The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday in Abuja announced the suspension of the proposed picketing of six banks over the mass sack of workers.
NLC President Ayuba Wabba said this at a joint press conference organised by the NLC, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and representatives of the affected banks.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NLC had issued a 14-day ultimatum to six banks to recall sacked workers or face a nationwide industrial action.
The banks are Fidelity Bank, Diamond Bank, First City Monument Bank, First Bank, Ecobank and Skye Bank.
He said the decision to call off the picketing was a follow-up to the Public Hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Banks and Financial Institutions.
Wabba said the Senate had asked the Ministry of Labour and Employment to convene a bilateral meeting and consultation in the best interest of the workers and employers.
“We have come to an agreement that we would attend the tripartite meeting that is being proposed by the ministry, to look at auxiliary issues affecting the sector.
“We have also agreed as NLC, working with our affiliates, to suspend all forms of hostility, including the picketing, until the meeting takes place.
“We have also looked at other related issues that include non-unionisation, issue of protection fees by some banks, among others.
“We have agreed mutually that the issues will be discussed under law at the tripartite meeting being organised by the ministry and we have agreed to subject ourselves to it.”
He noted that all parties had agreed that the tripartite meeting was necessary as it would take on board the interest of the workers as provided by the law under Section 20 of the Trade Union Act.
According to him, the law provides a forum for dialogue, consultation before any process would be concluded.
“We have observed the challenge, especially the issue of the process, the procedure and the provision of the law.”
Wabba noted that the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) had updated the Congress on how far they had gone with engagement with the affected banks.
“We have looked at the banks one after the other; some of them have not actually carried out those redundancy.
“They have assured us that the law would be followed; we have advised them to interface with the in-house union, and bring the issues to an end,” Wabba said.
Also speaking, Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, the Director-General of NECA, called for dialogue as a way of resolving issues in the banking and financial institutions setor.
“The fact is that in employer and employees relationship, there will always be issues but the important thing is that when there are issues, there should be a structure and there should be an understanding among social partners
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