600 Nigerians under duress to Sign ‘Slavery’ Engagement Contract In Eco Bank

Documents exclusively obtained by imirroronlineblogspot.com indicates that about 600 Nigerians working with Eco Bank Nigeria as contract staff have been compelled to accept fresh two year contract engagement offer after years of service without compensation or take the exit door unceremoniously.

The affected staffs under the employment of three contracting firms: Vick Lawrence and Associates, Integrated Consulting Service Limited as well as Lington and Bernie Consulting Limited, were unofficially disengaged August 1, 2017 without benefit and have been offered “employment for a fixed period of two years commencing August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2019” subject to conditions similar to their previous engagement offer.

Checks by Soar-Away-International Tabloid revealed a section of the previous condition of service to include, “if for any reason, you are not confirmed as an employee after your probation period of 6 months, Lington and Bernie Consulting Limited will not be under any obligation to compensate you”.

Ecobank

An aspect of the condition of service also stated, “after confirmation, either party may terminate the appointment by giving to the other, one month notice in writing or one month Basic Salary in lieu of such notice”.

Despite the proviso in the condition of service by the contracting firms, the workers, most of whom have worked with Eco Bank Nigeria for over 10 years were not given a dime as compensation, but handed down stringent condition of service to span for the next two years.

Some were even directed to report to Benin City, Edo State Friday August 4 for briefing without any letter given to them as at the time of this report.

One of the affected  staff who confided in imirroronlineblogspot.com said their anger stems from the fact that neither compensation nor notice was given to them as stipulated by their condition of service before the new development, adding that in 2017 when Eco Bank Nigeria took over Oceanic Bank, staffers of OSIL were paid off and window was opened for the same category of staff to reapply if they so wish.

It was not immediately clear why the affected staffers were not allowed to join or form union even though labour laws say that any organization that has over 50 workforce can have a union.