Urum Kalu Eke, a nominee for a position on the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has declined the appointment made by President Bola Tinubu.
Eke cited his current engagement with the World Bank as the reason for rejecting the offer.
The announcement of his rejection was made during a Senate session on Thursday, which marked the beginning of the confirmation process for the nominees.
President Tinubu had submitted five names for confirmation as board members of the CBN on February 13, 2024.
Senator Orji Kalu informed the Senate during the confirmation process that Eke had called him to decline the appointment, explaining that it would conflict with his role as a consultant at 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,” Kalu said.
The Senate confirmed the appointment of four new members to the Board of Directors of the CBN.
The confirmed members are Robert Agbede, Ado Yakubu Wanka, Professor Murtala Sabo Sagagi, and Mrs. Muslimat Olanike Aliyu.
The confirmation followed a report presented by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, stating that one nominee, Eke, did not appear for screening.
“That the Senate do receive and consider the report 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,” Abiru said.
