Lagarde observou, no entanto, que o perfil da dívida da Nigéria era muito baixo em 12 por cento do produto interno bruto, o PIB.


Ela também exortou o governo federal a reforçar sua capacidade de receita ao ampliar a base tributária do país e, simultaneamente, reduzir os vazamentos, promovendo o cumprimento e aumentando a eficiência da coleta de receita.


A senhora deputada Lagarde também exortou Lagarde a analisar a necessidade de a Nigéria eliminar o subsídio de combustível, explicando que o regime de subsídios não só prejudicava o planeta, mas também não era do interesse dos pobres.


Ela disse: "De fato, os subsídios aos combustíveis são difíceis de defender. Não só prejudicam o planeta, mas eles raramente ajudam os pobres. A pesquisa do FMI mostra que mais de 40% dos subsídios aos preços dos combustíveis nos países em desenvolvimento acumularam os 20% mais ricos das famílias, enquanto apenas sete por cento dos benefícios se destinam aos 20% mais pobres.


"Além disso, a experiência aqui na Nigéria de administrar subsídios de combustível sugere que é hora de uma mudança - pense nas acusações regulares de corrupção e pense nos muitos nigerianos que passam horas em filas tentando obter gás para que possam ir seu negócio diário.


Ao analisar o estado atual da economia nigeriana, Lagarde disse que o crescimento econômico da nação de 3,2 por cento em 2018 foi o menor desde 1999, observando que ele tem o potencial de registrar apenas uma recuperação modesta em 2018.


Ela também observou que, diante da queda drástica dos preços globais do petróleo, a Nigéria ainda tem a responsabilidade de enfrentar o déficit estrutural aparente.


"A perspectiva, no entanto, enfraqueceu. O crescimento em 2018 é estimado em cerca de 3,2 por cento - seu ritmo mais lento desde 1999 - e apenas uma recuperação modesta é esperada em 2018.


"Para um país com uma população em rápido aumento, isso significa quase nenhum crescimento econômico real em termos per capita.


Observando que os bancos da Nigéria são bem capitalizados e mais resilientes do que durante a recessão de 2008 e 2009, Lagarde disse que os bancos "começaram agora a sentir o impacto das vulnerabilidades crescentes no setor corporativo. Isso significa o aumento dos empréstimos inadimplentes, que precisará ser cuidadosamente monitorado e gerenciado ".


Ela aconselhou o governo nigeriano a agir com a determinação de melhorar significativamente as redes de transporte, bem como a geração, transmissão e distribuição de energia, acrescentando que a Nigéria pode exportar pasta de tomate em larga escala, mesmo que lamentasse que, em vez de promover a exportação de commodities, A Nigéria importa cerca de metade de suas necessidades.


ONDO 2018: Meu pacto com Mimiko, pelo Dep. Governador Oluboyo.


A alarde da alma de Abia.


Aviso Legal.


Tamanho do texto Pequeno Médio Grande.


Vanguard News.


Um jornal nigeriano e versão on-line da Vanguarda, uma publicação diária na Nigéria, que cobre notícias da Nigéria, delta do Níger, notícias nacionais gerais, política, negócios, energia, esportes, entretenimento, moda, estilo de vida histórias de interesse humano, etc.


A CBN pode relaxar a política forex esta semana.


Economistas do FMI para revisar as políticas da FG.


Por Jide Ajani & vírgula; Emeka Anaeto & vírgula; Umoru Henry & vírgula; Levinus Nwabughiogu e Joseph Erunke.


Em consequência das pressões e da admoestação aberta pelo presidente do Senado Bukola Saraki & vírgula; e mais intenso pelo Diretor Gerente do Fundo Monetário Internacional & vírgula; FMI e vírgula; Christine Lagarde & vírgula; Banco Central da Nigéria e vírgula; CBN & vírgula; pode relaxar sua política no forex nesta semana e período;


Sunday Vanguard aprendeu que, além do chamado feito pelo presidente do Senado durante a audiência da semana passada com o chefe do FMI no CBN & vírgula; Também foi revelado que Lagarde apontou e coma; em termos inequívocos e vírgula; os perigos da política forex continuada instituída pelo banco do ápice nos últimos oito meses e período;


Durante as sessões de portas fechadas entre o governador e a vírgula CBN; Godwin Emefiele & vírgula; e o presidente do Senado, Saraki, por um lado, e vírgula; e outro com Ms Lagarde & vírgula; Parecia haver uma deriva para uma posição consensual sobre a política e o período forex restritivos;


Embora Emefiele & vírgula; de acordo com uma fonte nas sessões privadas e vírgula; não deu muito sobre a possibilidade do banco de ápice de uma revisão de política e vírgula; A vanguarda de domingo foi feita para acreditar no fim de semana que, à luz da esperada visita dos economistas do FMI nesta semana e vírgula; A política pode ser relaxada e período;


O mercado de câmbio testemunhou a introdução de várias restrições cambiais em 2018 e período; A primeira restrição notável foi o encerramento do mercado de câmbio oficial e o lpar; Retail Dutch Auction & rpar; 18 de fevereiro e vírgula; 2018 que se traduziu em uma nova desvalorização do naira para N197 por dólar de N165 por dólar e período;


Presidente Muhammadu Buhari recebendo o Diretor Gerente do FMI & vírgula; Christine Lagarde em Abuja e período;


A segunda restrição notável foi a Exclusão de matérias do mercado e período de câmbio oficial;


Então, e vírgula; em agosto e vírgula; o CBN proibiu a aceitação de depósito em moeda estrangeira em contas e períodos domiciliários;


Além do acima e da vírgula; houve redução no limite de uso de cartões de débito naira no exterior e período; De & dollar; 150 & vírgula; 000 por ano, o limite foi fixado em & dollar; 50 & vírgula; 000 por ano por cartão e período de débito naira; O limite diário de retirada de caixa foi fixado em & dollar; 300 no exterior e período;


Durante o ano e vírgula; o CBN proibiu os bancos de vender câmbio para o Bureau De Change & lpar; BDCs & rpar; enquanto revisou as diretrizes operacionais dos BDCs & vírgula; e no processo & vírgula; proibiu qualquer forma de relacionamento de vendedores ambulantes de moeda estrangeira e mercado negro e rpar; & vírgula; e operações e período de filial;


Essas restrições, juntamente com a diminuição da entrada em moeda estrangeira devido ao declínio contínuo nos preços do petróleo e na vírgula; bem como a expectativa contínua de uma nova desvalorização do naira & vírgula; levou a uma consequente depreciação do naira no mercado paralelo e período; A taxa de câmbio do mercado paralelo do naira subiu de N179 & sol; N185 no início de 2018 & vírgula; fechar o ano em N280 para um dólar e período;


