Nwoko asks Senate to probe dismissal of 317 CBN staff
By Innocent Raphael
Senator representing Delta North, Sen. Ned Nwoko has charged the Senate to investigate the recent dismissal of 317 staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday, Nwoko described the layoffs as “too hasty” and emphasized the need to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the decision.
He accused the CBN of failing to consult with key stakeholders, including labor unions, before proceeding with the dismissals.
“The Senate should mandate its committees on Employment, Labour and Productivity, as well as Public Service Matters, to investigate the terminations.
“The committees should focus on the rationale behind the action, compliance with labor laws, and the broader socio-economic impact of the exercise,” Nwoko stated.
According to Nwoko, between March 15 and April 11, 2024, the CBN dismissed 117 employees. This was followed by the termination of an additional 200 staff members on May 24, bringing the total to 317.
He added that the affected employees included directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, principal managers, senior managers, and some lower-level workers.
Nwoko revealed that the dismissal letters, including one dated May 24 from the Human Resources Department, cited the need to reorganize the organization for effective operations but provided no specific reasons for each individual’s termination.
He expressed concerns that the principles of fairness and justice might have been compromised, warning that the sudden terminations could harm the economic stability of the workers’ families..
In response to the foregoing, a senior official at the apex bank, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that some employees had been laid off but declined to provide further details.
Also, Bank staff corroborated the dismissals, confirming that at least 200 employees were affected by the May 24 terminations.
According to sources, the official dismissal letter indicated the reorganization policy as the reason for the layoffs.
