No fewer than 60 retrenched staff of Ecobank, Kaduna, on Monday, staged a peaceful protest over their sack by their employers and the non-payment of their entitlements.

Speaking to newsmen during the protest in Kaduna, the Northern Coordinator of the disengaged staff, Muhammad Yashe said the protest was to show their grievances and call for government’s intervention.

Yashe added that 60 staff in Kaduna and 920 nationwide were retrenched by Ecobank, adding that: “The retrenchment was uncalled for at this critical time of economic hardship.”

He appealed to the government and labour unions to assist in compelling the management of the bank to pay them their dues in full.

“The disengagement of staff by Ecobank last week is uncalled for; some of us have spent over 20 years working with the bank. In the end, they sacked us without even paying us our entitlements in full.

“Some of us were given meager amounts after retrenching us, which cannot even sustain or enable us establish a business which we can continue to build our lives on. “We are calling on the government and Labour union to intervene.”

He noted that they will continue to push for their right, saying: “I have served with the bank for 12 years but a penny was never given to me for leave allowance while I was in service.”

Another disengaged staff, Mr. Yusuf Ataguba said: “I have worked for over 20 years with Eco bank, I dedicated my youthful age working with them only for them to retrench us without pre-information, this is robbery.

“I am appealing to the bank to pay us our full severance without delay and that is why we came out to protest and tell the world to come to our aid.

“We want the world to know so that they realise our country is enslaving us because the country and Labour unions do not protect the right of its workers and we want the National Assembly to come to our aid.”

He urged the National Assembly to review the Labour laws where necessary in order to safeguard Nigerians from unlawful acts of employers. He then, appealed to the government to compel Ecobank to pay them their full dues. Mr. Francis Omomiko, another victim, told newsmen that he had worked for Ecobank for about 10 years with his disability only for them to sack him after all the struggles without paying him his full entitlements.

“I was only given about N250,000, which is not up to what I am supposed to be given, I have nobody to speak for me, I am appealing to the government to come to our aid. If they pay me my full entitlements, I do not wish to work with them anymore even if they reverse their action; I have gotten enough of the slavery.” (Daily Trust)

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