E mesmo e vírgula; como uma equipe de economistas do Fundo Monetário Internacional e vírgula; FMI e vírgula; estão preparados para chegar na Nigéria esta semana e vírgula; há indícios de que o poder executivo e as armas legislativas do governo podem ter começado um processo de comércio de cavalos com vista a fazer o Bill & coma de apropriação de 2018; mais implementável e período;


Uma fonte do Ministério das Finanças disse no domingo à Vanguard que as discussões com o diretor-gerente do FMI e vírgula; Sra. Christine Lagarde & vírgula; Quem visitou ambos os braços do governo na semana passada exigiu grandes alterações ao Bill & vírgula; um desenvolvimento que representou um desafio de como o projeto de lei poderia ser legalmente retirado das duas câmaras da legislatura e período;


Mas a fonte do Ministério das Finanças disse que o governo não está planejando retirar o projeto de lei ainda pendente de novas discussões e entendimentos com a Assembléia Nacional e período;


Lagarde & vírgula; Ao responder a perguntas sobre o orçamento de 2018, havia declarado aos repórteres na semana passada que a equipe de economistas e uma equipe de economistas virá aqui e a Nigéria e a Rpar; na próxima semana, para revisar e auditar, o Bill & Rpar; e ter uma boa discussão com as autoridades governamentais para realmente avaliar se o financiamento está no lugar e vírgula; se a dívida é sustentável e vírgula; se os custos de empréstimos são sensíveis e qual estratégia deve ser implementada para abordar os desafios no futuro & rdquo; & period;


O chefe do FMI realizou reuniões com o Banco Central da Nigéria e vírgula; Ministro das Finanças & vírgula; Sra. & Período; Kemi Adeosun & vírgula; Ministro Nacional de Planejamento & vírgula; Udo Udoma & vírgula; outros membros do Conselho Executivo da Federação e vírgula; EXCOF & vírgula; a liderança da Assembleia Nacional e os principais executivos de bancos e períodos; Ela também teve sessões de portas fechadas com o Presidente e a vírgula; Mohammadu Buhari & vírgula; e vice-presidente e vírgula; Yemi Osinbajo & período;


Esta semana, o time dos economistas do FMI deverá reunir-se com todos esses funcionários do governo e muitos mais, incluindo os líderes do setor privado e período;


Sunday Vanguard aprendeu que as áreas de discussão para as ações políticas necessárias e mudanças no orçamento de 2018 incluem geração de receita e vírgula; sistema fiscal e vírgula; preços de combustível e vírgula; política cambial e vírgula; redução das despesas recorrentes, especialmente no que se refere ao custo de governança e vírgula; alocações para infraestrutura e vírgula; saúde e vírgula; sectores e períodos de habitação e educação;


Outras áreas de possível alteração no conteúdo da Lei de Apropriação e vírgula; Domingo Vanguard aprendeu e vírgula; também incluirá, mas não será limitado a empréstimos para financiar o orçamento onde o governo federal já havia declarado que iria emprestar cerca de N2 e período, 1 trilhão para financiar o déficit orçamentário e período;


Também a equipe discutiria maneiras de melhorar a eficiência do serviço público e da vírgula do país; criação de ferramentas para gerenciar o impacto do declínio das receitas do petróleo e medidas para reduzir vazamentos e períodos;


Além disso, e vírgula; o time viria a medir medidas para abordar influxos de capital estrangeiros e vírgula; criação de riqueza nos setores de energia e transportes e vírgula; melhores opções para gerenciar vulnerabilidades a curto prazo para choques financeiros econômicos internacionais e vírgula; bem como estratégias para melhorar as políticas e criar instituições e períodos mais fortes;


Eles também discutirão o quadro para alcançar crescimento e coma inclusivos e sustentáveis; redução da pobreza e boa governança nos níveis mais baixos de governo e vírgula; os estados e governos locais e período;


Falando para a vanguarda dominical durante o fim de semana em pano de fundo das preocupações expressas por alguns observadores sobre o efeito da intervenção do FMI nas políticas econômicas e fiscais da Nigéria e vírgula; Economistas e vírgulas líderes da Nigéria; Professor Pat Utomi & vírgula; disse que era errado fazer grandes negócios com as visitas e o período do FMI; De acordo com ele & lsquo; & rsquo; estas são visitas de rotina & rsquo; & rsquo; & period;


Ele declarou e vírgula; & lsquo; & rsquo; como membros do FMI, deve ser rotina para ter consultas e período; Não devemos perder de vista o fato de que vivemos em um mundo globalizado e que a má gestão econômica em um país pode resultar na exportação de problemas para outras economias e períodos; Tais problemas que são exportáveis ​​& ndash; como inflação e vírgula; o contágio de vender cestas envenenadas de valores mobiliários, como as crises subprime que desencadearam as crises de 2008 ou déficit de conta corrente na Malásia e em outros países da Ásia que iniciaram o tsunami da crise financeira asiática; e exigem algumas instituições financeiras supranacionais e período; À medida que a Guerra Mundial11 acabou com os poderes aliados concordou em Bretton Woods que o FMI deveria ser esse;


& lsquo; & rsquo; Mas os países têm a obrigação de modelar suas economias e gerenciá-las bem e período; Onde o inesperado acontece, o FMI foi colocado lá para ajudar e período; Todos nós contribuímos e podemos recorrer aos direitos de desenho e a vírgulas especiais; SDR & vírgula; do FMI em tempos de problemas temporários, mas ninguém é obrigado a ir lá e período; Economistas de todos os fins do espectro ideológico e vírgula; A verdade é que o FMI é atingido quando eles entraram depois que os líderes não conseguiram fazer as coisas certas com a evidência disponível para eles e vírgula; incluindo relatórios de consultas e período do FMI;


Também reagindo às visitas e coma do FMI; os economistas cheif no FSDH Merchant Bank Limited & vírgula; Sr. Ayodele Akinwunmi & vírgula; disse ao SundayVanguard que a visita do chefe do FMI foi frutífera até agora e período;


Presidente do Senado, Bukola Saraki.


