…Issues 21-day ultimatum
By Bimbola Oyesola, [email protected]
The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) at the weekend issued a 21-day ultimatum to the management of Heritage Bank to reverse its action on the unilateral sack of over 30 workers or face the wrath of the union.
The union’s president, Olusoji Oluwole, also condemned the bank’s attitude undermining the intervention set up by the Ministry of Labour and Employment towards amicable resolution of the crisis.
The ASSBIFI president said the termination of employment of over 30 members of the association by Heritage Bank PLC was done “without consultation or negotiations with ASSBIFI, the representatives of the workers as provided by S. 20 of the Labour Act, Cap L1, LFN 2004, the sectoral Collective Agreement and other global labour best practices and standards.”
He stated that the ministry waded into the matter after the union accused the bank of exploitation, intimidation, oppression, deprivation and other forms of unfair labour practices being perpetrated on innocent and vulnerable
Nigerian workers.
Oluwole said the union’s earlier planned picketing was suspended “in line with the non-adversarial and social dialogue policies of ASSBIFl and respect for the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, to honour the intervention, and afford the Management an opportunity to amicably resolve the
matter.”
He however stated that ASSBIFI attended the meeting scheduled for Thursday 12th October, 2023, but “the Management, of Heritage Bank PLC in their characteristic and attitude to workers affairs failed to attend,
requesting a reschedule of the meeting for no justifiable reasons.”
He said that the union in recognition of laid-down rules and regulation, and respect for the Ministry of Labour and
Employment, has agreed to honour and attend the rescheduled conciliation meeting.
“ASSBIFI has issued a twenty one (21) days ultimatum to the Management, believing that is enough time for the Management of Heritage Bank to review its position and settle this
matter amicably, as ASSBIFI is interested in the Bank’s progress,” he said.
He expressed, “we hope the bank would appreciate the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to respect laid-down labour standards and comply with due process to prevent avoidable crisis in the workplace.”
Meanwhile, the union has said that it would unveil a series of initiatives aimed at reversing the brain drain phenomenon known as ‘japa’ in Nigeria’s financial sector.
President of the association, speaking at a forum with members of the Labour Writers Assocation of Nigeria (LAWAN) in Lagos, noted that the financial sector remained the hardest hit by the brain drain phenomenon.
He lamented that the best hands in the sector were rapidly being lost to this unhealthy trend.
“Our intelligent minds and highly skilled professionals are leaving the country in significant numbers. This exodus negatively impacts the sector, which relies on integrity, trust and experience. This has a broader implication for the national economy.”
To combat this trend, he stated that ASSBIFI was finalizing the development of series of policies, trainings and programmes that would be presented to the government and the public aimed at encouraging skilled professionals to stay in the country and to entice those who have left to return to contribute to the nation’s growth.
He further urged the government to thread this path, saying, “ASSBIFI expects clear policy statements and actions from the government to show the direction of the nation.”
He reasoned that the global demand for skilled professionals is high, and many countries are actively recruiting from Nigeria.
He said, “It’s imperative for government at all levels to create opportunities for our citizens to showcase their talents at home. Provide incentives, quality infrastructures and resources needed to make the environment conducive enough,” Oluwole emphasized.
“We are aware of the developments that are taking place by the new leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Ministries are beginning to work, but we look forward to seeing them back their words with actions.”
Oluwole also said that the union was engaging with its members to make them less dependent on external support.
According to him, programs will be developed to generate leads and raise awareness through various avenues, including social media, to promote employment opportunities within the country.
This is even as he encouraged Nigerians to focus on development and consider the progress made by the government while addressing areas where improvements are needed.
He reiterated the importance of changing the negative image of unions and highlighted the need for a collaborative approach between the private sector, government, and workers’ unions.