Military Gets Extension for BVN Registration

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved an extension for the registration of Biometric Verification Number (BVN) for members of the armed forces.

At a senate committee meeting on appropriation on Monday, November 30, the senate said the extension would enable the military personnel access salaries paid into their various accounts.

Speaking at the meeting, Suleiman Barau, deputy governor, operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria said the apex bank received a request for an extension from the minister of defence, Mohammed Dan-Ali.

Barau who came along with other relevant stakeholders, also discuss the proposed N465 billion supplementary budget.

He agreed with the minister stating that the bank understood the plight of the military operatives.

Also, the defence minister had earlier pleaded with the committee to direct that BVN registration be extended for military personnel especially those in the war front to be able to access their salaries.

He added that the soldiers cannot abandon the war front and primary point of duty to go to the bank for BVN registration.

“Our soldiers in the field cannot access their money because of the BVN: our soldiers should be given extension so that they and their family can access their salary.”

“We need to appeal to the CBN governor if that can be done as it will enhance the morale of our soldiers,” Dan-Ali said.

Danjuma Goje, the chairman of the committee in agreement also sought that special extension be given to the military in this regard.

With the current fight against insurgency in Nigeria, many soldiers have been deployed in the North eastern Nigeria to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists.

Also, the Nigerian military is faced with meeting up with a deadline given by the President Muhammadu Buhari that the insurgents must be wiped out from the region by December.