By Dipo Olowookere
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Citibank Nigeria, Mr Yemi Cardoso, has been nominated to serve as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The renowned stockbroker and investment banker was picked for the position by President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale.
He would be screened by the Senate, and on confirmation; he will take over from the acting CBN Governor, Mr Folashodun Shonubi, for a term of five years at the first instance.
Mr Tinubu suspended Mr Godwin Emefiele as the CBN Governor in June and asked Mr Shonubi to pilot the affairs of the apex regulator of the Nigerian banking sector.
Mr Cardoso was once the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos State in 1999 when the current President was the Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.
In the statement by Mr Ngelale, it was also disclosed that the President has nominated four new Deputy Governors of the CBN for a term of five years at the first instance, pending their confirmation by the Senate.
The nominees are Mrs Emem Nnana Usoro, Mr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Mr Philip Ikeazor, and Dr Bala M. Bello.
Below is the full statement;
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso to serve as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for a term of five (5) years at the first instance, pending his confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.
This directive is in conformity with Section 8 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which vests in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the authority to appoint the Governor and Four (4) Deputy Governors for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), subject to confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for a term of five (5) years at the first instance, pending their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, as listed below:
(1) Mrs Emem Nnana Usoro
(2) Mr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo
(3) Mr Philip Ikeazor
(4) Dr Bala M. Bello
In line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the President expects the above listed nominees to successfully implement critical reforms at the Central Bank of Nigeria, which will enhance the confidence of Nigerians and international partners in the restructuring of the Nigerian economy toward sustainable growth and prosperity for all.
Aduragbemi Omiyale