Nib Bank's newly appointed Board of Directors rejected Bank President Genene Ruga's resignation last week. His resignation letter submitted on February 10 received a peculiar response five days later, from the Board Chairman Shisema Shewaneka. He hinted at potential legal consequences for Genene, stemming from activities during his tenure that may surface with ongoing investigations by the central bank.

"It's within our mandate," said Shisema.

With three decades of financial background up his sleeves, Genene entered through the doors of Nib Bank in 2014. Armed with a background in agricultural economics and business administration, he commenced his journey as a junior loan officer at the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE). His trajectory led him to the vice presidency before assuming leadership at Nib Bank in 2019.

Through his leadership, Nib Bank experienced a surge in financial performance. Its gross profit leapt to two billion Birr in 2021/22, from 645 million Br the previous year, while deposits swelled to 59.4 billion Br from 16.4 billion Br. Loans and advances saw an increase of more than fivefold, reaching 54 billion, and the Bank's total assets grew from 21 billion Br to an impressive 77 billion Br.

However, corporate governance issues and liquidity management issues have also become a point of contention. Nib Bank could not roll out an effective liquidity management system while failing to comply with the Ethiopian Automated Transfer System Rule levied by the regulator. The liquidity ratio and the Bank's reliance on 2.5 billion Br borrowing from the central bank to respond to cash shortages brought to the surface the need for refined liquidity management practices to ensure stability and responsiveness to market demands.

Nib Bank underwent a transformative phase with the formation of a new Board of Directors under the auspices of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) three weeks ago. The shift was triggered by escalating tensions marked by concerns over corporate governance and shareholder complaints. Central Bank's intervention paved the way for significant changes at the general assembly, culminating in the election of a new board of directors.

Chairman Shisema promptly prioritised management changes, setting the stage for a strategic shift to address governance issues flagged by the regulator. While Genene's departure pleased some former colleagues, the central bank imposed a six-year ban on 11 former board members for failure to fulfil responsibility imparted by shareholders, intensifying the challenges surrounding their exit.

A couple of board directors protested the central bank's decision in a letter last month, seeking separate treatment. Amare Lemma argues he was one of the three subcommittees with Alemu Denekew and Kifle Sebgaze, that conducted an assessment report on Causes of High Staff Attrition and Proposed Remedial Measures in 2022.