By Abiola Olawale
The crisis rocking the Heritage Bank has hit the rooftop as aggrieved staff on Thursday shut down activities of the financial institution.
It was gathered that the aggrieved ex-staff under the aegis of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) took decisive action against Heritage Bank by shutting down its head office in Lagos State.
The aggrieved ex-staff members have barricaded the entrance gate, preventing access to and from the bank’s head office at 143 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The aggrieved ex-staff said their action was in response to the alleged decision of the bank’s management under the leadership of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Akinola George-Taylor, to sack over 1000 personnel without following due process.
NUBIFIE vowed to continue picketing the bank’s premises until the management addressed the grievances of the sacked workers and ensured they received their rightful severance packages.
A source who spoke with the members of the press said Heritage Bank had been involved in alleged wrongful termination and the failure to settle severance benefits for more than 30 former employees.
The source also expressed concern about unfair labor practices towards the bank’s employees and the potential impact on the financial security of both affiliated union members and Nigerians who have accounts and savings with the bank.
It would be recalled that reports had emerged alleging that Heritage Bank, under the leadership of Mr. George-Taylor, had forcefully terminated the employment of over 70 senior staff members within one year of his tenure.
According to the reports, the bank also allegedly forced numerous other employees into resigning, exacerbating the bank’s internal crisis.
Many had also raised concerns about the lack of payment for accrued entitlements and allowances owed to the affected staff.
Sources disclosed that the bank’s chief executive officer instigated the internal turmoil in a bid to purge the institution of individuals suspected to be loyal to certain board members.
This purge was reportedly part of a broader scheme to consolidate power and control over the bank, with the backing of a prominent shareholder seeking sole ownership and removing existing board members.
