There is palpable anger among staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) following the decision of management to move about 1,533 personnel from the head office in Abuja to other departments across the country, notably Lagos.

According to a circular dated January 12, 2023, from the director of the human resources department to all staff, the initiative is designed to align with building safety standards and enhance office space efficiency.

The circular reads: “This is to notify all staff members at the CBN Head Office that we have initiated a decongestion action plan designed to optimize the operational environment of the bank.

This initiative aims to ensure compliance with building safety standards and enhance the efficient utilization 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 Building.

“The action plan focuses on optimizing the utilization 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.

“Decongestion will also improve our operational and workflow efficiency in the following ways:

“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.

“Skill distribution: The concentration of technical skills in the Abuja Head Office has led to a shortage at the branch level. Recognizing the importance of diverse and specialized talents across all branches, the reorganization seeks to redistribute technical skills to ensure that each branch has the necessary expertise for its specific operational needs.

“Embracing geographical mobility: Given the CBN’s extensive network of branches across the nation, the reorganization also emphasizes the importance of staff rotations between branches. By experiencing new environments, stakeholders, and opportunities, staff members will broaden their perspectives, enhance their adaptability, and foster stronger collaboration across the organization.

“Process optimization: The ongoing reorganization is not a random shuffle but a targeted effort towards process optimization. By collaborating with Branch Controllers, the Management aims to tailor the placement of departments to the unique strengths and needs of each branch, thereby enhancing overall operational effectiveness.

“We understand that change can be unsettling, and we are committed to keeping you informed throughout the process and providing timely updates on the decongestion plan. Affected departments and personnel will receive individual notifications from their respective Directors.

“By implementing this plan, we will: Improve the health and safety of all staff; Enhance productivity and collaboration; Extend the lifespan of the Head Office building; Optimize our resources and reduce costs; create a more comfortable and enjoyable work environment for everyone.”

However, some staff of the CBN see the planned decongestion as “a ploy to shed weight”.

A source told the Daily Asset that some highly placed staff of the bank have either resigned or been moved to locations outside Abuja since the commencement of the exercise in Sept. 2023.

“More are already considering throwing in the towel because they cannot function well outside Abuja or Lagos,” the source added.

CBN explained that while change can be unsettling, the CBN is committed to keeping staff informed throughout the process. Individual notifications will be provided to affected departments and personnel by their respective directors.”

Already about 80 percent of the staff of the Banking Supervision Department of the CBN have been transferred to Lagos.

The official reason is that the Head Offices of the banks they’re supposed to supervise are located in Lagos. Only a skeletal number of staff of the department are left behind in Abuja.

Same happened to the Payment System Management Department (PSMD) because “the department deals mostly with entities based in Lagos. The Payment System Management Department (PSMD) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) oversees various entities involved in the payment system.

As part of the decongestion exercise, the Director Medical Services Department has been moved to the FSS Department in Maitama, a development that many staff of the CBN are questioning the rationale behind.