The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has withdrawn its circular mandating banks and payment service providers to collect and remit the cybersecurity levy as proposed in the Cybercrime Prevention and Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024.
The apex bank stated this in a revised circular dated May 17, 2024, signed by its Director of Payment Systems Management, Chibuzor Efobi, and Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Haruna Mustafa, and addressed to commercial banks, PSPs, non-interest banks, and others.
According to the circular seen by Nairametrics, the bank’s earlier statement on the subject has been withdrawn.
It stated: “Circular to all commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks; other financial institutions, mobile money operators, and payment service providers.”
Re: Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024 – Implementation Guidance on the Collection and Remittance of the National Cybersecurity Levy
“The Central Bank of Nigeria circular dated May 6, 2024 (Ref: PSMD/DIR/PUB/LAB/017/004) on the above subject refers.”
“Further to this, please be advised that the above-referenced circular is hereby withdrawn.”
The withdrawal follows the decision of the Federal Executive Council to suspend the implementation of the provisions of the law citing the need to conduct further reviews.
Backstory
Recall, on May 6, 2024, the CBN through a circular ordered commercial banks, Payment Service Providers and others to begin collection and remittance of 0.5% of the transaction cost of electronic transactions as cyber security levy in line with the provisions of the amended 2024 cybercrimes prohibition and prevention act. (Nairametrics)
