Why We Cut Down Benchmark Lending Rate, by CBN

Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Tuesday said it cut down the benchmark lending rate from 14 per cent to 13.5 per cent to further promote economic growth.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said this when he briefed newsmen in Abuja on the outcome of the 266th Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

This is the first time the rate has been altered since July 2016.

Emefiele said all 11

members were present at the meeting and six out of 11 of them voted to reduce the Monetary Policy Rate by 50 basis point.

He explained that two members voted to reduce the MPR by 25 basis point, another two members voted to hold the MPR at 14 per cent, while one member voted to reduce it by 100 basis point.

Emefiele also said 10 members voted to hold all other parameters at the present rate, while only one member voted to reduce the cash reserve ratio.

To this effect, he said the Cash Reserves Ratio remains unchanged at 22.5 per cent, liquidity at 30 per cent and Asymmetric corridor at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

“The committee felt that given the relative stability in the key macroeconomic variables, there is a need to signal a new direction and in which case we are talking about being pro-growth.

“In its argument the committee was convinced that doing this would further uphold the bank’s commitment to promoting strong growth by way of encouraging credit flow to the productive sector of the economy.

“The MPC also felt that signaling through loosening by a marginal rate will serve to manage the sentiment in the capital flow market owing to a wider spread in yields in the emerging market and developing economies relative to the advanced economies.

“Moreover the real interest rate will still remain positive,” Emefiele said.

On the overall outlook and risks, the CBN governor said forecasts of key macroeconomic variables indicate a positive outlook for the economy in 2019.

Emefiele said the committee also harped on the need to debase the Gross Domestic Product of the country, which was last carried out in 2010.

According to him, “The committee however expressed concern and sympathises with the fiscal authorities over the growing fiscal debt, fiscal deficit, external debt and debt servicing.

“The committee also noted the improvement in financial systems stability and the soundness in key financial indicators.

“The MPC also commended the Federal Government for the settlement of debt owed to oil marketers which has helped considerably in reducing the non-performing loans in the banking industry.

“They also urged the government to further settle outstanding arrears to its contractors.”

Emefiele reiterated the apex bank’s commitment to providing the necessary leverage to support economic growth and development in the country.

The Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) controls the cost of short-term borrowing, money supply, lending rate, interest rate and inflation in an economy.

It ensures price stability and general trust in a country’s currency.

Simply put, MPR is the baseline interest rate and every other interest rate used within an economy is built on it.