Emefiele’s Reappointment Unlikely to Mark Turning Point in Policy
As reactions continue to trail the nomination for reappointment of the Godwin Emefiele led monetary policy authority, Afrinvest has said that reappointment unlikely to mark turning point in monetary policy.
The investment banking firm said that there will be slow growth, high inflation and unemployment rate if the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, continues to maintaining existing monetary policy stance on the economy.
In the same manner, consultants at LSintelligence Associates said that CBN has to rethink some of its policies stance in order to achieve stability in the financial service sector without undermining the impact on the performance real sector of the economy.
According to the firm, there is need to adjust policy direction to improve on domestic economic performance, consolidate growth and managing successfully a stable credit system.
For significant part of the first five years of the Governor of the CBN whom President Muhammadu Buhari has resubmitted name for re-appointment into another five years in office, monetary policy administration has largely been contractionary as the apex bank maintain liquidity tightening.
Afrinvest in its analysts’ note expressed their view on whether monetary policy set sail or dock as Godwin Emefiele returns.
“While we had expected a new man at the helm, this is the first time since 1993 that a CBN governor has been given a second term.
“We are unsurprised by this decision, considering the unusual silence around possible candidates for the position unlike in previous selection processes.
Our worry is that this appointment is unlikely to mark a turning point in monetary policy, the expanding development mandate of the apex bank and the regulation and supervision of financial institutions”, Afrinvest said.
The firm said that these are areas where Nigeria must make strong improvements to overturn bleak medium-term macroeconomic projections.
Without a change in direction, we expect slow growth, high inflation and high unemployment to persist.
Since the President Buhari’s administration began in May 2015, the independence of the CBN has taken further beatings.
Fiscal authorities have openly commented on the administration of exchange rate, import substitution policies and interest rate.
The policy actions of the CBN has broadly aligned with these, making it hard to untangle the influence of the presidency.
“We believe this has wielded negative impact on investor confidence, with the result being reduced foreign investments.
“Also, based on our analysis, the CBN continues to support FG’s spending beyond approved limits.
“For instance, between 2016 and 2018, government’s borrowing has been short of actual deficit financing up to the tune of N3.6 trillion, with implications for money supply.
“We believe this stance will be sustained over the next five years”, the investment banking firm reckoned.
“We believe the CBN under Godwin Emefiele would favour keeping the fixed exchange rate and the current misalignment between the official rate of N305.00/US$1.00 and market led rates of N360.00/US$1.00.
“A relatively strong external reserves level at US$44.8 billion, which provides more than the recommended 3 months import cover ensures this in the short-term.
Analysts however noted that the boom and bust cycle of the commodity markets is inevitable, making the current stability of the currency untenable over the medium to long-term.
“There is the need for a more flexible management of exchange rate to ensure adequate response to economic shocks, which in turn, prevents sharp exchange rate adjustments and sustains foreign investment, foreign exchange, FX, liquidity and growth.
“Evidence from previous commodity shocks shows that without a flexible exchange rate system, the chance of an economic recession or weak growth and banking system weakness is high” Afrinvest remarked.
In its observation, Afrinvest noted that as a regulator, the CBN has been slow to innovate, with monetary and regulatory policies stuck in the past.
Due to the boom and bust episodes in commodities market cycle, Central Banks in resource dependent countries are making changes to improve the resilience of the financial sector, responses to external vulnerabilities and to meet the goals of monetary policy.
“In this regard, strengthening regulatory oversight, and adopting a flexible exchange rate policy and inflation targeting is common.
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“This is becoming clearer in emerging markets such as South Africa, Russia and Egypt.
“In Nigeria, the latest commodity market shock, the mid-2014 oil price slump, revealed faults once again as FX liquidity tightened due to reduced exports.
“The implication was weaker government revenues, steep currency devaluations, elevated inflation and weak growth.
“These were worsened by the CBN’s inadequate response in the form of a fixed exchange regime and capital controls, which eroded investor confidence and led to FX liquidity crunch.
“In the banking sector, asset quality deteriorated due to elevated non-performing loans (NPLs) and liquidity ratios reduced.
“Instructively, the NPL ratio for banks stood at 11.7% as at 2018, significantly above the CBN’s 5.0% threshold.
“Asset quality complications were broad-based, but Tier-2 banks were significantly impacted, with under-capitalised banks, such as Skye Bank, receiving capital support from the CBN and other forms of regulatory forbearance.
The CBN’s response to Fintech innovation has been slow and inadequate, thus the Bank is unlikely to meet its financial inclusion targets.
With the return of Godwin Emefiele, we do not anticipate significant reforms that would support the economy’s resilience to external shocks, restore investor confidence or strengthen the financial system.
“Although outside its core mandate, the CBN continues to provide funding support to the real economy in various forms.
“Although there are genuine reasons for development financing as credit to the private sector is weak, we believe this should be led by fiscal authorities, properly budgeted and administered transparently.
The analysts allege that the administration of some of CBN’s intervention funds are not transparent; hence, a thorough analysis is impossible.
The much-touted impacts of these schemes are also almost impossible to estimate given the lack of data, showing that the policies may not be achieving intended outcomes.
It also noted that anecdotal evidences from policy makers and local media suggest inefficiency in the administration of intervention funds such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme.
“We continue to stress the need for reforms on the fiscal side to improve the business environment as elevated risks would continue to deter credit extension by banks, without which the impact of intervention funds will be limited.
“We believe the economy is better served by a CBN laser-focused on its objectives of price and exchange rate stability and the supervision and regulation of the financial system” Afrinvest instructed.
Emefiele’s Reappointment Unlikely to Mark Turning Point in Policy
