BARRING any last-minute change, not less than 1,500 staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would on Friday, February2, resume at its Lagos office following their redeployment from the headquarters.
This is despite protests against the move from some parts of the country, especially the North. But the federal government insisted that the redeployment is to cut cost, as the banks and institutions being supervised by the concerned departments are based in Lagos.
According to a source: “The plan is still on and they will resume work by February 2, which is the first week of next month.”
The new management of the apex bank, led by its Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, decided to relocate some of CBN’s departments to the country’s economic hub for staff safety, increased productivity and to decongest its head office.
The CBN said the action was based on several factors, including the need to align the bank’s structure with its functions and objectives and redistribute skills to ensure a more even geographical spread of talent, as well as in compliance with building regulations, as indicated by repeated warnings from the facility manager and the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Decongestion of the CBN Head Office.
In a memo issued to staff, the Bank stated: “This is to notify all staff members at the CBN Head Office that we have initiated a decongestion action plan designed to optimise the operational environment of the Bank.
“This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilisation of our office space.”
The affected departments include Banking Supervision, Other Financial Institutions Supervision, Consumer Protection Department, Payment System Management Department and Financial Policy Regulations Department.
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and recently, the senator representing Borno South in the senate, Ali Ndume, among others, have kicked against the relocation
But the CBN governor seems bent on implementing the decision, which is expected to reduce the number of staff at the head office to about 2,733 personnel from the current 4,233.
Indeed, some of the affected staffers have started relocating to Lagos ahead of the deadline. Over 80 per cent of the Banking Supervision Department, as well as Payment System Department staff have been redeployed, according to the source.
