By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced plans to decongest its head office building in Abuja, with about 1,533 staff or 36.22% of the 4,233 staff employed by the apex bank to be affected.
The move, however, does not mean termination of employment but only relocation of some workers to the nation’s commercial capital, Lagos.
CBN had in a circular dated January 12, 2023 from the Director of Human Resources Department to all staff said the decision was prompted by safety concerns, increased health and accident risks, and the need to comply with building regulations.
According to the CBN, this followed repeated warnings from the facility manager and recommendations from the Committee on Decongestion of the CBN head office building.
The CBN said the plan to relocate 1,533 staff to other facilities within Abuja, Lagos, and understaffed branches would address critical challenges such as safety concerns, reduced efficiency, and potential compromise to the building’s structural integrity.
It said, “The decongestion is expected to improve operational and workflow efficiency through strategic alignment, skill distribution, embracing geographical mobility, and process optimization.
“Strategic alignment involves redistributing departments and staff based on the functions and objectives of the bank. This includes optimizing collaboration by placing certain departments in proximity to financial institutions’ head offices, predominantly located in Lagos.
“Recognizing the importance of diverse and specialized talents, the CBN aims to distribute technical skills across all branches, addressing shortages at the branch level. Geographical mobility becomes a key focus, emphasizing staff rotations between branches to broaden perspectives, enhance adaptability, and foster collaboration.
“The ongoing reorganization is not a random shuffle but a targeted effort towards process optimization. Collaboration with Branch Controllers aims to tailor department placement to the unique strengths and needs of each branch, enhancing overall operational effectiveness.”
