A group of sixty individuals recruited by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are in a state of despair, having been left in professional limbo for over twenty-eight months after receiving official employment offers.
The Broken Promise of Employment
The ordeal for these prospective employees began in April 2023 when they submitted their resumes. The process seemed promising, moving through stages that included an aptitude test, interviews, and even a mandatory medical examination at the bank's clinic. By August 28, 2023, successful candidates were invited to the CBN Headquarters in Abuja to collect their provisional offer letters.
Acting on the bank's instructions, many, like spokesperson Emmanuel Linus Dabo, resigned from their previous jobs. The CBN's Human Resources department then engaged them in a series of online documentation, requesting forwarded credentials and acknowledged resignation letters. After this flurry of activity, communication from the apex bank ceased entirely.
Appeals Ignored, Lives Shattered
The group has made several attempts to seek clarification. They provided copies of reminder letters sent to the CBN Governor in September 2023, November 2024, and January 2025. All these appeals have gone unanswered. The prolonged uncertainty, coupled with the lack of income, has inflicted severe economic and psychological damage on the families.
"Many of us cannot afford to pay our rent anymore, we can't pay our bills and have withdrawn our children from their schools," Linus revealed. The emotional toll is equally heavy, with colleagues reportedly suffering from depression, necessitating collective financial support for medical care.
A Plea for Intervention
Linking the delay to the change in the bank's leadership, the affected staff are now making a desperate public appeal. They are calling on the CBN Governor, President Bola Tinubu, and other relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene and resolve their plight.
"Some of us studied abroad, decided to return and contribute to our country. We are pleading, the situation is worsening," Linus stated, highlighting the depth of their frustration after nearly three years of waiting. Their provisional offers, meant to lead to confirmed appointments after a one-year probation, have instead led to a protracted period of hardship and anxiety.
