NiDCOM raises alarm over Gambia’s plan to replace Nigerian bank workers
Abike Dabiri
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has raised concerns over a directive by the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) that requires commercial banks to replace non-Gambian staff with qualified Gambian nationals by 31 December 2026, a move that could affect 57 Nigerian professionals.
In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the order as “deeply worrisome.”
She noted that the affected Nigerians, employed by four Nigerian-origin banks operating in The Gambia, “reportedly hold valid residency and work permits and have contributed significantly to the Gambian banking sector.”
While recognising The Gambia’s right to promote local employment, Dabiri-Erewa stressed that such policies “must be implemented fairly and in a manner that respects existing employment arrangements, legitimate work authorisations and the principles of African solidarity and regional integration.”
She added, “It is contradictory to encourage African investment, regional economic cooperation and the free movement of people while adopting employment measures that could lead to the indiscriminate displacement of qualified African professionals.”
The four banks account for approximately 37.2% of total banking industry deposits (GMD 35.3 billion), 32.6% of loans (GMD 7.67 billion) and 37% of industry assets (GMD 44.78 billion).
They also hold about 34.5% of investments in Central Bank bonds and have reportedly contributed 90% of the funding supporting the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), according to NiDCOM.
The CBG directive, dated 16 September 2026 and signed by Second Deputy Governor Dr Paul J. Mendy, followed a meeting with bank managing directors on 27 August and an industry study.
The regulator said a “relatively high number” of non-Gambians were employed beyond recognised expatriate staff, which it said violated provisions of the Labour Act 2023 and Guideline 9 on expatriate staff.
Banks were instructed to adopt a phased approach, arrange skills transfer, and ensure continuity of operations, with full compliance required by 31 December 2026.
The order applies to all commercial banks in The Gambia, including subsidiaries of Nigerian lenders such as Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, FirstBank and Zenith Bank.
NiDCOM has called on the CBG to reverse the blanket directive and engage the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul, the affected banks and other stakeholders for an equitable resolution that upholds ECOWAS integration principles and longstanding Nigeria-Gambia relations.
