IHRC Decries Outrageous PoS Charges, Hike House Rents In Delta Communities

The Special Monitoring Mission of the International Human Rights Commission, SMM IHRC, Nigeria, has decried the outrageous POS charges and distressing increments of house rents bedeviling Delta Communities and how it contributes hugely to social vices in the State.

The call was made by the National Coordinator, Elijah Vitus Echendu, represented by the South-South Coordinator, Fidelis Onakpoma, during the presentation of the National Consolidation Award to the Divisional Police Officers in charge of Agbarho, CSP. Samuel Ugadu Ogwa and Abraka, SP. Ayameh Fabian Emehi Delta State.

The National Coordinator, Elijah, said Point of Sale (PoS) operators in Nigeria increased transaction charges as the scramble for cash persisted in banks across the country during the scarcity of the new naira notes, but the narrative is relatively getting better against the former.

Regrettably, PoS operators in the University community in Delta State, Abraka, and their neighborhoods charge their customers an average of N1,000 on every N10,000 withdrawal, a broad daylight exhortation despite CBN’s ordering on the dispensing of cash by Commercial Banks, he hinted.

He emphasized that the Director, of CBN Risk Management Department, Blaise Ijebor, once disclosed while speaking with journalists on efforts of the apex bank and state government on ensuring the availability of cash in circulation.

According to him, the approved charge for every N5,000 is N100 and anything done contrary to the approved charges by the agents due to the current cash crisis is tantamount to punishing their fellow citizens.

He also lamented the distressing increments of house rents adding that most tenants and those seeking new accommodation are finding it difficult to cope as rental values on residential apartments have skyrocketed in most developing Nigerian towns in the last year.

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While noting that the quests to meet up with house rents could lead to involvement in illegal activities thereby increasing social vices, he also advised the government to rejig the economy and to put measures in place that will make it bounce back and urged landlords to be lenient in the increasing of their house rents.

While presenting the award, Fidelis Onakpoma said they were assigned to honor the officers in recognition of their efforts in combating crime and involvement in advancing community cohesion and promoting civic awareness. He therefore called on the CBN Governor, the Inspector General of Police, the Delta State Government, and other stakeholders in taking up responsibility for addressing the issues of concerns raised by the Organization.