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KATHMANDU, May 7: Employees of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have questioned the capability of acting governor Nilam Dhungana Timilsina.
The Financial Institute Employees Union of Nepal (FIEUN) of NRB has questioned the competence of acting governor Timilsina, citing her failure to approve the resignation of Executive Director Dr Gunakar Bhatta, submitted nearly three weeks ago.
“The current acting leadership, which is presenting itself as capable and aspiring for the post of governor, has not even been able to approve a resignation of a single employee. This reflects a sense of helplessness and raises serious questions about the leadership’s integrity and capability,” the FIEUN stated in a press release issued on Tuesday. “Such actions are, in our understanding, a direct violation of Article 29 of the Constitution of Nepal, Section 141 of the Labour Act 2074, Rule 35 of the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Regulation 2065, and the NRB Staff Service Regulations 2068.”
Timilsina appointed as Acting Governor of NRB
This comes amid top leadership of ruling Nepali Congress (NC) on Tuesday stating that the delay in appointing a new governor was due to Acting Governor Timilsina’s failure to approve the resignation of Dr Bhatta.
In its statement, the FIEUN urged Acting Governor Timilsina to immediately approve Bhatta’s resignation. “The FIEUN requests the current leadership of the bank to promptly fulfill its responsibilities and uphold the dignity of the central bank,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the FIEUN described the government's failure to appoint a governor in a timely manner, as required by law, as shameful. “The FIEUN stated that it is shameful for the government to remain indifferent to legal obligations and fail to appoint a new governor even a month after the tenure of the previous one ended, especially in an autonomous institution like the central bank,” the statement said.
“It is deeply concerning that NRB, the regulator of the financial sector, is being turned into a political battleground, influenced by intermediaries and vested interests of a few individuals. The FIEUN strongly objects to the deliberate delay in such a sensitive matter as the governor's appointment, which has left the central bank leaderless.”
The FIEUN further emphasized that, in the absence of a governor, the NRB has been unable to play an effective role as the government's economic advisor—particularly crucial during the budget formulation period.
