The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has refuted allegations that its recent staff redeployment from its Abuja headquarters to Lagos was driven by political or ethnic considerations.
Speaking during a two-day interactive session on Government-Citizen Engagement in Kaduna on Wednesday, the CBN Deputy Governor in charge of Economic Policy, Muhammad Abdullahi, addressed the controversy surrounding the bank’s internal restructuring efforts.
In 2024, the apex bank introduced an Early Exit Package (EEP) aimed at streamlining operations and improving efficiency. Part of the implementation included a reduction in staff at its Abuja headquarters and the redeployment of some personnel to other CBN locations, including Lagos and Kaduna.
The move had attracted criticism, with some alleging that the exercise was targeted at staff from Northern Nigeria. However, Abdullahi dismissed the claims as baseless, stating that the decision was informed by safety and logistical considerations, not ethnic or regional bias.
“The decision to decongest the Abuja office was based on a recommendation from our insurance provider regarding workplace safety,” Abdullahi explained. “It is not an agenda against anybody.”
He revealed that many of the affected staff have since settled into their new postings and are content with the changes. “Some of those redeployed to Lagos and Kaduna are now so comfortable, they don’t even want to return to Abuja,” he added.
Abdullahi also rejected reports that the CBN deliberately removed 16 directors from Northern Nigeria, clarifying that directors from the region remain in key positions within the bank.
“The son of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was also redeployed from Abuja to Lagos. Nobody was spared—it is a uniform policy of the bank,” he stated, reinforcing the non-discriminatory nature of the redeployment exercise.
The CBN’s clarification comes amid ongoing discussions about the restructuring of federal institutions and the need for equitable representation and transparency in administrative decisions.
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