The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Committee of Bank Chief Executive Officers have kicked against the Banks Employees Assets Declaration Bill
The parties spoke at a public hearing of a bill to amend the bank employees (declaration of assets) act 2004 conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes.
They said it was not feasible for workers in banks to declare their assets.
Represented by its Head of Research, Dr Onoho’ Omhen Ebhohimhen, the NLC said; “Workers in the banking industry are not public officers. Employees in the banking and other financial institutions are not public officers. It is important to say that workers do not own banks and are not directors of banks. Workers in the bank see their labour-power and in return, they are paid wages.
“From the explanatory note, it appears that what you are targeting is acts of money laundering, corruption and others.”
Also, the CBN represented by its Acting Director of Banking Supervisions, Abubakar Shebe agreed that while those in the public sector were affected by the provision, those in the private sector cannot be compelled to declare their assets.
“While the bill seeks to remove Customs officers from the definition of bank employee, section 14 of the act has not been amended to remove the management and employees of the CBN from such classification. We believe such amendment is necessary considering the fact that the management and employees of the CBN are public officers in the meaning of the constitution and therefore bound by the Code of Conduct Act which places a duty on them to declare their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau,“ CBN representative said.
In their own presentation, the chairman of the Legal Advisers in the Banking Industry; representatives of the Body of Banks’ Chief Executive Officers, a committee of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria; and Head, Legal Services, Union Bank Plc, Sesan Sobowale said that it many not be easy for bank staff to identify whether their spouse owned assets or not.
In their presentation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC however said it was necessary to amend the act.
Declaring the hearing open, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila represented by the House leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa said since the passage of the principal act, “The banking sector has changed and will continue to change from what it was at that time.”
The Acting Chairman of the committee, Hon. Babangida Ibrahim in his remarks decried the absence of several government agencies at the hearing.
He said that out of 28 agencies invited, about 7 honoured the call saying that such practice would not help the parliament and by extension the country.
PIAK
