Aggrieved Ecobank drivers decry marginalisation, seek compensation
Outsourced staff (drivers) of Ecobank on Tuesday, asked the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) to compel the bank to pay $100 billion or its naira equivalent as compensation to workers whose rights have been violated by the financial institution.
Addressing journalists in Benin City on behalf of the aggrieved staff over what he tagged: “Discrimination in service and workers right violation,” Mr. Paulic Okonikhere, said the burning issues raised by the workers and presented to its management have been left unattended for years.
Okonikhere declared that as a result, the aggrieved outsourced staff are left with no other option than to ask the NLC to press charges against the bank.
He listed issues in contention as salary harmonization, fleet management initiative of Ecobank, employee gratuity scheme, non-implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage, no assurance cover for drivers/others and workers using their salary to buy working tools to work for the bank .
Others are new contract of employment vis-a-vis the existing contract of employment, employment without employment letter/benefits, Ecobank outsourcing of staff, discrimination in profit sharing benefits and date of payment of salary.
Also, Okonikhere lamented the nonchalant attitude of their umbrella body, NUBIFIE over their plight, noting that instead of coming to their rescue, the union has chosen to pay deaf ears to them.
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“Our trade union (NUBIFIE) leaders abandoned us or appeared helpless to our fate despite calls, meetings in respect of the issues listed.
“We have been discriminated against by our employers and our union leaders remain silent, hence we decided to write for action,” he said.
He appealed to the NLC to call on Ecobank and the NUBIFIE to immediately harmonize eight years arrears of staff salary and make payment immediately while also asking for the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage.
He also called on the National Assembly to pass a law to abolish the outsourcing of staff by companies in Nigeria and to punish offenders with life imprisonment without any option of fine.
