The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the planned retirement of 1,000 staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Kama Nkemkama (LP-Ebonyi) during plenary on Tuesday.

The motion is entitled, “Need to Investigate the Retirement of over 1,000 Staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Associated N50 Billion Payoff Scheme.”

It would be recalled that, a national media outlet announced on Dec. 2 that the CBN planned to retire over 1,000 members of staff across various levels.

The media report claimed that the retirement was part of restructuring process under the CBN Governor’s leadership with a N50 billion payoff scheme to compensate the affected staff.

Presenting the motion, Nkemkama stated that the sudden mass retirement of over 1,000 staff, including directors and senior management, raises critical questions.

These, according to him, include the criteria for selection, transparency, and adherence to due process in line with public service guidelines and labour laws.

He said that such a significant decision has socio-economic implications for the affected individuals, their dependants, and the broader economy.

This, he said, would potentially lead to increased unemployment and public dissatisfaction.

He expressed worry that the reported payoff scheme amounting to N50 billion might lack sufficient accountability and oversight mechanisms.

The lawmaker said that this would pose risks of mismanagement and abuse of public funds in a sector vital to Nigeria’s financial stability.

Adopting the motion, the House therefore, constituted a high-level ad hoc committee to investigate the planned mass retirement of over 1,000 staff of the CBN

The House stated that this was to ascertain the criteria, process, and legality of the exercise.

The House said that it would also examine the N50 billion payoff scheme to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper utilisation of funds.

The House also resolved to engage the leadership of the CBN to evaluate the potential economic and institutional impact of mass retirement on Nigeria’s financial sector.

The House urged the CBN to suspend further implementation of the retirement exercise and associated payoff scheme pending the outcome of its committee’s investigation.

The House further called on the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to ensure that the rights of the affected staff were protected in accordance with Nigerian labour laws.

The House requested the committee to report back to the house within four weeks for further legislative actions.

The President, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Eliana Martins, on Tuesday called for collaborative efforts from stakeholders, to end every form of violence against women and children.

Martins made the call in a welcome address, at the 2024 Joint Law Week of FIDA Nigeria, featuring its four Lagos branches, Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, and Epe.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Law Week holding at the Muson Centre, Onikan, is tagged: “Analysing the Challenges Facing Women and Children in Nigeria; The Way Forward-Galvanising Voices”.

She noted that the law week was an age-long tradition, which brought stakeholders together, to brainstorm on critical issues and gain realisation of the mandate of FIDA, with specific interest in the rights of indigent women and children.

She said the chosen theme for the week was apt, adding that “Undoubtedly, this theme resonates with, and reinforces our commitment towards women and children”.

She explained that the theme would also serve as catalyst for the organisation’s role as a voice for the voiceless women and children in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian woman and child are faced daily with several challenges ranging from oppression, neglect, abuse, hunger and in some other cases, rape, victimisation, disinheritance, abject poverty, and many more.

“A lot of times these challenges are wide, diverse, and overwhelming, and at such times, they need voices to speak up for them,” she said.

According to her, there can be no better time to bring together voices that can help speak up for the Nigerian women and children, than now.

She noted that this would require collaborative efforts from major stakeholders in Nigeria, adding that hopefully, the 2024 FIDA Joint Week will espouse the necessity for Nigerians to lend a voice towards overcoming these challenges.

NAN reports that the event had in attendance, some past and present leaders of the bar, female lawyers across different NBA branches in Lagos, gender advocates, among others.

The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, said on Tuesday that the force had developed special training programmes focusing on policing ethics, professional conduct and re-orientation courses.

“These programmes are mandatory for all officers from the recruit constables to the superintendent starting January 2025,” Egbetokun said in Abuja.

He spoke at the National Summit on Police Accountability, with the theme “The external, internal, and stakeholder’s accountability strategies and mechanism of the Nigeria Police Force/Services”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit was organised by the Police in partnership with Cleen Foundation and supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Egbetokun said that the training courses were to enhance effective policing and accountability.

“The Nigeria police force is committed to enhancing the training and retraining of its officers,” he said.

The police chief said the force had also partnered the society for peace study and practice to train its officers on alternative dispute resolution, peace building and conflict resolution mechanism.

He said that officers were required to attend refresher courses and other training programmes sponsored by zonal and international partners.

Mr Peter Maduoma, Acting Executive Director of Cleen Foundation, said that effective policing required more than just enforcing the law but also adherence to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and respect for human rights by police officers.

Dr Etannibi Alemika, the guest speaker at the summit, said it was crucial to have an independent police force in order to enhance accountability and effective policing.