NDIC wants stiffer punishment for bank directors over NPL

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim has called for stiffer punishment on bank directors over rise in Non-Performing insider Loans in the nation’s banking industry.

Ibrahim expressed this concern in a document made available to our correspondent over the weekend, while saying that strict compliance with the existing code of conduct and a review of the existing laws and regulations to provide stiffer penalties for bank Directors who take advantage of their positions and failed to pay back their Loans.

Such loans are those paid by banks to their directors and shareholders, which has recently drawn attention of the agency to the consequences on the stability of the Nigerian banking system.

According to him, the development had posed credibility questions which were capable of eroding public confidence in the banking system.

The NDIC boss noted that casual staff, accounted for about 25 percent of the banking industry workforce, had a negative impact on the industry.

He observed that with concern the practice of some banks that assign sensitive roles to casual staff; thereby exposing the banking industry to cases of fraud and forgeries.

Speaking on the recent staff rationalisation embarked upon by banks, Ibrahim urged the banks to exercise caution so as not to create industrial unrest in the industry.

He, therefore, called on the CIBN to intervene by advising its members on the aim of the rationalisation which should be to weed out bad eggs from the industry.

The NDIC CEO emphasized that the Corporation would continue to partner with the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and other professional bodies towards achieving effective capacity building among its staff.  Ibrahim disclosed that 77 members of staff of the Corporation were currently undergoing the Bangor/CB MBA programme which commenced three years ago.

The Bangor/CB MBA programme is an initiative of the NDIC, the CIBN and the Bangor University, Scotland where staff of the Corporation undergo up to 24 months training programme and graduate with dual certification: an MBA and Chartered Banker of Scotland.

A total of 14 members of staff had already graduated from the programme. He further requested the CIBN to fast track the accreditation of the Corporation’s Training Academy and the introduction of the deposit Insurance System (DIS) in the institute’s curricula in order to broaden the scope of professionalism in the banking industry.

In his response, the President/Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Segun Ajibola, expressed the appreciation of the CIBN to the Corporation for positive contributions to the activities and programmes of the institute and its support towards the establishment of the CIBN Bankers House in Abuja.  Ajibola also commended the Corporation for its contribution in ensuring stability in the banking system.

It would be recalled that earlier this month the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) replaced the board of Skye Bank after it failed to meet minimum capital ratios, saying the bank’s Non-Performing Loan ration had been above the regulatory limit for some time.