The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has moved some of its departments from Abuja headquarters to Lagos State.
This was contained in an internal memo seen by our correspondent on Saturday.
However, the transfer is generating controversy among the staff affected by the new policy.
It was gathered that the affected departments include Banking Supervision; Other Financial Institutions Supervision; Consumer Protection Department; Payment System Management Department and Financial Policy Regulations Department.
Insiders are saying that the transfers initiated by the Centrak Bank Governor Yemi Cardoso was necessitated by the overstretching of facilities at the head office.
They said the head office is meant to accommodate 2.700 staff, but is currently housing over 4,233, a situation that is currently overwhelming the facility managers and raising safety concerns at the complex.
With the new policy, a total of 1,533 staff will be moved to other CBN facilities within Abuja, Lagos and understaffed branches.
Ten decision will also save cost of constant movement of the affected staff front Abuja to Lagos, increase the productivity, and ensure their safety.
Part of the memo reads thus: “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.
“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.”
