A nominee for membership on the Central Bank of Nigeria Board of Directors, Urum Kalu Eke, has declined the offer, citing his current engagement with the World Bank.
This happened during Thursday’s plenary session when the Senate commenced the confirmation process for the nominees.
Chief Bola Tinubu submitted the names of Urum and four others on February 13 for confirmation as members of the CBN board. However, during the confirmation proceedings, former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), informed the Senate that his constituent had personally contacted him to refuse the offer.
Senator Kalu noted that accepting the nomination would conflict with Urum’s ongoing consultancy role with the World Bank.
He said, “The nominee told me this role would conflict with his job as a consultant to the World Bank, Federal Government agencies and other private companies.”
Meanwhile, the Senate has officially approved the appointment of four additional members to the Board of Directors of the CBN, as proposed by the President.
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Confirmed by the Senate on Thursday as Directors are Robert Agbede, Ado Yakubu Wanka, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi, and Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu.
The confirmation followed the review of a screening report presented by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions, representing Lagos East under the APC.
Senator Abiru stated, “The Senate is to receive and deliberate on the report concerning the confirmation of the nominations of the following five individuals as members of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria in compliance with section 6(1), (2) (d), and 10 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”
He further noted that Urum Kalu Eke from Abia was not cleared by the Committee due to his non-appearance for screening.
