There is disquiet in the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), over plans by the new management to fully relocate major departments from the Abuja headquarters to the former headquarters in Lagos.
It was gathered that members of staff of the apex bank, especially married women, are grumbling over the decision.
It was learnt that the departments pencilled down for relocation by the CBN governor Yemi Cardoso are: Banking Supervision; Other Financial Institutions Supervision; Consumer Protection Department; Payment System Management Department and Financial Policy Regulations Department.
It was also gathered that 1,533 staff would be affected by the massive redeployment.
According to a source, who preferred anonymity, the policy had already forced some members of staff to consider resignation, saying, “The affected departments are the major departments of the CBN. They are the only departments mentioned in the Banking and Other Financial Institutions (BOFIA) Act”.
“Moving them entirely will only further strengthen Lagos and weaken Abuja. When you move all these departments to Lagos, then what is left of the headquarters? It will become almost useless. Women colleagues that are married can’t cope with this decision, especially those from the North”, the source noted.
The source alleged that the new management under CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, had been hostile to the staff since his assumption of office. While questioning the rationale behind the decision, the source said the move raised suspicions of a plot to elevate Lagos above Abuja and downsize staff.
