House of Representatives has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend its recent policy that increased ATM withdrawal charges.

The lawmakers argued that the new policy would hurt Nigerians already facing economic hardships.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Marcus Onobun during plenary yesterday.

In a new circular, the CBN reviewed Section 10.7 of its “Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions,” raising the cost of ATM withdrawals for customers using other banks’ ATMs.

The policy prescribes N100 charge per N20,000 withdrawal for customers using ATMs within a bank’s premises and an additional N500 surcharge for withdrawals at off-premises ATMs in locations such as malls and marketplaces.

In his presentation, Onobun noted that the last review of the charge was in 2019, when the fee was reduced from N65 to N35 per transaction, saying that the sudden increase represented a significant burden on bank customers.

He said: “Note that according to this new policy, customers withdrawing from their bank’s ATMs will continue to enjoy free withdrawals.

“However, a fee of N100 per N20,000 withdrawals will be applied to customers from other banks transacting from ATMs within the bank premises. Similarly, customers from other banks transacting from ATM outside the premises of the bank (malls, market places and other public places) will be charged N100 and an additional surcharge of N500.”

He noted that the citizens were already grappling with multiple economic hardships, including high inflation, increased fuel prices, electricity tariff hikes, and numerous banking and service charges that significantly reduce disposable income and negatively impact the economic welfare of citizens; and expressed worry that the imposition of additional ATM withdrawal charges will further limit the financial inclusion of Nigerians by discouraging low-income earners from accessing banking services, thereby contradicting the CBN’s financial inclusion agenda.

ALSO, the House has called for a nationwide ban on websites hosting pornographic content, saying the sites were encouraging adultery, prostitution and promiscuous behaviour among citizens.

The lawmakers urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to enforce strict sanctions on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that failed to comply with the ban.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the lawmaker representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency, Katsina State, Dalhatu Shehu Tafoki, who expressed concern over the rising influence of cyber pornography in Nigeria and its negative impact on society.

Tafoki noted that Nigeria, being a highly religious nation, frowned on nudity and obscenity across all major faiths.

Adopting the motion, the Green Chamber urged the NCC to direct Internet Service Providers (SPs) operating in the country to take immediate steps to block all websites hosting obscene and pornographic contents.

It mandated the committees on communications and legislative compliance to ensure the implementation and report within four weeks for further legislative action.