Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has reportedly dismissed 25 of the 29 directors he inherited from the tenure of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The affected directors were heading various strategic departments within the bank. The remaining four directors who were not dismissed recently retired upon reaching the statutory retirement age of 60.
Senior officials at the CBN, speaking to Daily Trust, revealed that the departments are currently being overseen by departmental coordinators acting in the capacity of the sacked directors. The officials added that the CBN management has plans to recruit new directors from outside the apex bank.
One official questioned the delay, saying, “Why are the departments still being manned by departmental coordinators more than three months after the sack of the substantive directors?”
Another source highlighted the absence of new appointments, stating, “Since his (Cardoso’s) appointment, no director has been appointed. He has kept all vacant departments under the leadership of acting directors.”
Among the directors affected by Cardoso’s overhaul are:
- Dr. Blaise Ijebor, Director, Risk Management
- Dr. Mahmud Hassan, Director, Trade & Exchange
- Dr. Ozoemena S. Nnaji, Director, Statistics
- Chibuike D. Nwaegerue, Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision
- Chibuzo A. Efobi, Director, Payments System Management
- Haruna Bala Mustafa, Director, Financial Policy and Regulation
- Rakiya Shuaibu Mohammed, Director, Information Technology
- Benjamin Nnadi, Director, Reserve Management
The CBN directors who remain in service are Rashida Jumoke Monguno (Corporate Secretariat), Aderinola Shonekan (Research), Omolara Duke (Financial Markets), Jimoh Musa Itopa (Capacity Development), Muhammad Abba (Human Resources), Rabiu Musa (Finance), Sirajuddin Kofo Salam-Alada (Legal Services), Blaise Ijebor (Risk Management), and Lydia I. Alfa (Internal Audit).