Amid mounting tension and grievances over alleged mass layoffs, the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) has led its members to the head office of Heritage Bank in Lagos.
NUBIFIE’s actions stem from Heritage Bank’s recent management decision to terminate the employment of over 1000 personnel without adhering to due process, prompting widespread outrage among affected workers and the union alike.
The union has made it clear that its picketing of the bank’s premises will persist until management addresses the sacked workers’ grievances and ensures the provision of rightful severance packages.
At the forefront of the protest, aggrieved ex-staff members have barricaded the entrance gate, obstructing access to and from the bank’s headquarters located at 143 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Reports reveal that Heritage Bank, under the leadership of Mr. Akinola George-Taylor, dismissed over 70 senior staff members within a year of his tenure. Moreover, numerous other employees were allegedly coerced into resigning, exacerbating the bank’s internal crisis.
Of significant concern is the failure to remit accrued entitlements and allowances owed to the affected staff.
Sources familiar with the matter have disclosed that the bank’s chief executive officer instigated the internal turmoil as part of a broader scheme to purge the institution of individuals suspected of loyalty to certain board members.
This purported purge is believed to be aimed at consolidating power and control over the bank, with the backing of a prominent shareholder seeking sole ownership and the removal of existing board members.
Despite efforts to seek clarification and comment from Heritage Bank’s head of Corporate Communications, Ozenna Utulu, no response has been forthcoming as of the time of reporting.
The standoff between Heritage Bank and NUBIFIE underscores the growing unrest within the banking sector and the urgent need for dialogue to address grievances and ensure fair labor practices.
As protests intensify and pressure mounts on the bank’s management, the outcome of these developments remains uncertain, leaving both employees and stakeholders on edge.