De acordo com ele, o FMI aprovou o esforço atual do governo federal da Nigéria para construir uma nova Nigéria e período; Eu acho que seu endosso é positivo para a comunidade e o período de negócios internacionais;


& lsquo; & rsquo; She & lpar; Lagarde & rpar; também disse ao governo o que precisa ser feito, como taxa de câmbio flexível e vírgula; remoção de subsídio e construção de um amortecedor e aumento e período de IVA;


& lsquo; & rsquo; I don & rsquo; t acho que o aumento do IVA acontecerá agora e período; Mas a flexibilidade da taxa de câmbio está ao virar da esquina com remoção de subsídio de combustível e rsquo; & rsquo; & period;


Em suas várias reuniões na semana passada e vírgula; Lagarde & vírgula; solicitou o aumento do imposto sobre valor agregado e vírgula; IVA e vírgula; salientando que tornou-se imperativo para o governo federal ampliar a base de impostos do país explicando que a Nigéria tem a menor taxa de IVA no continente e período africanos;


De acordo com ela e vírgula; & ldquo; a taxa de IVA atual está entre as mais baixas do mundo e bem abaixo das taxas em outros membros e coma da CEDEAO; então algum aumento deve ser considerado & período; & rdquo;


Embora o diretor-gerente do FMI tenha cuidado para não endossar a desvalorização do naira contra as principais moedas internacionais e vírgula; ela e vírgula; no entanto, e vírgula; exortou o governo federal a adotar uma política monetária flexível que sirva melhor o interesse dos nigerianos e do período;


Ela e vírgula; no entanto, e vírgula; advertiu a Nigéria contra a obtenção de empréstimos e vírgulas; observando que era no momento afetar o país e os empréstimos subseqüentes poderiam prejudicar a economia da nação no longo prazo e no período;


Ela disse e cólon; & ldquo; Em despesas recorrentes e vírgula; devem ser feitos esforços para agilizar o custo da governança e melhorar a eficiência da prestação de serviços públicos em todos os governos e períodos federais e subnacionais; As transferências e despesas tributárias também devem ser abordadas e período; Por exemplo, e vírgula; Continuar o movimento já iniciado pelo governo no orçamento de 2018 para eliminar recursos alocados em subsídios de combustível permitiria gastos e vírgulas mais direcionados; inclusive em programas sociais inovadores para os mais necessitados e períodos; & rdquo;


Lagarde dentro da rocha de Aso.


Seu briefing na terça-feira à tarde, provavelmente, fluíram em músicas e períodos de staccato; Por um lado e vírgula; ela percebeu uma paixão pelo bem-estar financeiro nigeriano, pois mostrou menos que uma preocupação fugaz para a causa dos pobres e do período; Ainda e vírgula; em outra prancha e vírgula; ela falou em alguma advertência de diretoria contra políticas econômicas rígidas que podem ter efeitos adversos sobre as populações pobres da Nigéria e os países e períodos vizinhos;


Ainda e vírgula; enquanto ela falava e vírgula; ela antecipou uma pergunta desagradável sobre empréstimos e rapidamente desiludiu as mentes de seus ouvintes que sua missão não era negociar um empréstimo e um período; Ela visitou o presidente Mohammadu Buhari na villa presidencial e vírgula; Abuja na terça-feira para começar sua visita de estado de quatro dias à Nigéria e período;


& ldquo; Primeiro deixe-me deixar claro que eu não estou aqui nem é minha equipe neste país para negociar um empréstimo com condicionalidades e período; Não estamos em negociações de programas e francamente neste momento no tempo e vírgula; dada a determinação e vírgula; resiliência exibida pelo presidente e sua equipe e vírgula; Eu não consigo ver por que um programa do FMI será necessário e período; Então, e vírgula; claro e vírgula; A disciplina será necessária & vírgula; claro e vírgula; a implementação será fundamental para os objetivos e as ambições de servir o bem do país e a vírgula; para que ele seja realmente sustentável e período; para melhor parte do briefing & vírgula; Lagarde insistiu na necessidade de políticas econômicas flexíveis e disciplina financeira na implementação do orçamento de 2018 da Nigéria & vírgula; the IMF MD said.


She acknowledged that President Buhari’s resilience and programmes would surely get Nigeria out of borrowing list of countries of the world.


“But what I certainly mentioned to Mr. President was that his fight and his determination to fight corruption and his determination to bring about transparency and accountability at all levels of the economy are very important agenda item and very ambitious goal that needed to be deliberated upon which he, himself is definitely committed to as he indicated this morning and as he inspires his team members”, she added.


Therefore, emerging from a closed door meeting with president Buhari with the participation of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other senior functionaries of the government which included Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola, among others, on Tuesday, Lagarde told State House Correspondents that extra financial discipline must be ensured to get Nigeria working.


President Buhari had, in part, told his guest that “We have just come out of budget discussions after many weeks of taking into consideration the many needs of the country, and the down turn of the economy with falling oil prices and the negative economic forecasts.


“We are working very hard and with the budget as our way forward, we will do our best to ensure that our country survives the current economic downturn.


“We have also told all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government that on our watch, they will fully account for all funds that get into their coffers.”


The President also revealed that the Federal Government was reviewing its operational costs, saying that it had directed all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to cut down on their overhead costs.


The Senate meeting.


For a place that had been deserted due to recess, Lagarde’s visit to the premises of the National Assembly last Wednesday brought life back to the legislature.


The event was scheduled to kick off at 9:30 that morning but it was not until 12;33 when Senators Shehu Sani, APC, Kaduna Central;Kurfi Umar, APC, Katsina Central; Musa Kwankwaso, APC, Kano Central and Sunny Ogbuefi, PDP, Ebonyi South, entered the venue that signs of possible commencement gave way to anger and despair on the part of some who had taken positions as early as 9am. Senators Francis Aliemekhena, APC, Edo North;Abdullahi Adamu, APC, Nasarawa West; Sabi Aliyu, APC, Niger North; Danjuma Goje, APC, Gombe Central; Binta Garba, APC, Adamawa North and many others came in at 12:40pm to join those already seated thus giving more hope of imminent commencement of the occasion.


The august visitor, Ms Christine Lagarde, led her team in at 12:50pm, after which her host and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, entered to take his seat shortly after along with some principal officers of the Senate, including the Deputy Majority Leader, Ibn Bala Na’allah and the Deputy Majority Whip, Senator Adeyeye.


Exactly two minutes after Saraki entered the venue, and shortly after the less than two-minute introduction of guests, he began to address the audience, without first allowing the IMF chief to brief the house on her mission. He was very businesslike.


It took him exactly eight minutes to make his presentation, after which Lagarde immediately made hers.


At 2.12pm, the meeting formerly ended after which reporters and other guests at the event were asked to leave for a closed door session between the two parties to commence.


