The House of Representatives on Wednesday in Abuja mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency to investigate the N100 ATM monthly charge by banks.
The resolution followed a motion by Babatunde Kazeem (ACN-Lagos), which was adopted when put to vote by the speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.
The motion is entitled, ‘Urgent Need to stop Nigerian Banks from Introducing N100 Monthly Maintenance Fee’.
Kazeem said that following the scrapping of N100 withdrawal charges on Automated Teller Machines (ATM) by the Banker’s Committee, some banks were planning to introduce monthly maintenance fee on ATM cards.
He said that he read about the proposed introduction of the charge in a news publication
According to the lawmaker, a first generation bank has informed its customers that they will be paying a monthly maintenance fee on their cards with effect from March 2013.
He also said that the banker’s committee, during a meeting in November 2012 had scrapped the N100 inter-bank charges on the use of ATM cards.
The legislator further said that the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had said that customers would no longer pay N100 on withdrawals on ATM whenever customers use banks other than theirs.
He said that this was to take effect from December 17, 2012.
Kazeem expressed concern that if this maintenance fee was introduced, it would cause untold hardship on bank customers.
Speaking in support of the motion, Abiodun Awoleye (ACN-Oyo) said the N100 charge for the use of ATM under the guise of maintenance charge by some banks was an exploitation of Nigerians.
He said that the charge was also against the CBN’s cashless policy of the economy.
He expressed concern that if the maintenance fee was allowed, these banks would introduce other charges in the use of ATM.
In his contribution in support of the motion, Aminu Suleiman (PDP-Kano) said that it was important that the relevant committee of the House should look into the matter.
Hassan Saleh (PDP-Benue) urged the committee on banking and currency to ensure that “the right thing is done”.
This, he said, was to guard against innocent customers being charged arbitrarily.
However, the motion received a mild opposition from some members who felt that the issue of banking was a contractual thing between the customers and the banks.
Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta) urged members not to support the motion, and said that the motion would not stand the test of time.
However, the motion was adopted and referred to the Committee on Banking and Currency for more inputs.
Meanwhile, the House also on Wednesday mandated its Committees on Sports and Communications to investigate the activities of illegal lottery agents.
The committees are expected to report back to the House within four weeks.
This resolution followed a motion moved by Yusuf Tajudeen (PDP- Kogi) which was unanimously adopted without debate.
According to Tajudeen, these unregistered lottery agents allegedly carry out their fraudulent promotions in connivance with some private telecommunications providers.
He said that these lottery agents not only perpetuate frauds, but also make monumental proceeds from their illegal activities.
TEDDY NWANUNOBI, Abuja
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