ADVANTAGES OF A STRONGER NAIRA
By: Sir Henry Olujimi Boyo (Les Leba) first published in May 2014
INTRO:
Last week, this column republished ‘Systemic Surplus Naira as Economic Poison’. The article emphasized the deepening state of urgency Nigeria has been in for decades. It also provides effective rationale for the recommendations provided by Sir Henry.
(See www.betternaijanow.com for this series and more articles by the Late Sir Henry Boyo)
Today’s republication provides more insight into the benefits of a stronger naira on Nigeria’s economic welfare. It discusses the ripple effect of change that will occur across various sectors to safeguard a prosperous future, and it provides clear examples to portray the extent to which monetary policy can either place a nation’s economy under arrest, or free it from abject poverty.
As you read through the below article taking note of previous events or rates, keep in mind its year of publication (2014), a clear indication that Nigeria’s economic situation is yet to improve even after all this time.
In an article earlier this month, we explained why further naira devaluation would constrain demand and economic growth, and also add millions more to the population of impoverished Nigerians, who are currently unemployed or live on less than $2 per day. In a subsequent article, we identified the unyielding, suffocating self-inflicted burden of surplus naira as the primary cause of continuously depreciating naira despite bountiful dollar reserves since the return to civil rule in 1999.
The narrative, this week, will answer questions on the impact of a stronger naira exchange rate such as N80: $1 on critical economic indices like inflation, interest rate, fuel subsidy, national debt and job creation. The discussion is as follows:
Why do you believe that a stronger naira is better for the economy?
Historical evidence clearly confirms that the trajectory of deepening poverty in Nigeria correlates loyally with depreciation of the naira exchange rate from stronger than 1:1 in the 70s and early 80s to current market rate of about N160: $1. In reality, a much stronger naira should yield more benefits to our economy, and halt deepening poverty; conversely, any naira depreciation will further fuel inflation, deepen poverty, and widen the already huge gap between the rich few and the poor masses.
So, how does naira exchange rate affect inflation?
Inflation is generally defined as excess money chasing too few goods; in other words, inflation will be restrained, when optimal naira values exist in the system. For example, the substitution of naira allocations for say, $1bn distributable revenue at a rate of N160: $1 will increase the actual naira stock in the banks by N160bn, while commercial banks could leverage almost ten-fold on this amount, to compound the burden of surplus naira in the economy. Conversely, additions to already bloated money supply from monthly naira allocations would be reduced by at least 50 per cent to just N80bn, if the same $1bn allocation was exchanged at a stronger rate of, say, N80: $1.
Consequently, inflation will fall with a stronger naira rate, as there would be less surplus naira chasing available goods and services; lower inflation rates will increase the purchasing power of all income earners, while also reducing production cost. Indeed, economic best practice inflation rate is often less than two per cent in successful economies. In reality, our current inflation rate of eight per cent means that static income earners (e.g., pensioners) will lose 40 per cent of their incomes’ purchasing power every five years.
Does a stronger naira positively affect interest rate?
In the earlier article "Should the Naira be Devalued", (please see www.lesleba.com) we explained that existing high interest rates are the result of CBN’s self-infliction of surplus naira on the economy. We also explained that systemic naira surplus increases with lower naira exchange rates; thus, a stronger exchange rate of, say, N80: $1 will reduce the level of disenabling excess naira by at least 50 per cent.
In such event, CBN will not become compelled, for fear of inflation fueled by surplus naira, to sustain disruptively high Monetary Policy Rates (MPR) that trigger over 20 per cent cost of funds to the real sector. Thus, with reduced or optimal money supply, the apex bank will inevitably reduce its MPR (i.e., rate at which it lends to commercial banks), from the current disturbingly high level of 12 per cent, to benign levels that will encourage banks to, in turn, provide credit to the real sector at rates that support increasing productivity and more job opportunities.
Evidently, lower cost of borrowing will reduce interest rates, so that made-in-Nigeria goods would become more competitive against imports, which are supported with cheap concessionary funds. Thus, a stronger naira will not only stimulate productivity, but would also bring about much cheaper made-in-Nigeria goods, and create additional jobs.
Nonetheless, we must recognise that no country successfully grows its economy when government deposits with banks earn zero percent, while government simultaneously pays double-digit interest rates to the same banks, just to remove perceived surplus naira from the system.
Will a naira exchange rate of N80: $1 have any positive impact on wages?
An exchange rate of N80: $1 will certainly enhance the naira’s purchasing power. Thus, the N18,000 minimum wage, for example, which is currently equal to about $110, would now be worth $220 per month; therefore, the additional product demand created by the higher purchasing power of income earners would encourage local entrepreneurs to produce, if cost of funds also fall below 10 per cent.
What impact would such entrepreneurial impetus have on our economy?
Well, the renewed spirit of enterprise would ultimately lead to the creation of more job opportunities, as new investors enter the market, while established industrialists expand their capacity utilization, or retool their plants for increased production. Ultimately, the wages earned by the increasing army of newly employed workers, will also create additional consumer demand that will further invigorate the industrial climate, and instigate rapid industrial expansion, with even more job opportunities.
Will a stronger naira eliminate fuel subsidy?
Yes, it would; for example, if 1litre of petrol sells for $1 ex refinery, this would be equivalent to N160/litre in Nigeria. If, however, the naira rate falls from N160: $1 to, say, N200: $1, the same petrol ex-refinery would now also sell for N200/litre.
Furthermore, if however, petrol continues to sell for N97/litre instead of the actual market price of about N200/litre, the attendant subsidy value would increase to N103/litre, instead of the current N53/litre with exchange rate of N160: $1.
Nonetheless, a stronger naira of N80: $1 will reduce petrol price to N80/litre, and save the nation over $12bn annually from the elimination of fuel subsidy. Indeed, a petrol tax of N17/litre can be levied by government.
Thus, the sum of over $12bn (N2tn) which is currently frittered away as fuel subsidy annually, will become available for rapid infrastructural enhancement in the areas of education, health, transportation, etc.
Evidently, it will cost this and future generations an arm and a leg, if we had to borrow $12bn annually at cutthroat interest rates to enhance our infrastructure.
Will a stronger naira reduce our national debt burden?
As earlier explained above, a stronger naira will reduce the cost and size of government borrowing, as cost of funds will fall for both private and public sector borrowings. Additionally, government need not increase its debt burden, by providing funds to the banks at zero percent, and irrationally borrowing back the same funds at double-digit interest rates in order to manage surplus naira and contain inflation.
In conclusion, however, the distortions associated with excess naira will be harmoniously resolved if dollar certificates are adopted for the allocation of dollar-derived revenue.
The link in the article has been replaced by www.betternaijanow.com. This article was republished on the 26th of February 2018 with the below post-script:
Post-script 2018: Exchange rate N300-360 per dollar, inflation nearer 15 percent from 8 percent, youth unemployment well over 20 percent while over 40 percent revenue is used for debt servicing. Hope for the future is very big!
SAVE THE NAIRA, SAVE NIGERIANS!
