The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has dismissed claims of forced mass retirement of its staff.
Recall that Daily Trust had on Monday reported plans by the apex bank to retire over 1,000 staff as part of a strategic realignment of its workforce as approved by the CBN’s Board of Governors led by Olayemi Cardoso.
The report gained traction, with some insinuating that it was targeted at relieving staff from particular regions of the country.
However, reacting to the report on Wednesday, the CBN Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, clarified that the exercise was voluntary under the bank’s early exit package, EEP.
Mrs Sidi-Ali stated that the decision to implement the exercise was the outcome of extensive consultations with the Bank’s Joint Consultative Council, JCC, a body representing staff interests.
She explained that the EEP has been a longstanding policy of the bank previously accorded to the executive cadre.
She, however, said the policy has now been extended to eligible staff at all levels.
“For some time, staff representatives through the JCC had called on management to approve the early exit package for all cadres. Following these discussions, management decided to meet this popular demand,” she said.
Addressing concerns about potential repercussions for staff who decline the package, Mrs Sidi-Ali reaffirmed management’s commitment to supporting employees’ professional growth and well-being, describing the concerns as unfounded.
She further emphasised that the initiative was an internal corporate matter designed to promote career development for staff.
