Employees of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) have raised serious concerns over the leadership of Acting Governor Nilam Dhungana Timilsina, questioning her competence following the delay in approving the resignation of Executive Director Dr. Gunakar Bhatta, which was submitted nearly three weeks ago.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Financial Institute Employees Union of Nepal (FIEUN) expressed frustration over the inaction, stating, “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 emphasized that such inaction violates several legal provisions, including 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.
The issue has gained further prominence as top leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress stated that the delay in appointing a new governor stemmed from Timilsina’s failure to formally process Bhatta’s resignation.
In its statement, the FIEUN urged Acting Governor Timilsina to immediately approve the resignation and to fulfill her responsibilities to preserve the central bank’s institutional integrity.
The union also criticized the government’s inaction in appointing a new governor even a month after the previous governor’s term ended. “It is shameful for the government to remain indifferent to legal obligations and fail to appoint a new governor in an autonomous institution like the central bank,” the statement read.
The FIEUN expressed deep concern over the increasing political interference in the central bank, alleging that the institution is being turned into a “political battleground” influenced by intermediaries and vested interests. The union stressed that the absence of a governor has rendered the central bank ineffective at a crucial time, particularly when the government is in the process of formulating the national budget.
