Civil society groups want CBN governor to resign

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Abuja, under the aegis of the Centre for Conscious Living Against Corruption in Nigeria, has called for the resignation of the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, over what it calls 'incessant violations of ethics of public conduct, fiscal responsibility and due diligence in the discharge of his duties as the chief banker of the Nation.

Spokesman for the Centre, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja cited some donations made by the CBN Governor as well as  untrue statements made by him as constituting acts of abuse of office and negligence. Some of the donations allegedly made by the CBN Governor for which the coalition seeks his exit include 'the donation of a sum of 4 billion Naira to Bayero University, Kano; 10 billion Naira to Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto; 135 million Naira to Niger and Kano states; 500 million Naira to University of Benin.'

According to Dr.Nwambu, '2 sub sections a-e of the CBN ACT (2007) clearly spells out the functions of the bank as: (a) ensure monetary and price stability;(b) Issue legal tender currency in Nigeria; (c) Maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the Legal tender currency; (d) Promote a sound financial system in Nigeria; and (e) Act as banker and provide economic and financial advice to the Federal Government.

“In view of the clearly spelt out functions of the Central Bank of Nigeria in the legal instrument that set it up, it is clearly illegal and unlawful for Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to have paid out public funds as donations in the stated manner.'

While also citing the recent allegation by the CBN Governor that a sum of 49 billion dollars was missing from the national treasury, a claim which Sanusi later described as an error, the Non- Governmental Organisation said Mallam Sanusi displayed gross incompetence  which was unbecoming of a person of his status.

In the words of the coalitions spokesperson, 'Such an 'error' (if it was indeed one), should never have come from a CBN governor worth his salt! It was the expectation of most Nigerians that Mallam Sanusi would have done the needful by honourably tendering his resignation letter upon the occurrence of such a major mischievous statement capable of running down Nigeria's economic standing in the eyes of the international business community.

It is in the light of these developments and in our utmost desire to protect the integrity of the nation’s apex bank that we demand that Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi should immediately tender his resignation as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria or in the alternative President Goodluck Jonathan should immediately exercise his powers to remove the CBN Governor for abuse of office, corruption, indiscretion and general incompetence.'

The center also called on the National Assembly to revisit the amending of the Act establishing the Central Bank of Nigeria in order to ensure that its annual budget goes through normal legislative processes and subject its implementation to greater public scrutiny.

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