The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to transfer some of its departments to Lagos State.
This was stated in an Internal memo sighted on Saturday.
The move, according to an official of the CBN who spoke on condition of anonymity, is to decongest the apex bank’s head office.
Although some staff members of the bank have reportedly resisted the transfer and claimed that it is motivated by tribal sentiment, the source said it is for their safety and increased productivity.
“What is happening now at the CBN is likened to a company with over 500 staff and say 200 used to go to work in other states and return to the head office. It is not out of place for the company to relocate them fully to that state to work and increase their safety and productivity,” he said.
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The official stated that only some departments of the apex bank, including the Bank Supervision Department, were affected by the transfer.
He stated that the move is meant to increase the productivity of the affected staff while also cutting costs and ensuring their safety.
It was gathered through the official that the departments penciled 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.
” Most of the bank’s headquarters are in Lagos. The CBN usually sends staff from Abuja to work in Lagos for like one to two months and return to the head office.
“Being on the road all the time is not safe for them and not also cost-efficient for the bank. We know that anybody leaving their comfort would feel the pain, that is why some of the affected workers are complaining but I can assure you that, it is for their good,” he said.
He also noted that the carrying capacity of the Abuja office is 3 000 but the staff strength is at 4 000 now which is a threat to the facilities at the head office.
“Abuja office is designed to carry about 3 000 staff but we are 4 000 already. The facility managers have already warned of the implication; the security of staff is also at stake with the increased number because it overwhelms the managers,” the official stated.
Excerpts from the memo obtained read, “This is to notify all staff members at the CBN Head Office that we have initiated a decongestion action plan designed to optimize the operational environment of the bank.
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“This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilization of our office space.
“This action is necessitated by several factors, including the need to align the Bank’s structure with its functions and objectives, redistribute skills to ensure a more even geographical spread of talent, and comply 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.
“The action plan focuses on optimizing the utilization of other Bank’s premises. With this plan, 1,533 staff will be moved to other CBN facilities within Abuja, Lagos, and understaffed branches.
“Our current occupancy level of 4,233 significantly exceeds the optimal capacity of 2,700 designed for the Head Office building. This overcrowding poses several critical challenges:
“Safety Concerns: The building’s infrastructure was designed for a specific number of occupants. Exceeding this capacity has raised safety concerns, increased health and accident risks – and hinders efficient emergency evacuation.
“Reduced Efficiency: Crowded workspaces are negatively impacting productivity and collaboration. Additionally, overstretched facilities have led to increased maintenance costs.
“Structural Integrity: The building’s integrity can be compromised by exceeding its designed capacity.”
The memo further said the decongestion would also improve the apex bank’s operational and workflow efficiency.
“Strategic alignment: The decision to redistribute departments and staff is rooted in a strategic approach to align the structure of the Bank with its functions and objectives. Certain departments may be better suited to operate in proximity to Financial Institutions’ head offices, which are predominantly located in Lagos. This strategic alignment ensures optimal collaboration and efficiency,” the memo stated
As learnt, the move is viewed by staff with consternation, as it has been described as a demonstration of a hidden agenda, arguing that returning parts of the staff to Lagos cannot be justified.
They argued that CBN has many facilities in Abuja.
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For instance, the former Head office building in Garki is largely underutilized and if indeed the Central Business District Headquarters was congested, the Governor should have sent some departments to the “Old CBN”, as it is called.
In addition, CBN has buildings in the Maitama District that are also equally underutilized, which could be put to better use, the staff argued.
The source said staff who were angry about the transfer argued that the banking supervision responsibility of the CBN was not only carried out in Lagos, as the new CBN boss wanted them.to believe.
Besides, Banking Supervision, Other Financial Institutions, Consumer Protection, Payment System Management, and Monetary Policy could also be affected.
It was gathered that some staff of the apex bank were unhappy with Mr. Cardoso who they said came with a mindset against them.
PUNCH
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