Monday, 9 September 2013
ANTI-WORKERS’ ANTICS BY DIAMOND BANK AND INTIMIDATION OF NIGERIAN WORKERS BY THE NIGERIA POLICE
9th September, 2013
PRESS STATEMENT
On Friday, 6th September 2013, workers of Diamond Bank Plc were picketing the Head Office of the bank in Lagos. The workers, under the umbrella of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), were protesting to press home their demand for better working conditions, reinstatement of 200 sacked workers as directed by the National Industrial Court (NIC) and their demand for the right to organise and associate freely in the workplace as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
The Management of the bank procured the services of the Lagos State Police Command and deployed the police in the brutalization of some of the workers and the detention of five of them. We are shocked that the Nigeria Police will allow itself to be dragged into what is purely an industrial relations matter, which ought to be resolved through social dialogue. The detention of these workers since Friday violates their fundamental human rights and portrays the Nigeria Police in bad light as a “cash and carry” strike force whose services can be procured.
The Congress condemns the action of the Lagos State Police Command and management of Diamond bank in the strongest terms. Congress will not stand by and allow this violation of workers’ rights. We call on the bank to comply with the directive of the NIC and recall the sacked workers immediately if it is to avoid the wrath of Nigerian workers. We also call on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the immediate release of the detained workers. We urge him to call the Lagos State Commissioner to order.
We call on all Nigerian workers and in particular, industrial unions and workers in Lagos to await further directives on steps to be taken to deal with the Diamond Bank affront.
Olusegun Rotimi
Ag General Secretary
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