During the meeting, Saraki called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to relax its strict foreign exchange policy, noting that it was doing more harm to the economy than good. He insisted that the development had made small scale businesses to suffer unnecessarily. He called on the apex bank to introduce a more flexible foreign exchange regime and reduce the present restrictions on the autonomous market which does not allow business men to bring in foreign exchange or utilise what they have in their accounts as they dimmed fit.


Saraki then told Lagarde that “The IMF should support our CBN to bring in low interest loans to SMEs. We need to encourage entrepreneurs and make most of our new graduates job creators rather than job seekers. This is an area where we need the financial support and technical assistance of the IMF.”


He explained that his office has received numerous complaints from small business owners, complaining that their businesses are being threatened by the huge bottlenecks now involved in doing business.


On her part, the Managing Director of the IMF expressed concern over Nigeria’s debt profile, saying it was weighing heavily on the nation’s treasury with 35 kobo of every naira collected used for debt service.


While advising the Nigerian government to exercise caution in borrowing, Lagarde however observed that Nigeria’s debt profile was very low at 12 per cent of its gross domestic product, GDP.


She also urged the federal government to shore up its revenue drive by broadening the nation’s tax base and simultaneously reduce leakages by promoting compliance and enhance the efficiency of revenue collection.


Ms Lagarde also urged Lagarde also canvassed the need for Nigeria to eliminate the fuel subsidy, explaining that the subsidy regime was not only harmful to the planet but also not in the interest of the poor.


She said: “Indeed, fuel subsidies are hard to defend. Not only do they harm the planet, but they rarely help the poor. IMF research shows that more than 40 per cent of fuel price subsidies in developing countries accrue to the richest 20 per cent of households, while only seven per cent of the benefits go to the poorest 20 per cent.


“Moreover, the experience here in Nigeria of administering fuel subsidies suggests that it is time for a change—think of the regular accusations of corruption, and think of the many Nigerians who spend hours in queues trying to get gas so that they can go about their everyday business.


While analysing the current state of the Nigerian economy, Lagarde said the nation’s economic growth of 3.2 per cent in 2018 was the lowest since 1999, observing that it has the potential to record only a modest recovery in 2018.


She also observed that in the face of the drastic fall in global oil prices, Nigeria still has the responsibility of addressing its apparent infrastructural deficit.


“The outlook, however, has weakened. Growth in 2018 is estimated at about 3.2 percent—its slowest pace since 1999—and only a modest recovery is expected in 2018.


“For a country with a rapidly increasing population, this means almost no real economic growth in per capita terms.


Observing that Nigeria’s banks are well capitalised and more resilient than they were during the downturn of 2008 and 2009, Lagarde said the banks were “now beginning to feel the impact of the growing vulnerabilities in the corporate sector. This means rising non-performing loans, which will need to be carefully monitored and managed”.


She advised the Nigerian government to act with the resolve to significantly improve transportation networks as well as power generation, transmission and distribution, adding that Nigeria can be exporting tomato paste on a large scale, even as she lamented that instead of fostering export of commodities, Nigeria imports about half of its needs.


AllAfrica.


Vanguard (Lagos)


Nigeria: CBN May Relax Forex Policy This Week.


Tópicos relacionados.


Moedas.


External Relations.


Organizações internacionais.


IMF economists to review FG policies.


Consequent upon pressures and the open admonition by Senate President Bukola Saraki, and made more intense by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Ms Christine Lagarde, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, may relax its policy on forex this week.


Sunday Vanguard learnt that apart from the call made in the open by the Senate President during last week's audience with the IMF boss on the CBN, it has also been revealed that Lagarde pointed out, in unequivocal terms, the dangers of the continued forex policy instituted by the apex bank in the last eight months.


During the closed door sessions between the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, and Senate President Saraki on the one hand, and another with Ms Lagarde, there appeared to be a drift towards a consensual position on the restrictive forex policy.


Although Emefiele, according to a source at the private sessions, did not give away much regarding the apex bank's possibility of a policy review, Sunday Vanguard was made to believe at the weekend that in the light of the expected visit from IMF economists this week, the policy may be relaxed.


The foreign exchange market witnessed introduction of several foreign exchange restrictions in 2018. The first notable restriction was the closure of official foreign exchange market (Retail Dutch Auction) on February 18, 2018 which translated to further devaluation of the naira to N197 per dollar from N165 per dollar.


President Muhammadu Buhari receiving IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde in Abuja.


The second notable restriction was the Exclusion of 41items from the official foreign exchange market.


Then, in August, the CBN banned acceptance of foreign currency deposit into domiciliary accounts.


In addition to the above, there was the reduction in the limit on usage of naira debit cards abroad. From $150,000 per annum the limit was pegged at $50,000 per annum per naira debit card. The daily cash withdrawal limit was pegged at $300 abroad.


During the year, the CBN banned banks from selling foreign exchange to the Bureau De Change (BDCs) while it revised the operating guidelines of BDCs, and in the process, banned any form of relationship of street hawkers of foreign currency (black market), and branch operations.


These restrictions coupled with dwindling foreign currency inflow due to continued decline in crude oil prices, as well as continued expectation of further devaluation of the naira, led to a consequential depreciation of the naira in the parallel market. The parallel market exchange rate of the naira rose from N179/N185 at the beginning of 2018, to close the year at N280 to a dollar.


And indeed, as a team of economists from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, are set to arrive Nigeria this week, there are indications that the executive and the legislative arms of government may have begun a process of horse trading with a view to making the 2018 Appropriation Bill, more implementable.


A finance ministry source told Sunday Vanguard that the discussions with the managing director of IMF, Mrs Christine Lagarde, who visited both arms of government last week has necessitated major amendments to the Bill, a development which has posed a challenge of how the Bill could be legally withdrawn from the two chambers of the legislature.


But the finance ministry source said the government is not planning to withdraw the Bill yet pending further discussions and understanding with the National Assembly.


Lagarde, while responding to questions on the 2018 budget had told reporters last week that "a team of economists is going to come here (Nigeria) next week to review and audit (the Bill) and have a good discussion with the government authorities to really assess whether the financing is in place, whether the debt is sustainable, whether the borrowing costs are sensible and what strategy must be put in place in order to address challenges going forward".


The IMF boss held meetings with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, National Planning Minister, Udo Udoma, other members of the Executive Council of the Federation, EXCOF, the leadership of the National Assembly and chief executives of banks. She also had closed door sessions with both the President, Mohammadu Buhari, and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.


