One of the nominees for the Central Bank of Nigeria Board of Directors, Urum Kalu Eke has declined the offer stating that he was currently engaged by the World Bank.
This was mentioned during Thursday’s plenary when the Senate commenced the process for the confirmation of the nominees.
On February 13, President Bola Tinubu forwarded the names of Urum and four others for confirmation as members of the board for the CBN.
However, during the confirmation, former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu,( APC, Abia North ) told the Senate that Eke had called him on the phone to reject the offer, noting that it would conflict with his present job as a consultant with the World Bank.
“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.”
The Senate went on to confirm the appointment of four other members of the Board of Directors of the CBN forwarded to it by President Tinubu.
Those confirmed as Directors are Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi; Robert Agbede; Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu; and Ado Yakubu Wanka
The confirmation followed a report of the screening of the nominee presented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions by the Chairman, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, (APC, Lagos East).
Abiru said, “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of on the confirmation of the nomination of the following Five (5) persons as members of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria in accordance with section 6(1), (2) (d) and 10 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.”
The Committee did not clear Urum Kalu Eke from Abia because he failed to appear before the Committee for screening.