The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has described the story posted on the website of Premium Times on the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on Sunday, June 2, as libelous, saying it was full of fabrications and inaccuracies.
 
In a rebuttal letter sent to the website on Tuesday, copy of which was also sent to THEWILL, the Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Ugochukwu A. Okoroafor, said the apex bank would have ignored the story which has now been circulated by other online websites and blogging groups but was constrained to react on account of the severe implications of the allegations for the integrity of the CBN, as an institution.
 
“It is also important to reaffirm our long-standing commitment to due process and international best practice in the discharge of every aspect of our statutory mandate,” the CBN said in the letter.

It added that CBN is an equal opportunity employer, which prides itself with having female members of staff that possess the highest qualifications, competencies and skills, lamenting that “It is rather reprehensible for anyone to cast such aspersions on the qualifications and integrity of our female staff.”

CBN said the publication made the following false allegations in the story in question: “That Dr. Maryam Yaro is a staff of the CBN at the level of Assistant Director and that she was recruited without due process, as  she was not qualified for the role.

“That the CBN Governor introduced Dr. Yaro to the CBN and exerted pressure on the Human Resources Department to recruit her.”

However, in setting the records straight, CBN stated:  “Dr. Maryam Yaro is not, and has never been an employee of the Central Bank of Nigeria. She was one of four consultants (three of whom were male), hired by the Nigeria Incentive-based Risk-sharing System for Agricultural Lending  (NIRSAL) Plc; on a one year contract, renewable on the basis of satisfactory performance. NIRSAL Plc is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria, through a partnership between the CBN and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).
 
“In the course of establishing NIRSAL, the Hon. Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, through a formal letter, recommended Dr. Yaro to participate in the project as a Specialist on Rural Finance Access.
 
“Dr. Yaro was hired after a rigorous selection process conducted by the the NIRSAL Project Implementation Office. This clearly contradicts the claim that Dr. Yaro was brought in by the CBN Governor.
 
“Contrary to allegation that the Governor expedited recruitment of Dr. Yaro, the PIO’s recommendation to hire her as a Consultant, was written on March 30, 2012 but only received final approval on June 20, 2012.”
 
The apex bank also maintained that “It is pertinent to add that Dr. Yaro’s academic qualifications and experience eminently qualify her for the job,” adding “ She is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), who speaks three Nigerian languages, and has extensive experience working with farmers across the country on different agricultural programmes.”
 
It also disclosed that Yaro was a consultant to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO); and was one of the experts working in the National Programme on Food Security before she was engaged by NIRSAL.
 
Attaching all relevant documents, including the documents from NIRSAL hiring Yaro as well as her letter of appointment, to back up its facts, the CBN noted that “the other allegations in the post border on the person of the CBN Governor and are consistent with previous attacks.”
 
It however maintained that “In line with the Governor’s usual practice of not responding to these libelous comments on his person, we have decided not to respond,” adding “The CBN shall remain resolute in the pursuit of its statutory mandates regardless of any attempt to distract the institution or its officers.”

Letter To Premium Times From The CBN:

Documents For NIRSAL Hiring Dr Maryam Yaro:

Letter Of Appointment For Dr Maryam Yaro

Source: The Will