Sanusi suspension won't affect policy

Lagos - 's finance minister said on Thursday that a change of leadership at the central bank would not affect economic policy in 's second biggest economy, after central bank governor was suspended.

"Macro-economic stability and a tight fiscal stance ... will continue to be maintained," a statement from the office of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.

"The government will continue on policies which will help the naira (currency) to stabilise."

She expressed confidence in interim bank governor , who will see out Sanusi's term until it ends in June.

Nigerian president named the managing director of Zenith Bank Godwin Emefiele as the next central bank governor, the chairperson of the on finance told Reuters by telephone.

Jonathan suspended on Thursday, putting in charge in the interim.

Senator confirmed that Emefiele's nomination had been sent to the for approval to take office when Sanusi's term would have expired in June.

He said the president had a prerogative to suspend the central bank governor using his executive powers, and that the would only need to approve a full removal.

Sanusi is an increasingly outspoken critic of the government's record on tackling rampant corruption in 's leading energy producer.

Sanusi had been presenting evidence to parliament that he said showed the state oil company National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had failed to remit around $20bn that it owed to federal government coffers.

NNPC has repeatedly denied Sanusi's allegations.