The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called on the Central Bank of The Gambia to immediately reverse its directive requiring commercial banks to replace certain non-Gambian employees with qualified Gambian nationals, warning that the policy threatens the employment of 57 Nigerian professionals working in four Nigerian-origin banks in the country.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the directive as “deeply worrisome,” expressing concern that its implementation could result in the displacement of Nigerian professionals who reportedly possess valid residence and work permits and have contributed to the development of The Gambia’s banking industry.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, through the Commission’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa urged the Gambian authorities to reconsider the policy and engage the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul, affected financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders to reach an equitable resolution.
The development follows a circular dated September 16, 2026, issued by the Central Bank of The Gambia, directing commercial banks operating in the country to adopt a phased approach to replacing non-Gambian employees who fall outside approved expatriate staffing arrangements.
The directive, signed by the Second Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia, Dr Paul J. Mendy, gave the affected financial institutions until December 31, 2026, to complete the transition.
The circular followed a meeting between the Gambian banking regulator and managing directors of commercial banks on August 27, 2026, during which issues relating to the employment of foreign nationals in the country’s financial sector were discussed.
According to the regulator, an industry-wide review revealed that a relatively high number of non-Gambians were employed by commercial banks in addition to personnel formally recognised under approved expatriate arrangements.
The Central Bank maintained that the employment situation was inconsistent with the provisions of The Gambia’s Labour Act 2023 and Guideline 9 governing the engagement of expatriate staff in the banking industry.
Consequently, the regulator directed banks to replace affected foreign employees with suitably qualified Gambian nationals while making arrangements for skills transfer and continuity of banking operations.
The directive applies to all commercial banks operating in The Gambia, including Nigerian-origin financial institutions such as Access Bank, FirstBank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank.
However, NiDCOM expressed concern that the implementation of the policy could adversely affect Nigerian professionals who had been legally residing and working in the country.
Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that information available to the Commission indicated that 57 Nigerian professionals employed by the four Nigerian-origin banks could be affected by the directive.
According to her, the workers reportedly possess valid residence and work permits and have made valuable contributions to the Gambian financial services sector.
“These professionals reportedly hold valid residency and work permits and have contributed significantly to the Gambian banking sector,” she stated.
The NiDCOM Chairman acknowledged that The Gambia, as a sovereign nation, has the right to introduce measures aimed at promoting employment opportunities for its citizens and developing its domestic workforce.
She maintained, however, that such policies must be implemented fairly and should respect existing employment relationships, legitimate work authorisations and regional commitments concerning the movement of people.
“While NiDCOM recognises Gambia’s right to promote local employment and develop its workforce, 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,” the Commission stated.
Dabiri-Erewa argued that efforts to improve employment opportunities for Gambian nationals should not result in the indiscriminate displacement of qualified African professionals who have been contributing to the country’s economic development.
She also raised concerns about the implications of the directive for regional economic cooperation, cross-border investment and the free movement of persons within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The NiDCOM Chairman stressed that Nigeria and The Gambia are members of ECOWAS, whose integration framework promotes regional cooperation and facilitates the movement, residence and establishment of nationals of member states, subject to applicable laws.
According to her, policies affecting the employment of professionals from other African countries should be considered in the context of these regional commitments.
“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,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
The Commission also highlighted the economic contributions of the four Nigerian-origin banks to The Gambia’s financial sector, arguing that their investments and operations had played important roles in the country’s economic development.
According to NiDCOM, the four financial institutions collectively account for approximately 37.2 per cent of deposits in the Gambian banking industry, with the deposits valued at 35.3 billion Gambian dalasis.
The Commission further disclosed that the banks account for approximately 32.6 per cent of loans in the banking sector, valued at 7.67 billion dalasis.
It added that the institutions hold about 37 per cent of the banking industry’s total assets, valued at 44.78 billion dalasis.
Dabiri-Erewa also stated that the four banks account for approximately 34.5 per cent of investments in Central Bank bonds.
Beyond their contributions to the banking sector, NiDCOM disclosed that the institutions reportedly provided 90 per cent of the funding supporting the operations of The Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).
The Commission cited these figures to demonstrate the economic importance of the Nigerian-origin banks and their contributions to financial services, public infrastructure and economic activity in The Gambia.
Dabiri-Erewa maintained that the investments and financial services provided by the institutions should be considered in discussions about the employment of Nigerian professionals and the future of regional economic cooperation.
She argued that encouraging African businesses to invest across national borders while adopting employment measures that could displace their qualified personnel created conflicting signals about regional integration.
The NiDCOM Chairman consequently called on the Central Bank of The Gambia to immediately reconsider and reverse what she described as the blanket replacement directive.
She urged the regulator to open discussions with the affected financial institutions and the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul to establish a mutually acceptable approach to the issue.
The Commission maintained that constructive engagement would provide an opportunity to address the Gambian authorities’ employment objectives while protecting legitimate employment arrangements.
NiDCOM also urged the Gambian Government to uphold the principles of ECOWAS integration and preserve the longstanding cordial relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia.
The Commission stressed that the matter should be resolved through diplomatic engagement rather than measures that could undermine confidence in regional investment and labour mobility.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of The Gambia has maintained that its directive is intended to ensure compliance with the country’s labour legislation and expatriate employment guidelines.
In its September 16 circular, the regulator explained that the decision followed an assessment of foreign employment arrangements in the banking sector.
The regulator stated that its review identified non-Gambian employees working outside the recognised expatriate staffing arrangements, prompting the directive to replace affected personnel with qualified local employees.
The Central Bank also required financial institutions to ensure an orderly transition through appropriate skills-transfer arrangements.
It emphasised that the replacement process must be implemented without disrupting banking operations.
The directive therefore raises questions concerning the relationship between valid residence and work permits, approved expatriate quotas and the specific requirements governing employment in the Gambian banking industry.
Although NiDCOM maintains that the affected Nigerian workers hold legitimate work authorisations, possession of residence and work permits does not, by itself, establish that every employee falls within the expatriate staffing quota recognised by the Gambian banking regulator.
That distinction remains relevant to determining how the directive applies to individual employees and whether any existing employment arrangements require further regulatory approval.
The Commission’s position is that the policy should be reviewed to prevent the unfair displacement of qualified professionals and to protect legitimate employment interests.
The Central Bank’s position, on the other hand, is that commercial banks must comply with domestic labour laws and sector-specific rules governing expatriate employment.
The dispute has consequently brought renewed attention to the balance between national employment policies and the objectives of economic integration under ECOWAS.
The Gambia’s decision also comes against the background of substantial Nigerian investment in the country’s banking sector, with financial institutions of Nigerian origin maintaining a strong presence in the Gambian economy.
NiDCOM maintained that the contribution of these institutions should encourage cooperation and consultation in addressing staffing concerns rather than the adoption of measures that could adversely affect Nigerian professionals.
With the December 31, 2026, deadline approaching, the Commission is seeking an urgent review of the directive and diplomatic discussions aimed at protecting the interests of affected workers.
Although NiDCOM has identified 57 Nigerians whose employment could be affected, there has been no confirmation that all 57 workers have lost their jobs or that the Gambian authorities have made a final determination concerning their individual employment status.
For now, the Commission has reiterated its demand for the immediate reconsideration of the policy, urging the authorities in Banjul to uphold fair employment practices, respect legitimate work authorisations and protect the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia.
Dabiri-Erewa maintained that an equitable resolution would serve the interests of the affected professionals, the banking institutions and the wider objectives of African economic cooperation and regional integration.
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