NLC Reiterates shutting Headstrong Banks For Sacking Workers, Issues Ultimatum

Labour Unions

NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) on wednesday has threatened to shut the six banks that disobeyed its demand to withhold sacking of their workers.

The labour union gave the affected banks two weeks’ ultimatum to recall the sacked workers and be willing to face the dire consequences which it said includes picketing. The affected banks are Fidelity Bank, Diamond Bank, First City Monument Bank, First Bank, Ecobank and Skye Bank.

However, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Assembly which is the union of the employers of labour in the country is contending that neither the Labour Union nor the government has right to dictate to banks not to sack workers, arguing that the its financial implication is prominent and solely determined by the employers capital since it does not receive subventions from government.

In a letter to the management of the banks, which was signed by NLC Deputy General Secretary, Chris Uyot, he said the union will have no other options to force the affected banks to close shops after the expiration of the ultimatum.

“I have been directed to inform you that it has been brought to our notice by our affiliate union – the National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) – that your bank is one of those that arbitrarily sacked workers recentoy, contrary to laid down procedures and the country’s extant labour laws.

“Also of concern has been that these blatant retrenchments were carried out without recourse to several correspondences, including letters and circulars sent to you by the union to retrace your steps in line with best practices in labour relations and laws of the land”, he said.

It will be recalled that following the harsh economic situation in the country particularly the implementation of the Single Treasury Account (TSA), some banks opted to reduce its workforce to enable them meet up with overhead costs in business leading both the federal government and labour Union to rise to protect the workers. However, this generated controversies as the employers of labour on one side refused to suspend its proposed sack action while the federal government and labour union insisted that no workers should be relieved of jobs adding that the sack will add more crisis to the economy already passing through challenges.