The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called on the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) to reverse its directive requiring foreign banks to replace non-Gambian employees with qualified Gambian nationals by December 31, 2026.
NiDCOM’s Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement on Tuesday, described the directive, reportedly issued on September 16, as deeply worrisome.
The statement, which was signed by NiDCOM’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, acknowledged Gambia’s right to promote local employment and build its workforce, but said such policies must be applied fairly and with respect for existing employment arrangements, legitimate work authorisations and the principles of African solidarity and regional integration.
The commission said information available to it indicated that 57 Nigerian professionals working in four Nigerian-origin banks in The Gambia could be affected.
No fewer than 57 Nigerians working in Nigerian-owned banks are at risk of losing their jobs if the directive is enforced.
They reportedly hold valid residency and work permits and have contributed significantly to the Gambian banking sector.
According to NiDCOM, the four banks together account for about 37.2 per cent of total banking industry deposits (GMD35.3 billion), 32.6 per cent of loans (GMD7.67 billion) and 37 per cent of industry assets (GMD44.78 billion).
They also hold roughly 34.5 per cent of investments in Central Bank bonds and reportedly provided 90 per cent of the funding that supports the operations of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).
NiDCOM said it was contradictory to encourage African investment, regional economic cooperation and free movement of people while adopting measures that could lead to the indiscriminate displacement of qualified African professionals.
It urged the CBG to immediately reconsider and reverse the blanket replacement directive, and to engage the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul, the affected financial institutions and other stakeholders to reach an equitable resolution.
The commission also called on Gambian authorities to uphold the spirit of ECOWAS integration and the long-standing cordial relations between Nigeria and The Gambia, and appealed for constructive diplomatic engagement.