This week the team of IMF economists are expected to meet with all these government officials and many more including the leaders of the private sector.


Sunday Vanguard learnt that areas of discussion for necessary policy actions and changes in the 2018 budget include revenue generation, tax system, fuel pricing, exchange rate policy, reduction in recurrent expenditure especially as it relates to cost of governance, allocations to infrastructure, health, housing and education sectors.


Other areas of possible change in the content of the Appropriation Bill, Sunday Vanguard learnt, will also include but will not be limited to borrowing to fund the budget where the federal government had already stated it would borrow about N2.1 trillion to fund the budget deficit.


Also the team would discuss ways of improving efficiency of the country's public service, creation of tools to manage the impact of declining oil revenues and measures to reduce leakages.


In addition, the team would canvas measures to address foreign capital inflows, wealth creation in the power and transport sectors, best options for managing near-term vulnerabilities to international economic financial shocks, as well as strategies for improved policies and building stronger institutions.


They will also discuss framework for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth, poverty reduction and good governance at the lower tiers of government, the states and local governments.


Speaking to Sunday Vanguard over the weekend against the backdrop of concerns expressed by some observers on the effect of IMF intervention in Nigeria's economic and fiscal policies, Nigeria's leading economists, Professor Pat Utomi, said it was wrong to make a big deal out of IMF visits. According to him "these are routine visits".


He stated, "as members of the IMF it should be routine to have consultations. We must not lose sight of the fact that we live in a globalised world and that bad economic management in one country can result in export of troubles to other economies. Such troubles that are exportable - like inflation, the contagion of selling poisoned baskets of securities like the sub-prime crises that triggered the 2008 crises or current account deficits in Malaysia and elsewhere in Asia that started the tsunami of the Asian financial crises - and require some supranational financial institutions. As World War11 wound down the allied powers agreed in Bretton Woods that the IMF should be such.


"But countries have the obligation to model their economies and manage them well. Where the unexpected happens the IMF was put there to help out. We all contribute to and can have recourse to Special Drawing Rights, SDR, of the IMF in temporary trouble times but no one is compelled to go there. Economists from all ends of ideological spectrum, the truth remains that the IMF get bashed when they come in after the leaders have failed to do the right things from evidence available to them, including reports from IMF consultations.


Also reacting to IMF visits, the cheif economists at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mr Ayodele Akinwunmi, told SundayVanguard that the visit of IMF boss was fruitful so far.


Senate President Bukola Saraki.


According to him "the IMF has endorsed the current effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria to build a new Nigeria. I think her endorsement is positive for international business community.


"She (Lagarde) also told the government what needs to be done such as flexible exchange rate, removal of subsidy and building a buffer and VAT increase.


"I don't think VAT increase will happen now. But exchange rate flexibility is around the corner with fuel subsidy removal".


In her various meetings last week, Lagarde, had called for increase in Value Added Tax, VAT, stressing that it has become imperative for the federal government to broaden the country's tax base explaining that Nigeria has the lowest VAT rate on the African continent.


According to her, "the current VAT rate is among the lowest in the world and well below the rates in other ECOWAS members, so some increase should be considered."


Although the IMF Managing Director was careful not to endorse the devaluation of naira against major international currencies, she, however, urged the federal government to adopt a flexible monetary policy that will better serve the interest of Nigerians.


She, however, cautioned Nigeria against obtaining loans, noting that it was at the moment affecting the country and subsequent borrowing could hurt the nation's economy in the long run.


She said: "On recurrent expenditure, efforts should be made to streamline the cost of governance and improve efficiency of public service delivery across the federal and sub-national governments. Transfers and tax expenditures should also be addressed. For example, continuing the move already begun by the government in the 2018 budget to eliminate resources allocated to fuel subsidies would allow more targeted spending, including on innovative social programmes for the most needy."


Her briefing that Tuesday afternoon arguably flowed in staccato tunes. On the one hand, she spotted a passion for Nigerian financial wellbeing as she showed less than a fleeting concern to the cause of the poor. Yet, on another plank, she spoke in some directory stance warning against stiff economic polices that may have adverse effect on Nigeria's poor populations and the neighboring countries.


Yet, while she spoke, she anticipated an unsavory question about loans and swiftly disabused the minds of her listeners that her mission was not to negotiate a loan. She visited President Mohammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday to start off her four-day state visit to Nigeria.


"First let me make it clear that I'm not here nor is my team in this country to negotiate a loan with conditionalities. We are not into programme negotiations and frankly at this point in time, given the determination, resilience displayed by the President and his team, I don't see why an IMF programme will be needed. So, of course, discipline is going to be needed, of course, implementation is going to be key for the objectives and the ambitions to serve the country well, in order for it to be actually sustainable. For better part of the briefing, Lagarde harped on the need for flexible economic policies and financial discipline in the implementation of the 2018 budget of Nigeria", the IMF MD said.


She acknowledged that President Buhari's resilience and programmes would surely get Nigeria out of borrowing list of countries of the world.


"But what I certainly mentioned to Mr. President was that his fight and his determination to fight corruption and his determination to bring about transparency and accountability at all levels of the economy are very important agenda item and very ambitious goal that needed to be deliberated upon which he, himself is definitely committed to as he indicated this morning and as he inspires his team members", she added.


Therefore, emerging from a closed door meeting with president Buhari with the participation of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other senior functionaries of the government which included Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola, among others, on Tuesday, Lagarde told State House Correspondents that extra financial discipline must be ensured to get Nigeria working.


President Buhari had, in part, told his guest that "We have just come out of budget discussions after many weeks of taking into consideration the many needs of the country, and the down turn of the economy with falling oil prices and the negative economic forecasts.


"We are working very hard and with the budget as our way forward, we will do our best to ensure that our country survives the current economic downturn.


"We have also told all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government that on our watch, they will fully account for all funds that get into their coffers."


The President also revealed that the Federal Government was reviewing its operational costs, saying that it had directed all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to cut down on their overhead costs.


For a place that had been deserted due to recess, Lagarde's visit to the premises of the National Assembly last Wednesday brought life back to the legislature.


The event was scheduled to kick off at 9:30 that morning but it was not until 12;33 when Senators Shehu Sani, APC, Kaduna Central;Kurfi Umar, APC, Katsina Central; Musa Kwankwaso, APC, Kano Central and Sunny Ogbuefi, PDP, Ebonyi South, entered the venue that signs of possible commencement gave way to anger and despair on the part of some who had taken positions as early as 9am. Senators Francis Aliemekhena, APC, Edo North;Abdullahi Adamu, APC, Nasarawa West; Sabi Aliyu, APC, Niger North; Danjuma Goje, APC, Gombe Central; Binta Garba, APC, Adamawa North and many others came in at 12:40pm to join those already seated thus giving more hope of imminent commencement of the occasion.


