The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has urged the Central Bank of The Gambia to reverse its directive mandating banks operating in the country to replace non-Gambian employees with qualified Gambian nationals by December 31, 2026.
NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed concern over the directive, warning that its implementation could render 57 Nigerian professionals working in four Nigerian-origin banks in The Gambia unemployed.
The directive, reportedly issued on September 16, 2026, requires financial institutions to replace their foreign employees with qualified Gambians before the end of the year.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday and signed by the commission’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM said the affected Nigerians hold valid residency and work permits and have contributed significantly to the country’s banking sector.
While acknowledging The Gambia’s right to promote local employment and strengthen its workforce, the commission maintained that such policies should respect existing employment arrangements, valid work permits and the principles of African solidarity and regional integration.
NiDCOM also highlighted the economic significance of the four affected banks, disclosing that they collectively account for 37.2 per cent of total deposits in The Gambia’s banking industry, valued at 35.3 billion Gambian dalasis.
The commission added that the banks account for 32.6 per cent of industry loans, estimated at 7.67 billion dalasis, as well as 37 per cent of total banking assets, valued at 44.78 billion dalasis.
It further noted that the institutions contribute approximately 34.5 per cent of investments in Central Bank bonds and reportedly provide 90 per cent of the funding supporting the operations of the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).
The commission warned that the proposed policy could undermine efforts to promote African investment, regional economic cooperation and the free movement of people across the continent.
It stressed that displacing qualified African professionals could weaken regional integration and discourage cross-border investments.
NiDCOM therefore called on the Gambian central bank to reconsider and immediately reverse the directive, while urging authorities to engage the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul, the affected banks and other relevant stakeholders to reach an acceptable resolution.
The commission also appealed to Gambian authorities to uphold the principles of ECOWAS integration and the longstanding cordial relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia, stressing the importance of diplomatic engagement in resolving the dispute.
