The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) has staged a protest at the head office of Polaris Bank in Lagos over the sack of about 40 staff by the new management of Polaris Bank.
Speaking during the picketing of the head office of Polaris Bank, the general secretary, Comrade Sheik Mohammed cited the unlawful sack of the workers as reason for the picketing.
“We are here to express our grievance against new management. They started mass sack six months ago. We are here to protest against the inhuman treatment from the new management who have defied lawful way of doing things and embarked on treatment of the workers in undignified way.
“These workers and management are guided by law, everyone must follow the law. The new management in cameloen manner has been stylishly be working against the interest of the good condition of service.
“Over 40 people were sacked without any justifiable reason. Some of the workers who have worked for eight years to 22 years, were sacked with just one month notice in lieu of the notice. And painfully enough is that those workers were paid off with unbelievable amount, N50,000.”
Moreover, Mohammed alleged that the management has been running the bank aground with his anti-workers activities, such as instructing the drivers to resign and change to Uber which will always be used whenever the bank has need for them.
“We have on several occasions told the new management to desist from the systematic throwing of people into labour market which negates the goal of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s job creation goal. They sack without following due process. We are here to make them respect our law,” he pointed out.
Similarly, LEADERSHIP learnt that trouble started when the new management being led by Adekunle Sonola as CEO embarked on gradual downsizing and paying them off with payment of N55,000.
However, in a response to the picketing, group head, Brand Management & Corporate Communication, Nduneche Ezurike, said, the bank did not violate any law in a recent disengagement of some staff which it said was done in line with the terms of the contract guiding their engagements
The bank emphasised that, a cordial relationship has existed between her and the union over the years and believes that concerns raised by either party can be effectively addressed through dialogue.
Polaris Bank remains committed to fostering a harmonious working relationship and ensuring the well-being of its employees, Ezurike said.
The bank disclosed that it has engaged and will continue to engage the union to resolve any lingering labour matters.