The august visitor, Ms Christine Lagarde, led her team in at 12:50pm, after which her host and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, entered to take his seat shortly after along with some principal officers of the Senate, including the Deputy Majority Leader, Ibn Bala Na'allah and the Deputy Majority Whip, Senator Adeyeye.


Exactly two minutes after Saraki entered the venue, and shortly after the less than two-minute introduction of guests, he began to address the audience, without first allowing the IMF chief to brief the house on her mission. He was very businesslike.


It took him exactly eight minutes to make his presentation, after which Lagarde immediately made hers.


At 2.12pm, the meeting formerly ended after which reporters and other guests at the event were asked to leave for a closed door session between the two parties to commence.


During the meeting, Saraki called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to relax its strict foreign exchange policy, noting that it was doing more harm to the economy than good. He insisted that the development had made small scale businesses to suffer unnecessarily. He called on the apex bank to introduce a more flexible foreign exchange regime and reduce the present restrictions on the autonomous market which does not allow business men to bring in foreign exchange or utilise what they have in their accounts as they dimmed fit.


Saraki then told Lagarde that "The IMF should support our CBN to bring in low interest loans to SMEs. We need to encourage entrepreneurs and make most of our new graduates job creators rather than job seekers. This is an area where we need the financial support and technical assistance of the IMF."


He explained that his office has received numerous complaints from small business owners, complaining that their businesses are being threatened by the huge bottlenecks now involved in doing business.


On her part, the Managing Director of the IMF expressed concern over Nigeria's debt profile, saying it was weighing heavily on the nation's treasury with 35 kobo of every naira collected used for debt service.


While advising the Nigerian government to exercise caution in borrowing, Lagarde however observed that Nigeria's debt profile was very low at 12 per cent of its gross domestic product, GDP.


She also urged the federal government to shore up its revenue drive by broadening the nation's tax base and simultaneously reduce leakages by promoting compliance and enhance the efficiency of revenue collection.


Ms Lagarde also urged Lagarde also canvassed the need for Nigeria to eliminate the fuel subsidy, explaining that the subsidy regime was not only harmful to the planet but also not in the interest of the poor.


She said: "Indeed, fuel subsidies are hard to defend. Not only do they harm the planet, but they rarely help the poor. IMF research shows that more than 40 per cent of fuel price subsidies in developing countries accrue to the richest 20 per cent of households, while only seven per cent of the benefits go to the poorest 20 per cent.


"Moreover, the experience here in Nigeria of administering fuel subsidies suggests that it is time for a change--think of the regular accusations of corruption, and think of the many Nigerians who spend hours in queues trying to get gas so that they can go about their everyday business.


While analysing the current state of the Nigerian economy, Lagarde said the nation's economic growth of 3.2 per cent in 2018 was the lowest since 1999, observing that it has the potential to record only a modest recovery in 2018.


She also observed that in the face of the drastic fall in global oil prices, Nigeria still has the responsibility of addressing its apparent infrastructural deficit.


"The outlook, however, has weakened. Growth in 2018 is estimated at about 3.2 percent--its slowest pace since 1999--and only a modest recovery is expected in 2018.


"For a country with a rapidly increasing population, this means almost no real economic growth in per capita terms.


Observing that Nigeria's banks are well capitalised and more resilient than they were during the downturn of 2008 and 2009, Lagarde said the banks were "now beginning to feel the impact of the growing vulnerabilities in the corporate sector. This means rising non-performing loans, which will need to be carefully monitored and managed".


She advised the Nigerian government to act with the resolve to significantly improve transportation networks as well as power generation, transmission and distribution, adding that Nigeria can be exporting tomato paste on a large scale, even as she lamented that instead of fostering export of commodities, Nigeria imports about half of its needs.


Amadi Onyekachi diz que foi agressada sexualmente por um policial nigeriano em meados de outubro. Inicialmente, ela sentiu que ela e o hellip; Leia mais & raquo;


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Nigeria’s economic growth of 3.2 per cent in 2018 was the lowest since 1999-Lagarde, IMF Boss.


CBN may relax forex policy this week.


Consequent upon pressures and the open admonition by Senate President Bukola Saraki, and made more intense by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Ms Christine Lagarde, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, may relax its policy on forex this week.


Sunday Vanguard learnt that apart from the call made in the open by the Senate President during last week’s audience with the IMF boss on the CBN, it has also been revealed that Lagarde pointed out, in unequivocal terms, the dangers of the continued forex policy instituted by the apex bank in the last eight months.


During the closed door sessions between the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, and Senate President Saraki on the one hand, and another with Ms Lagarde, there appeared to be a drift towards a consensual position on the restrictive forex policy.


Although Emefiele, according to a source at the private sessions, did not give away much regarding the apex bank’s possibility of a policy review, Sunday Vanguard was made to believe at the weekend that in the light of the expected visit from IMF economists this week, the policy may be relaxed.


The foreign exchange market witnessed introduction of several foreign exchange restrictions in 2018. The first notable restriction was the closure of official foreign exchange market (Retail Dutch Auction) on February 18, 2018 which translated to further devaluation of the naira to N197 per dollar from N165 per dollar.


The second notable restriction was the Exclusion of 41 items from the official foreign exchange market.


Then, in August, the CBN banned acceptance of foreign currency deposit into domiciliary accounts.


In addition to the above, there was the reduction in the limit on usage of naira debit cards abroad. From $150,000 per annum the limit was pegged at $50,000 per annum per naira debit card. The daily cash withdrawal limit was pegged at $300 abroad.


During the year, the CBN banned banks from selling foreign exchange to the Bureau De Change (BDCs) while it revised the operating guidelines of BDCs, and in the process, banned any form of relationship of street hawkers of foreign currency (black market), and branch operations.


These restrictions coupled with dwindling foreign currency inflow due to continued decline in crude oil prices, as well as continued expectation of further devaluation of the naira, led to a consequential depreciation of the naira in the parallel market. The parallel market exchange rate of the naira rose from N179/N185 at the beginning of 2018, to close the year at N280 to a dollar.


And indeed, as a team of economists from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, are set to arrive Nigeria this week, there are indications that the executive and the legislative arms of government may have begun a process of horse trading with a view to making the 2018 Appropriation Bill, more implementable.


