Pay Our Entitlements, Fidelity Bank Workers demand as they threaten to Paralyse Bank’s activities

Fidelity Bank Plc workers across Nigeria have threatened to disrupt business activities of the bank if the Management does not meet their demand within five working days on payment of their entitlements.

The bank workers, under the aegis of Concerned Note Counters Association of Fidelity Bank (CNCAFB) and Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN) reacted to a statement credited to the Bank’s Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Charles Aigbe on September 26 as he had said that the employees were deliberately casting aspersions on the bank.

Reports earlier stated that Fidelity Bank had said that the planned disruption of service and social media attacks on the bank by some outsourced staff were uncalled for.

In a joint statement signed by Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, Director of Media of GICN and Josiah Olusanya, Welfare Officer of CNCAFB, in reaction to the statement and made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the employees faulted the Bank’s claims. They argued that they are not “contract staff” and should not be ill-treated.

They said, “Let it be put on record that Note Counters are not “contract staff”. They cannot be used, ill-treated and dumped at will by Fidelity Bank without being paid terminal benefits.”

They went further to explain that Note Counters were employed by Fidelity Union Securities Ltd (FUSL), and seconded to Fidelity Bank Plc as they also bear the Identity Card of the bank as well as received salaries from the bank. The workers expressed at the emergence of the new company in the bank, FSL Management Services Limited, the company that carried out the “unwarranted” sack order, describing her as “kangaroo” and insisting that either sacked or they willingly resigned, the workers are entitled to their benefits.

“Incidentally, the new kangaroo company named FSL Management Services Limited to sack the Note Counters for daring to speak out is also a subsidiary of Fidelity Bank Plc. This means that the terminal benefits due to core staff of the Bank should also be paid to Note Counters whether they resigned willingly or are disengaged by the Bank. 

“We concede based on the provisions of the old Staff Handbook that applicable rates and terms of the Bank’s gratuity scheme may change from time to time depending on Management’s consideration.

“However, our argument is that such change must be introduced with the consent of all employees of the Bank, including the Note Counters. Every bit of policy change so introduced into the Staff Handbook must conform to the employment laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Be that as it may, application of the terms of the April 2015 Reviewed Staff Handbook of the Bank wherein it was stated on page 15 thereof that the gratuity scheme terminates effective December 31, 2015 should be without discrimination against any category of staffs.

“The Note Counters who are either still serving or left employment of the Bank through sack or voluntary resignation should be paid their due entitlements for the sake of justice, fairness and equity,” the statement explained.

The workers also called on the shareholders and customers of the bank to henceforth with stop transaction with the bank as actions taken against the employees by the Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo is capable of jeopardizing their interests.

“We wish to make it clear that the wicked acts being perpetrated against Note Counters by Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo in his position as Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc are capable of jeopardizing the interest of shareholders and customers.