NUBIFIE members protesting at Polaris Bank Headquarters on Tuesday in Lagos
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The Union of Banks operating under the auspices of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFE) Tuesday protested against Polaris Bank at its head office in Lagos over unjust sack of workers and for violating workers’ rights over time.
Members of the Union gathered in their numbers with their leaders, singing solidarity songs while expressing their grievances to the management of the Bank for laying off over 40 of its workers unjustly across the branches of the bank.
The accused Polaris Bank management of impunity, even as they laid off workers who have worked to stabilize the bank without payment of entitlement and deserved allowances.
Mr Muhammed Sheikh who is the General Secretary of the Union pointed out that the sack contravened the workers’ right to a collectively bargained existing package which is also against labour laws, insisting that the new management which came on board barely six months ago are insensitive for not settling down to look into the structure of the Bank and think out the way forward, but decided to lay off the workers who helped to stabilize the financial institution when it was wobbling.
“You cannot have a worker dedicate the better part of his life having worked over 15 years for the progress of your company and then you wake up one morning and decide to terminate their employment giving them only one-month basic salary. That is completely wrong.”
The Union insisted on protecting its members, explaining that no organization, employer of company will violate right of members and would be allowed to go scot free, particularly, when the breach bothers on labour laws.
The General Secretary revealed that a letter was written to the Polaris Bank to stop sack moves, when they got hint of their plans, but ignored the letter, stating that the Union will not rest on its oars until the matter was address.
According to him, labour union members’ rights as workers deserve to be protected at all costs and that NUBIFIE would continue to picket the bank together with the national body of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) until the issue is rectified.
“NLC is aware of what is going on, members will be joining us if there is no headway. Our civil society coalition partners are also aware, they are waiting in the wings to join us.”
Olusanmi Eiyitogbe one of the affected workers while expressing his disappointment said that the management gave no reason whatsoever for sacking them. He cried out that he could not even withdraw any money from the one-month salary in lieu of what the bank claimed to have paid.
The management of Polaris Bank in its response said it was ready to resolve the issues as it presented a letter signed by the bank’s Talent and Culture officer, Olarenwaju Oyekunle, and General Counsel, Segun Tawoju to the leadership of the union inviting them for dialogue.
The letter read: “Given the cordial relationship that had existed between the bank and the union over the years, we are of the opinion that any concern from either party can be resolved through the round table.
In view of the above, we request a meeting between the management team of the bank and a delegation of NUBIFIE on June 7, 2023, by 10.00 a.m. at our office to discuss outstanding issues with the view to having a resolution while requesting you recall your members from our business locations.”
Meanwhile, a call to the Nigeria Labour Congress to find out if its affiliate, NUBIFIE enjoys their cooperation, proved as enquiries by CAPITAL POST was yet to be responded NLC’s General Secretary before filing this report.