A finance ministry source told Sunday Vanguard that the discussions with the managing director of IMF, Mrs Christine Lagarde, who visited both arms of government last week has necessitated major amendments to the Bill, a development which has posed a challenge of how the Bill could be legally withdrawn from the two chambers of the legislature.


But the finance ministry source said the government is not planning to withdraw the Bill yet pending further discussions and understanding with the National Assembly.


Lagarde, while responding to questions on the 2018 budget had told reporters last week that ‘‘a team of economists is going to come here (Nigeria) next week to review and audit (the Bill) and have a good discussion with the government authorities to really assess whether the financing is in place, whether the debt is sustainable, whether the borrowing costs are sensible and what strategy must be put in place in order to address challenges going forward”.


The IMF boss held meetings with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, National Planning Minister, Udo Udoma, other members of the Executive Council of the Federation, EXCOF, the leadership of the National Assembly and chief executives of banks. She also had closed door sessions with both the President, Mohammadu Buhari, and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.


This week the team of IMF economists are expected to meet with all these government officials and many more including the leaders of the private sector.


According to report, the areas of discussion for necessary policy actions and changes in the 2018 budget include revenue generation, tax system, fuel pricing, exchange rate policy, reduction in recurrent expenditure especially as it relates to cost of governance, allocations to infrastructure, health, housing and education sectors.


Other areas of possible change in the content of the Appropriation Bill, Sunday Vanguard learnt, will also include but will not be limited to borrowing to fund the budget where the federal government had already stated it would borrow about N2.1 trillion to fund the budget deficit.


Also the team would discuss ways of improving efficiency of the country’s public service, creation of tools to manage the impact of declining oil revenues and measures to reduce leakages.


In addition, the team would canvas measures to address foreign capital inflows, wealth creation in the power and transport sectors, best options for managing near-term vulnerabilities to international economic financial shocks, as well as strategies for improved policies and building stronger institutions.


They will also discuss framework for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth, poverty reduction and good governance at the lower tiers of government, the states and local governments.


Speaking to Sunday Vanguard over the weekend against the backdrop of concerns expressed by some observers on the effect of IMF intervention in Nigeria’s economic and fiscal policies, Nigeria’s leading economists, Professor Pat Utomi, said it was wrong to make a big deal out of IMF visits. According to him ‘’these are routine visits’’.


He stated, “as members of the IMF it should be routine to have consultations. We must not lose sight of the fact that we live in a globalised world and that bad economic management in one country can result in export of troubles to other economies. Such troubles that are exportable – like inflation, the contagion of selling poisoned baskets of securities like the sub-prime crises that triggered the 2008 crises or current account deficits in Malaysia and elsewhere in Asia that started the tsunami of the Asian financial crises – and require some supranational financial institutions. As World War11 wound down the allied powers agreed in Bretton Woods that the IMF should be such.


“But countries have the obligation to model their economies and manage them well. Where the unexpected happens the IMF was put there to help out. We all contribute to and can have recourse to Special Drawing Rights, SDR, of the IMF in temporary trouble times but no one is compelled to go there. Economists from all ends of ideological spectrum, the truth remains that the IMF get bashed when they come in after the leaders have failed to do the right things from evidence available to them, including reports from IMF consultations.


Also reacting to IMF visits, the chief economists at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mr Ayodele Akinwunmi, told Sunday Vanguard that the visit of IMF boss was fruitful so far.


According to him “the IMF has endorsed the current effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria to build a new Nigeria. I think her endorsement is positive for international business community.


“She (Lagarde) also told the government what needs to be done such as flexible exchange rate, removal of subsidy and building a buffer and VAT increase.


“I don’t think VAT increase will happen now. But exchange rate flexibility is around the corner with fuel subsidy removal’’.


In her various meetings last week, Lagarde, had called for increase in Value Added Tax, VAT, stressing that it has become imperative for the federal government to broaden the country’s tax base explaining that Nigeria has the lowest VAT rate on the African continent.


According to her, “the current VAT rate is among the lowest in the world and well below the rates in other ECOWAS members, so some increase should be considered.”


Although the IMF Managing Director was careful not to endorse the devaluation of naira against major international currencies, she, however, urged the federal government to adopt a flexible monetary policy that will better serve the interest of Nigerians.


She, however, cautioned Nigeria against obtaining loans, noting that it was at the moment affecting the country and subsequent borrowing could hurt the nation’s economy in the long run.


She said: “On recurrent expenditure, efforts should be made to streamline the cost of governance and improve efficiency of public service delivery across the federal and sub-national governments. Transfers and tax expenditures should also be addressed. For example, continuing the move already begun by the government in the 2018 budget to eliminate resources allocated to fuel subsidies would allow more targeted spending, including on innovative social programmes for the most needy.”


Her briefing that Tuesday afternoon arguably flowed in staccato tunes. On the one hand, she spotted a passion for Nigerian financial wellbeing as she showed less than a fleeting concern to the cause of the poor. Yet, on another plank, she spoke in some directory stance warning against stiff economic polices that may have adverse effect on Nigeria’s poor populations and the neighboring countries.


Yet, while she spoke, she anticipated an unsavory question about loans and swiftly disabused the minds of her listeners that her mission was not to negotiate a loan. She visited President Mohammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday to start off her four-day state visit to Nigeria.


“First let me make it clear that I’m not here nor is my team in this country to negotiate a loan with conditionalities. We are not into programme negotiations and frankly at this point in time, given the determination, resilience displayed by the President and his team, I don’t see why an IMF programme will be needed. So, of course, discipline is going to be needed, of course, implementation is going to be key for the objectives and the ambitions to serve the country well, in order for it to be actually sustainable. For better part of the briefing, Lagarde harped on the need for flexible economic policies and financial discipline in the implementation of the 2018 budget of Nigeria”, the IMF MD said.


She acknowledged that President Buhari’s resilience and programmes would surely get Nigeria out of borrowing list of countries of the world.


“But what I certainly mentioned to Mr. President was that his fight and his determination to fight corruption and his determination to bring about transparency and accountability at all levels of the economy are very important agenda item and very ambitious goal that needed to be deliberated upon which he, himself is definitely committed to as he indicated this morning and as he inspires his team members”, she added.


Therefore, emerging from a closed door meeting with president Buhari with the participation of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other senior functionaries of the government which included Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola, among others, on Tuesday, Lagarde told State House Correspondents that extra financial discipline must be ensured to get Nigeria working.


