The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has dismissed widespread claims that its recent redeployment of staff from its Abuja headquarters to Lagos was politically or regionally motivated.
The clarification was given by the CBN Deputy Governor for Economic Policy, Muhammad Abdullahi, during a two-day Interactive Session on Government-Citizens Engagement held in Kaduna on Wednesday.
Abdullahi addressed mounting criticism that the policy was targeted at workers from Northern Nigeria, describing the claims as misinformed and unfounded. He explained that the staff movement was part of the bank’s broader restructuring under the Early Exit Package (EEP) introduced in 2024, and aimed at decongesting the Abuja head office for safety and operational efficiency.
“It is not an agenda against anybody,” Abdullahi said firmly during the session. “Some of those staff members taken to Lagos and Kaduna are now so happy they don’t even want to come back to Abuja.”
He emphasized that the CBN‘s internal decision followed a recommendation by its insurance providers, who raised concerns about workplace safety risks due to overcrowding at the headquarters. As a result, the bank decided to reduce its Abuja-based workforce and redistribute personnel to other major branches, including Lagos and Kaduna.
Addressing claims that the move disproportionately affected directors and senior staff from Northern Nigeria, Abdullahi categorically denied any ethnic or political bias in the implementation of the policy. “There are many directors from the Northern region currently serving in the bank,” he stated.
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To further illustrate the neutrality of the decision, Abdullahi revealed that even high-profile individuals were not exempt from the redeployment process. “The son of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was also moved from Abuja to Lagos. Nobody was spared—it is a policy of the bank,” he said.
The CBN’s clarification comes amid broader scrutiny over its recent internal reforms, including staff exits and role reassignments. Critics had pointed to the movement of at least 16 directors, many of whom were believed to be from Northern Nigeria, as evidence of a targeted purge. However, Abdullahi’s remarks appear intended to quell regional tensions and reaffirm the CBN’s commitment to equity and transparency in its operations.
The apex bank insists that all restructuring efforts are geared toward strengthening institutional efficiency, ensuring workplace safety, and improving service delivery—not political reengineering.