CBN keeps monetary policy rate at 11.5%

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has voted to retain the monetary policy rate at 11.5 percent.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele at the end of a two-day meeting at the CBN headquarters.

The committee also retained the liquidity ratio at 30 percent and cash reserve ratio (CRR) at 27.5 percent.

The CBN governor said six members voted to maintain all parameters while three voted to increase the MPR.

The MPR according to him is the baseline interest rate in an economy and every other interest rate used within an economy is built on the MPR.

Emefiele explained that increasing the MPR will increase the cost of borrowing and reduce access to credit for businesses which he said might reverse the growth trend of the economy.

He also concerned over the nation’s rising inflation rate which he says was triggered by insecurity and a rise in the prices of petroleum and electricity.

The committee had earlier in September 2020 agreed to reduce the benchmark interest rate to 11.5 percent from 12.5 percent.

At the last MPC meeting for last year, it was decided that the rate and others should be left intact so as to monitor its full impact on the economy, which officially slipped into recession in the third quarter of the year. (Channels TV)