FORMER BANK STAFF NARRATES ORDEAL IN THE BANK

A former Bank staff of a Nigeria Bank Osarugue Flora Aiworo has narrated the frustration, disappointment and  injustice melted out to her while working as a contract staff.

She revealed that contact staff who are seen as support staff but play a very crucial role in sourcing for accounts and also generate revenue for the bank are excluded from profit sharing.

"Over the years, I witnessed firsthand disparity in the welfare system of banks, where core staff enjoy entitlements such as allowances, bonuses, loans, and profit-sharing especially while contract staff are limited to their monthly salaries."

"In the banking sector, there are two categories of staff: core staff (or professional staff) and contract staff (or support staff). While core staff enjoy better welfare packages, contract staff, who make up almost 80% of the banking community, are the backbone of the industry. They carry out most of the day-to-day operations and functions of the bank, executing strategies and plans that result in billions and trillions of profits."

"Despite their crucial role, contract staff are often overlooked when it comes to profit-sharing and other benefits." 

"They work tirelessly, Monday to Sunday in some banks, without proper rest, and their social lives suffer as a result. Many contract staff cannot vote, because they do not even have the time to register for a voter's card."

"I raised my concerns about this disparity in meetings and even brought it up with one of the MDs (name withheld) but nothing changed. It was as if my voice was falling on deaf ears. I was told not to bring it up again, and I was left feeling frustrated and helpless."

That's why I've decided to speak out and share my story. It's time to shine a light on the unfair treatment of contract staff in Nigeria's banking sector. It's time for banks to recognize the value of their contract staff and provide them with fair and just welfare packages."

"The current system is not only unfair but also demotivating. Contract staff are the foot soldiers of the banking industry, and without them, banks would not be able to achieve their goals and targets. By denying them fair compensation and benefits, banks are essentially exploiting their dedication and hard work."

She therefore urge banks to reconsider their welfare packages and include contract staff in profit-sharing and other benefits as  a matter of fairness and also a matter of recognizing the value that contract staff bring to the industry.

In  addressing this issue Aiworo appealed to banks CEO's and Managing Directors to review their welfare packages to ensure that contract staff are included in profit-sharing and provide fair compensation to them recognizing their dedication and hard work and also develop inclusive policies that recognize the value of contract staff and provide them with opportunities for growth and development.

She said  by taking these steps, banks can create a more just and equitable work environment for all staff, regardless of their category and hoped that her  story  will inspire others to speak out and demand fairness and justice in the banking sector.

In conclusion, she  added that unfair treatment of contract staff in Nigeria's banking sector is a cry for justice that needs to be addressed.