Nwoko wants Senate to probe sacking of 317 CBN workers

The Senate should look into the recent termination of 317 employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria, according to Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta North).

On Tuesday in Abuja, Nwoko told the News Agency of Nigeria that the sack was "too hasty," which is why it's necessary to look into the circumstances around it.

He claimed that prior to the procedure, the apex bank had not consulted with labour unions or other pertinent parties.

"The Senate should order the Public Service Matters and Employment, Labour, and Productivity committees to look into the terminations.

"The committees ought to concentrate on the reasoning behind the action, adherence to labour regulations, and the exercise's wider socio-economic consequences," he stated.

Nwoko continued, saying: "The CBN fired 117 employees between March 15 and April 11, 2024.

"On May 24, the CBN fired two hundred more employees, bringing the total down to 317.

"Based on my research, directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, principal managers, senior managers, and a few lower-level employees were the most impacted."The Human Resources Department's letter dated May 24th, one of the letters sent to the impacted staff members, stated that the employee's termination was due to the organization's need to be reorganised for efficient operations.

There were no more details in the letter. It did not provide particular justifications for each employee's termination.

Nwoko voiced concerns that the exercise may have undermined the values of justice and fairness.

According to him, the "sudden termination will hurt the workers' families' economic stability."

Attempts to get CBN's response to Nwoko's allegations were unsuccessful, but a top source—who requested anonymity—confirmed that certain apex employees had just been laid go, though she would not provide more information.

Verified bank employees verified the layoffs on Friday, May 24, stating that at least 200 people had been let off.

The Human Resources Department's May 24, 2024, "sack letter," which can be viewed online, said that the organization's policy was to reorganise for more efficient operations.