FG directs banks to halt sacking of staff

 

THE Federal Government has directed the managements of Banking, Insurance and Financial Institutions to suspend the alleged ongoing retrench-ment of workers in the sector pending the outcome of the conciliatory meetings in the industry.

The directive which was issued by government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige noted that the continued retrenc-hment and redundancy by the banks and other financial institutions were jeopardizing the outcome of the conciliatory and mediatory processes being undertaking by the ministry. The minister in a statement he personally signed on Friday stated that the directives became important following the high spate of petitions and complaints from stakeholders in the affected sectors. Ngige in the statement further noted that the directive was also as a result of the apprehension by his office of the various disputes in the sector in accordance and in compliance with the provisions of the labour laws of Nigeria.

The statement also added: “This decision is further predicated on the fact that the continued retrenchment and redundancy by the banks and other financial institutions are jeopardizing the outcome of the conciliatory and mediatory processes being undertaking by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.’’

“In this wise, all the retrenchments and redundancies done in the last four months and all proposed ones should be put on hold, pending the outcome of the proposed stakeholders’ summit for the Banking, Insurance and Financial Institutions’ employers and employees, slated for the first week of July, 2016.

“All parties are therefore advised in the interest of industrial peace and harmony to maintain the status-quo ante-belum.”

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has written to the governor of Oyo State over the alleged harassment, arrest and detention of its members that recently embarked on protest over the state government’s policy to hand over public schools to individuals and organisations.

NLC in a letter addressed to the governor and signed by its factional President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba stated, “We wish to express our dismay at the harassment, arrest and detention of our members for peacefully protesting against government’s policy of giving away public schools to individuals or organisations in the guise of Public-Private Partnership.

“Please do permit us to state that the right to peaceful protest against a wrong is guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Labour Laws, ILO Conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory, and Human Rights Laws and cannot be abridged by government.

“We hold the view that the public schools which the Government of Oyo State has put up for sale without due process or the consent of the people is not only ultra vires, it constitutes a betrayal of the people and the ideals for which Chief Awolowo stood.

“These public schools were built with the blood and sweat of the people and not a few, including Your Excellency and members of your cabinet, were grand beneficiaries of this public school system.