NURTW Sends Message To Members Over Old Naira Notes

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has sent out a message to its members.

The union has directed that its members continue to receive old naira notes until the Federal Government’s deadline for the new currency swap policy.

Prof. Tajudeen Baruwa, President of the Union, issued the directive on Monday during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja by Dr Garba Abari, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Baruwa urged his colleagues to allow relevant government agencies to implement monetary policy.

He stated that he had discussed the rejection of old naira notes with the NOA boss in order to properly sensitise the public.

“We have discussed with the Director-General of NOA that most people are rejecting the old naira notes in spite of the deadline extension, and he promised to do something about it.

“I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt; I am hopeful that before February 10, they will do something, and I know that with such intervention, the public will not reject the old notes again.”

“On our part, we are going to support NOA to sensitise our members on the government’s policy as regards new naira notes.

“We are having the National Executive Council Meeting tomorrow. We will use the opportunity to enlighten our NEC members on the policy.

“And we will ensure that handbills and flyers are given to our state executives to take the message to the grassroots,” he said.

Baruwa described the visit of the NOA boss as very important, adding that, “the people have been calling the union’s leadership to assist them because they believe it has a role to play in the implementation of the banknotes swap policy.

“I have acquired a lot of experiences through this visit. We will share the posters they gave us in every nook and cranny of the state.

“Then on our own, we will embark on jingle to enlighten commercial drivers and the public in general,” he said.

Earlier, Abari said the visit was to collaborate with the union on the government’s redesigned currency policy in order to take the message to the grassroots and get feedback.

According to him, this is what we are going to send back to relevant agencies saddled with the responsibility of implementing the monetary policy in the country.

“We are also embarking on community sensitization to address issues of fake new banknotes.

“There is a need for Nigerians to look out for specific security features on the new notes, such as the coat of arms when you raise the note to view it and the security ink and mark on the notes.

“These are the signs, and this is the reason why NURTW needs to come in,” the NOA boss said.