•1,533 staff affected
Internal rumpus fuelled by anxiety and bad feelings currently pervade the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the management wants to relocate key departments to Lagos, its former headquarters.
It said the move was aimed at boosting efficiency and ensuring the safety of staff.
In a memo, the apex bank explained that the planned action also seeks to decongest the headquarters which was designed to accommodate 3,000 people but occupants have swelled to 4,000.
While some workers are vehemently kicking against it and injecting ethnic slur into their inferences, the CBN management insists the decision has no ulterior motive, other than to reset the place for greater service delivery.
Should the CBN Governor, Dr Yemi Cardoso, go through with the plan, about 1,533 members of staff of the bank would be affected.
Departments to be affected are; Other Financial Institutions Supervision; Consumer Protection Department; Payment System Management Department and Financial Policy Regulations Department.
Sources said the management, by the action, could be biting more than it could chew because the “those who feel forcefully moved could become saboteurs just to extract their pound of flesh”.
But another source noted that most of commercial banks, which the apex bank regulates are headquartered in Lagos.
“So, why torture the CBN staff to be on the road always to do their supervisory jobs? Why not be where the banks are to make monitoring easier? Why spend so much money on workers who spend weeks and months in Lagos when such funds can be used for more vital tasks?
“We know that anybody leaving their comfort zone 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,” the source said.
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 optimise the operational environment of the bank.
“This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilisation 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 optimising the utilisation 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 explained.