Sanusi counters hawkish Ndume who threatened “political consequences” for relocation
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Relocating some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from Abuja back Lagos is an “eminently sensible move” to cut costs, former CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi has affirmed, in his riposte to Ali Ndume’s alarm.
Ndume, Senate Majority Whip who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has threatened “political consequences” if the CBN carries out its plan to decongest its Abuja headquarters by relocating some departments back to former CBN headquarters in Lagos where it has empty offices.
Moving them back to Lagos is cheaper and better than having to construct new buildings in Nasarawa, Niger or Kano just to ensure the departments remain in the North as suggested by Ndume and fellow hawkish agitators.
Sanusi said it is right thing to do, dismissing those against the relocation as playing dirty politics.
“Moving certain functions to the Lagos office (which is bigger than the Abuja head office) is an eminently sensible move,” Sanusi, also former Emire of Kano, argued in a statement.
“In my mind what I would have done was to move FSS and most of Operations [departments] to Lagos such that the two Deputy Governors would be largely operating out of Lagos or, even if they were more in Abuja, the bulk of their operational staff would be in Lagos.
“Economic policy, Corporate services and all the departments reporting to the Governor directly such as Strategy, Audit, Risk management, Governors’ office etc would remain in Abuja.
“It makes eminent strategic sense. And I would have done this if I had stayed.”
He dismissed the opposition against the policy as “absolutely unnecessary” because “the CBN has staff manning its branches and cash offices across the Federation.”
“Moving staff to the Lagos office to streamline operations and make them more effective and reduce cost is a normal prerogative of management.”
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Abuja office more important to children of politicians who work in CBN
“The problem we have now is that many employees are children of politically exposed persons and their Abuja life and businesses are more important than the CBN work,” Sanusi added, per The Nation.
“The CBN is just an address for them and if they have to choose between their spoilt Abuja life and the job, they would gladly leave the CBN.
“All the more reason for the [CBN] Governor [Yemi Cardoso] to put his foot down and get rid of those elements, they are dangerous for the bank’s future.
“The question of locating functions is a STRATEGIC and not tactical one. A proper analysis should be done to identify which roles are best suited to Lagos and which to Abuja.
“Once the logic is clear the people then follow. Non communication of strategic intent opens the door to mischievous misrepresentation and arbitrariness.
“I don’t like the idea of arguing that the office structure cannot handle the staff numbers. I am sure Julius Berger would refute that if they wanted to engage.
“Individual situations should be considered. As much as possible we should be empathetic. For example, young mothers with kids in school who do not need to move can be prioritised to stay in Abuja or those with medical conditions etc.”
Sanusi urged the CBN not to bend to political pressure, saying it must push through decisions no matter how tough.
Don’t bow to political pressure, Sanusi warns Cardoso
“My advice to [Cardoso] is to go ahead with his policy. Once the CBN starts bending to political pressure on one thing it will continue doing so.
“Northern politicians will shout that this is moving from Abuja to Lagos. Abuja is a federal capital not a northern issue. So long as this is a principled decision the noise should be ignored.
“When I was about to license Jaiz Bank there was a lot of religious noise from CAN etc. Even enlightened people like Okey Emelamah were going to sue me to court on religious grounds. I ignored it and licenced the bank. Nothing happened.
“A Christian Governor after me [Godwin Emefiele] licenced at least two more non-interest banks. No one is even noticing again.
“Ethnic and religious bigots will always shout. The CBN should rise above it and just do what needs to be done. It is a very unpopular and difficult job and the Governor needs to be tough.”