The Federal Government is considering a new payment system that could see workers’ salaries, pensions and social welfare benefits disbursed through the eNaira platform.
The proposal forms part of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028, a strategic roadmap aimed at deepening digital payments and increasing the adoption of the country’s digital currency.
Introduced in October 2021, the eNaira became Africa’s first central bank digital currency. The initiative was designed to promote financial inclusion, reduce transaction costs, encourage cashless payments and simplify money transfers. However, adoption has remained relatively low since its launch.
Under the new plan, the CBN intends to move the eNaira beyond its pilot phase and position it as a key channel for both government and private-sector transactions. The apex bank also plans to review the existing framework governing the digital currency to ensure it aligns with current market realities and operational requirements.
The roadmap identifies government-to-citizen payments, salary disbursement, offline transactions and support for small businesses as priority areas for eNaira deployment. If implemented, public-sector salaries, pensions, conditional cash transfers and other government benefits could be paid directly through the digital platform.
The CBN further highlighted the eNaira’s programmable payment features, which can enable funds to be used for specific purposes. These capabilities include setting spending deadlines, restricting transactions to approved uses, automating payment distribution and creating dedicated digital wallets for different categories of spending.
The proposed measures are part of broader efforts by the CBN to strengthen Nigeria’s digital payment ecosystem and expand the practical use of the eNaira across the economy.
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