NiDCOM asks Gambia to reverse order to replace 57 Nigerian bank workers
- The Gambia's central bank gave banks until December 31, 2026, to replace non-Gambian staff with Gambians.
- NiDCOM says 57 Nigerians working in four Nigerian-owned banks hold valid residency and work permits.
- The commission wants the directive withdrawn and talks held with Nigeria's High Commission in Banjul.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has asked the Central Bank of The Gambia to withdraw a directive that could cost 57 Nigerian professionals their jobs in the country's banking sector.
According to NiDCOM, the Gambian apex bank issued the directive on September 16, 2026, giving banks until December 31, 2026, to replace all non-Gambian employees with Gambian nationals.
The affected Nigerians work in four banks of Nigerian origin, the commission said, and hold valid residency and work permits.
NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Abike Dabiri-Erewa called the directive deeply worrisome. In a statement signed by the commission's spokesman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, she said the policy should respect existing employment contracts, valid work permits and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) protocols on free movement.
"It is contradictory to encourage African investment and regional cooperation while displacing qualified African professionals," Dabiri-Erewa said.
Why it matters beyond the 57 jobs
NiDCOM said the four banks are heavyweights in The Gambia's economy. Together they hold about 37.2 per cent of total bank deposits, valued at 35.3 billion Gambian dalasis, and 32.6 per cent of loans worth 7.67 billion dalasis.
The commission added that the banks account for about 37 per cent of industry assets, estimated at 44.78 billion dalasis, and 34.5 per cent of investments in Central Bank bonds. It also said they provide 90 per cent of the funding for the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).
For ordinary Nigerians, the case touches on a familiar concern: how Nigerian workers and businesses are treated across West Africa, and whether regional free-movement rules hold when countries move to protect local jobs.
NiDCOM said it recognises The Gambia's right to promote local employment and develop its own workforce, but argued that this should not come at the cost of valid contracts and permits.
What happens next
The commission wants the Central Bank of The Gambia to reverse what it called a blanket replacement directive. It also called for talks with the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul, the affected banks and other stakeholders to find a fair solution.
NiDCOM further urged Gambian authorities to uphold the spirit of ECOWAS integration and the long-standing friendly relations between Nigeria and The Gambia.