A magnificent Directorate of Research building complex that was donated by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru Jos was officially commissioned on Monday by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The Vice-President who was represented by the Director of Administration in his Office, Alhaji Ibrahim Yabani commended the NDIC for identifying with the infrastructural needs of the National Institute through the donation of the Office Complex.
Prof. Osinbajo said that the Federal Government was appreciative of the NDIC’s gesture and asked organisations in both the public and private sectors to emulate the Corporation. He expressed optimism that the building complex would not only provide conducive environment for research but also charge the Institute to apply itself towards formulating policies that would accelerate socio-economic development in the country.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the office complex, the NDIC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim said that the Corporation took the bold step to extend its gesture to the institute as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, which according to him, the NDIC started about ten years ago. He also reiterated the Corporation’s readiness to continue to support educational institutions in order to advance academic standard nationwide.
The Director-General of the Institute, Prof. Tijani Mohammed Bande expressed appreciation to the NDIC for responding to the challenge of office accommodation in the institute. Prof. Bande said that the problem of inadequate office space for staff of the Research Directorate compelled the institute to seek for assistance to build the office complex. While pledging that the complex would be judiciously utilised, Prof. Bande appealed to other corporate organisations and public spirited individuals to support the Institute in infrastructural development.
While responding to reporters’ questions at the commissioning ceremony, the NDIC CEO said that the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) was a signal that the era of arm-chair banking in Nigeria was over, adding that the TSA policy had actually presented banks with an opportunity to diversify their sources of deposit mobilisation.
Alh. Ibrahim also emphasized that the implementation of the policy should not be strange to the banks, because, according to him, they (the banks) had been warned about three years back to take steps that would make them not to over rely on government deposits.
On the rumour of mass retrenchment in the banking system due to the TSA policy, the NDIC boss said that the rumour was unfounded. He emphasised that organisational renewal was a continuous exercise whereby banks not only rationalise their branches and entire operations to enhance efficiency but also undertake recruitment to renew their human capital.
