Sacked employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria have expressed shock over their sudden dismissal, accusing the management of maltreatment and injustice.
They claimed that many were not paid their entitlements
before their sacking, a move they argued violates the bank’s human resource
rules and policy.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Jos, Plateau State
capital, the North Central Coordinator of the Conference of Autochthonous
Ethnic Communities Development Association Youth Wing, Paul Dekete, called for
the immediate reinstatement of the sacked workers.
The statement read, “The purge wasn’t limited to high-level
executives. It extended far beyond directors, impacting Deputy Directors and
Assistant Directors who formed the backbone of departmental operations. These
were not junior staff; they were seasoned professionals with deep institutional
knowledge.
“For example, the Director of Information Technology was
overseeing crucial projects on the very day they were terminated, including
efforts to secure international information security certifications for the
bank.
“In a particularly egregious case, a Director on special
assignment, tasked with leading the bank’s efforts to secure an ISO
certification for information security, was sacked on the very day the bank
successfully achieved this crucial milestone.
“Central banking relies heavily on robust cybersecurity
measures, and this certification is a testament to the Director’s competence
and the bank’s commitment to financial security. This abrupt dismissal, on the
day of a major accomplishment, raises serious questions about the planning and
rationale behind the mass layoffs.”
The statement further said, “The mass sack violated the
bank’s own HR policy, which mandates board approval for executive terminations.
“This blatant disregard for due process has raised serious
questions about transparency. The CBN, a federal institution, must adhere to
public service rules. This dismissal exercise, carried out without board
approval, lacks a solid legal foundation.
“Making matters worse, the bank offered no clear criteria
for the mass sacking. This is a stark departure from their established culture
of clear communication with staff during downsizing exercises.”
Dekete, on behalf of the sacked CBN workers further said,
“Loyal employees, some with over 30 years of dedicated service, were cast aside
with a cold, impersonal letter stating “your services are no longer required.”
This callous act extended to a Deputy Director who was let go even though she
had already completed all the necessary paperwork and her retirement letter was
ready to be issued.
“The human cost of this heartless exercise is staggering.
Many staff members had used their salaries as collateral for loans tied to
their remaining years of service at the CBN. With their abrupt termination,
these loans were immediately deducted from their final paychecks, leaving some
with nothing and others still indebted to the bank. The impact on these
individuals and their families is devastating, with their dreams and financial
security shattered in an instant.
“The CBN’s purge extended beyond individual hardship,
raising serious concerns about ethnic bias. Reports indicate that some states
saw over 80% of their executive staff removed, with North Central and South
Eastern regions disproportionately affected. This blatant disregard for the
principle of federal character raises troubling questions about the bank’s
commitment to national unity.
“Staff morale has plummeted, with a pervasive sense of fear
and uncertainty gripping the institution. Every Friday is met with dread, as
rumours swirl of another list of targeted employees. The reported use of an
external consultant, seemingly unfamiliar with the bank’s HR policies and civil
service regulations, only exacerbates the lack of trust and transparency.”
The CBN’s mass dismissal included the entire Economic
Intelligence Unit (EIU), a Unit in the bank tasked with the critical function
of identifying and monitoring illegal financial activities within Nigeria.
Established in 2018, the EIU was meticulously built by cherry-picking the
bank’s brightest minds across various departments.
According to Dekete, the loss of these highly trained
professionals represents a significant blow to the bank’s institutional
knowledge and capacity to combat money laundering and other illicit financial
activities.
He noted that the nature of the sack shows an attempt to
cripple the Middle-belt region of the state as Gombe, Plateau and Benue are
affected most.
“In Gombe State, five people cutting across Deputy Directors
to Assistant Directors cadre were all dismissed courtesy of the re-organization
of the bank. In Plateau, 80% of the staff in the executive cadre were sacked,
including one who had 3 days to retire and arrangements had been concluded for
her normal retirement.
“Benue is not spared either as many Deputy Directors are
affected. Very painful is that Mr Onoja Ameh who was transferred from Abuja to
Awka Branch last year December was involved in a terrible accident in April
this year during which he almost lost his life on his way back to Awka after
visiting his family in Abuja is still recuperating when he got sacked. A widow
who is currently nursing her trauma was also sacked from the region due to the
‘re-organisation’ of the bank.
“All termination decisions should be reviewed to ensure
compliance with CBN HR policy and public service rules. This may involve
reinstating some employees who were dismissed without proper justification.
“With most of the casualties arising from the Middle Belt
and the South Eastern regions of the country, we call on the Governor of these
regions to as a matter of urgency step into the ugly development to unravel the
mystery behind the motive to correct it”, the statement said.