the Office of the National Security Adviser has expressed fears that it may frustrate military operations.

The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno who was represented by Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, made this known while appearing before the House Ad Hoc Committee on the CBN’s Cashless Policy in Abuja.

Mustapha says, if the policy is not properly executed, it will become difficult to pay officers on the battlefields.

Relatedly, Nigerians, especially bank customers, are gripped with confusion and uncertainty on whether today’s deadline by the Central Bank of Nigeria for the phasing out of the old naira notes still remains or it has been suspended following the Supreme Court injunction obtained by some northern governors.

The Supreme Court had on Wednesday ruled that the deadline should be suspended pending the determination of the case brought before it by the governors of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara States.

Yesterday, Point of Sale operators shut their businesses while several commercial banks in the country remain closed.  

With about two weeks to the commencement of polls, the National Universities Commission NUC has ordered the closure of universities across the country to enable students to participate in the February 25 and March 11 general elections.

In a letter addressed to vice-chancellors of all universities and directors of inter-university centres, the NUC notes that the directive is based on the instruction of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

Varsities are directed to shut down and suspend academic activities on February 22 and March 14 for students to actively participate in the polls.

However, in an interview, ASUU the National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, condemns the NUC’s directive saying universities have never been shut down due to elections.

He adds that the closure and opening of universities are the prerogative of universities’ Senates.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu insists the 2023 general elections will hold as scheduled.

He gave the assurance in a meeting with vice-chancellors of federal universities.

The INEC chief asked the vice-chancellors to do a proper background check to avoid enlisting staff affiliated with political parties or having any history of partisanship before forwarding their names to the commission for assistance in the elections.

The Commission also said it will embark on its own investigation of names forwarded by the universities for the purpose of the election.

Professor Yakubu allayed the fears of some of the vice-chancellors over insecurity while assuring that comprehensive security plans have been mapped out for the safety of all staff, media, youth corps members, and everyone who comes out to vote.

Amid requests from several quarters, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has insisted there will not be another extension of the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards PVC before the general elections.

The commission said it needs to move its staff away from the issuance of PVCs to other sectors that need attention ahead of the elections.

The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, stated this on a live television programme.

On the number of cards collected so far, the INEC National Commissioner said the electoral umpire does not have the complete details yet.