Headlines

No fewer than 200 officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria were on Friday relieved of their duties.

This is an addition to the long list of ongoing disengagements in the apex bank.

This adds to the list of 117 staff sacked by the bank between March 15 and April 11, 2024.

The termination of appointments affects directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, principal managers, senior managers and lower-ranking staff.

Impeccable sources who are staff of the bank confirmed the sack to our correspondent on Friday, saying that those sacked are not less than 200.

They revealed that affected persons include older directors who were not affected by the last round of retrenchment.

One of the sources in a 20-second call with our correspondent simply stated, “It is true and confirmed.”

The staff member who could not disclose further details for fear of victimisation added that the move has caused apprehension among staff of every cadre as the management has not specified any criteria for the decisions.

Another source confirmed the information, indicating that additional dismissals are expected in the months ahead, spread out across staggered phases.

The official said, “It is real and is even more than 200 officials but the actual number is unconfirmed yet. The sack is coming in staggered phases and that is why we can’t confirm the number yet. But it is not less than 200.

“The sacked persons include directors, and other cadres but the ones that are easily known are the directors. Some of the batch of old directors that were not affected during the last round of sacks are now affected.”

The sack letter obtained by our correspondent and issued by the Human Resources Department on May 24, 2024, said the policy was to reorganise the organisation for effective operations.

The letter, lacking a signature read, “The new strategic direction of the bank has been widely publicised. In line with our new mission and vision, the bank is currently undergoing a significant organisational and human capital restructuring process.

“As a result of this review, I have been directed to notify you that your services will not be required with effect from Friday, 24th May 2024.

“Your final entitlements will be calculated and paid to you in due course. Thank you”

In February, at least 1,500 members of staff of the apex bank of Nigeria were redeployed from the headquarters located at Central Area to its Lagos office.

At the time, the CBN said the action was necessitated by several factors, including the need to align the bank’s structure with its functions and objectives and redistribute skills to ensure a more even geographical spread of talent.

It added that it was also in compliance 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.

A memo issued to staff 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”.

Efforts to get the reaction of the bank’s Director of Corporate Communication, Hakama Sidi Ali, was not successful as she did not pick up her call or respond to the text messages to her line.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Friday, sealed three shops at Kpaduma community 2, Asokoro District and Nyanya motor park of the Federal Capital Territory.

Recall that the agency on Thursday also raided drug hawkers at the Area 1 and Deidei motor parks of the territory.

NAN reports that 19 drug hawkers and shop owners were arrested during the two operations, and are currently undergoing investigation at the agency’s head office in Abuja.

Mr Umar Ahmed, the Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, Investigation and Enforcement Unit, Federal Task Force, NAFDAC, said that the raids were part of efforts to sanitise the country of unwholesome goods and counterfeit drugs.

He said the activities of drug hawkers have now become rampant in the FCT, hence the need for NAFDAC enforcement to check unwholesome acts.

Ahmed said that the raid, which is also going on nationwide, followed complaints from stakeholders like the Department of State Services, DSS.

“We have raided not less than 55 hawkers’ outlets in Kpaduma in Asokoro District of the FCT, and Nyanya, some of these hawkers absconded, but we were able to arrest nine of them, and equally arrested 11 of them on Thursday.

“All the seized products, including those of those who absconded, are with NAFDAC, with an estimated value of about N58 million for today, and N70 million for Thursday.

“These drugs are very expensive, most of them are hard drugs, including herbal preparations, majority of the drugs are aphrodisiacs and analgesics, with hard drugs like tramadol, controlled drugs like cocodamol and the rest,” he said.

Residents of the Afin community, Akoko Northwest local government, have resorted to inter-denominational prayers to curtail the spread of insects currently ravaging the community.

The monarch of the community, Oba Mustapha Adejoro, has also mandated all residents to clear bushy premises as well as maintain a hygienic lifestyle.

The insects were said to have invaded farms and homes.

Residents expressed fears that offensive smell from the insects could lead to an epidemic.

They said the town and farmlands have been fumigated.

A resident, Raymond Omolasoye, said the use of hot water and Gammalin 20 was less effective.

He said it was difficult to eat in the open in the community before the fumigation exercise was carried out.

It was gathered that Oba Adejoro also declared Saturday’s environmental exercise as a special one for the entire community to be swept clean.