President Buhari had, in part, told his guest that, “We have just come out of budget discussions after many weeks of taking into consideration the many needs of the country, and the down turn of the economy with falling oil prices and the negative economic forecasts.


“We are working very hard and with the budget as our way forward, we will do our best to ensure that our country survives the current economic downturn.


“We have also told all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government that on our watch, they will fully account for all funds that get into their coffers.”


The President also revealed that the Federal Government was reviewing its operational costs, saying that it had directed all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to cut down on their overhead costs.


For a place that had been deserted due to recess, Lagarde’s visit to the premises of the National Assembly last Wednesday brought life back to the legislature.


The event was scheduled to kick off at 9:30 that morning but it was not until 12;33 when Senators Shehu Sani, APC, Kaduna Central;Kurfi Umar, APC, Katsina Central; Musa Kwankwaso, APC, Kano Central and Sunny Ogbuefi, PDP, Ebonyi South, entered the venue that signs of possible commencement gave way to anger and despair on the part of some who had taken positions as early as 9am. Senators Francis Aliemekhena, APC, Edo North;Abdullahi Adamu, APC, Nasarawa West; Sabi Aliyu, APC, Niger North; Danjuma Goje, APC, Gombe Central; Binta Garba, APC, Adamawa North and many others came in at 12:40pm to join those already seated thus giving more hope of imminent commencement of the occasion.


The august visitor, Ms Christine Lagarde, led her team in at 12:50pm, after which her host and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, entered to take his seat shortly after along with some principal officers of the Senate, including the Deputy Majority Leader, Ibn Bala Na’allah and the Deputy Majority Whip, Senator Adeyeye.


Exactly two minutes after Saraki entered the venue, and shortly after the less than two-minute introduction of guests, he began to address the audience, without first allowing the IMF chief to brief the house on her mission. He was very businesslike.


It took him exactly eight minutes to make his presentation, after which Lagarde immediately made hers.


At 2.12pm, the meeting formerly ended after which reporters and other guests at the event were asked to leave for a closed door session between the two parties to commence.


During the meeting, Saraki called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to relax its strict foreign exchange policy, noting that it was doing more harm to the economy than good. He insisted that the development had made small scale businesses to suffer unnecessarily. He called on the apex bank to introduce a more flexible foreign exchange regime and reduce the present restrictions on the autonomous market which does not allow business men to bring in foreign exchange or utilise what they have in their accounts as they dimmed fit.


Saraki then told Lagarde that “The IMF should support our CBN to bring in low interest loans to SMEs. We need to encourage entrepreneurs and make most of our new graduates job creators rather than job seekers. This is an area where we need the financial support and technical assistance of the IMF.”


He explained that his office has received numerous complaints from small business owners, complaining that their businesses are being threatened by the huge bottlenecks now involved in doing business.


On her part, the Managing Director of the IMF expressed concern over Nigeria’s debt profile, saying it was weighing heavily on the nation’s treasury with 35 kobo of every naira collected used for debt service.


While advising the Nigerian government to exercise caution in borrowing, Lagarde however observed that Nigeria’s debt profile was very low at 12 per cent of its gross domestic product, GDP.


She also urged the federal government to shore up its revenue drive by broadening the nation’s tax base and simultaneously reduce leakages by promoting compliance and enhance the efficiency of revenue collection.


Lagarde also canvassed the need for Nigeria to eliminate the fuel subsidy, explaining that the subsidy regime was not only harmful to the planet but also not in the interest of the poor.


She said: “Indeed, fuel subsidies are hard to defend. Not only do they harm the planet, but they rarely help the poor. IMF research shows that more than 40 per cent of fuel price subsidies in developing countries accrue to the richest 20 per cent of households, while only seven per cent of the benefits go to the poorest 20 per cent.


“Moreover, the experience here in Nigeria of administering fuel subsidies suggests that it is time for a change—think of the regular accusations of corruption, and think of the many Nigerians who spend hours in queues trying to get gas so that they can go about their everyday business.


While analysing the current state of the Nigerian economy, Lagarde said the nation’s economic growth of 3.2 per cent in 2018 was the lowest since 1999, observing that it has the potential to record only a modest recovery in 2018.


She also observed that in the face of the drastic fall in global oil prices, Nigeria still has the responsibility of addressing its apparent infrastructural deficit.


“The outlook, however, has weakened. Growth in 2018 is estimated at about 3.2 percent—its slowest pace since 1999—and only a modest recovery is expected in 2018.


“For a country with a rapidly increasing population, this means almost no real economic growth in per capita terms.


Observing that Nigeria’s banks are well capitalised and more resilient than they were during the downturn of 2008 and 2009, Lagarde said the banks were “now beginning to feel the impact of the growing vulnerabilities in the corporate sector. This means rising non-performing loans, which will need to be carefully monitored and managed”.


She advised the Nigerian government to act with the resolve to significantly improve transportation networks as well as power generation, transmission and distribution, adding that Nigeria can be exporting tomato paste on a large scale, even as she lamented that instead of fostering export of commodities, Nigeria imports about half of its needs.


CBN may relax forex restriction on imports this week.


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Consequent upon pressures and the open admonition by Senate President Bukola Saraki, and made more intense by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may relax its policy on forex on importation of 41 select items soon.


It was learnt that apart from the call made in the open by the Senate President during last week’s audience with the IMF boss on the CBN, it has also been revealed that Lagarde pointed out, in unequivocal terms, the dangers of the continued forex policy instituted by the apex bank in the last eight months.


The CBN yesterday said commercial banks in the country can now accept deposit in foreign currency once again after the it lifted the ban on deposits into domiciliary accounts.


CBN governor Godwin Emefiele, who announced this yesterday in Abuja, said the lifting of the restriction was to allow the banks build liquidity in forex and meet some of their demands.


He said the ban was necessitated by what he called dollarization of the economy by many Nigerians.


The move also raised hopes for reversal of the import restriction policy which was place in July last year.


During the closed door sessions between the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, and Senate President Saraki on the one hand, and another with Lagarde, there appeared to be a drift towards a consensual position on the restrictive forex policy.


Although Emefiele, according to a source at the private sessions, did not give away much regarding the apex bank’s possibility of a policy review, in the light of the expected visit from IMF economists this week, the policy may be relaxed.


The foreign exchange market witnessed introduction of several foreign exchange restrictions in 2018.


The first notable restriction was the closure of official foreign exchange market (Retail Dutch Auction) on February 18, 2018 which translated to further devaluation of the naira to N197 per dollar from N165 per dollar.


Copyright 2017 Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to shipsandports. ng as the source.


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